Author: Catherine Magnúsdóttir
What’s The Deal With Icelandic Poetry?
We turned to a literature professor for answers Icelandic poetry is alive and well – as a quick glance at…
Well You Asked: Out Of This World
How is Icelandic Pizza Hut so much better than American Pizza Hut? I’ve been asking myself that one for almost…
Well, You Asked: This Town Ain’t Big Enough
The Grapevine’s Best and Brightest Answer Your Most Pressing Questions Why is some public water in Reykjavik so full of…
Well, You Asked: This Town Ain’t Big Enough
The Grapevine’s Best and Brightest Answer Your Most Pressing Questions Why is some public water in Reykjavik so full of…
How Will (Or Won’t) Climate Change Affect The Weather In Iceland?
What’s the easiest way to distinguish an Icelander from a tourist downtown? Easy. Icelanders have long given up dressing for…
What Was The Purpose Of Witchcraft In Iceland?
You can summon money using a stolen coin, an ancient symbol drawn upon the skin of a black wildcat, a…
What’s Nibbling On Iceland’s Forests?
Tree growth in Iceland has risen almost exponentially in the last few decades. In part due rather unfortunately to rising…
Rock, Rust And Road Trip Dust
Taking a long awaited trip up West “We’ll have to drive around a lot of fjords.” “Yup.” “That’s going to…
How Did Reykjavík Pride Begin?
Iceland enjoys one of the queer friendliest reputations in the world and it just so happens that another Pride festival…
It’s A Disinfectant, I Swear!
The Grapevine answers your most pressing questions The first time that I visited Iceland more than 40 years ago beer…
Ask An Expert: What Happened To The Trains In Iceland?
We turned to Árbær Open Air Museum for answers Public transport certainly is…a thing in Iceland if the nice yellow…
Ask An Expert: Why Are There More Conspiracies Than Murders?
One of the joys of researching birds is the group names one comes across. So, while we are able to…
Ask An Expert: How Did Vikings Fight?
We found out from a real life Jarl Vikings are cool. They are rough and tough, the epitome of badass-itude…
What’s up with the Icelandic Punk Museum?
We went to the curator for answers It’s a staple on Bankastræti — and pretty hard to miss with its…
Inflation and Safewords
The Grapevine answers your most pressing questions How are the average citizens dealing with inflation and the high price of…
Ask An Expert: What Makes Icelandic Moss So Special?
We turned to an ecology professor for answers Icelandic Moss is frequently advertised for its high nutritional value and health…
Ask An Expert: What’s Up With The Squirrel In The World Tree?
Mythology is kind of quirky. A lot of the elements people came up with to explain the universe seem really…
Well, You Asked: Habitats and Hunting Grounds
What is the Reykjavík Grapevine staff’s favourite lunch break restaurant? Given that the office is close to the harbour, we…
Well, You Asked: Get Your Avocados in Tenerife, Birthday Boy
Why are avocados so expensive? It’s the price for coolness and chiqué, my friend. The ultimate freshness on toast requires…
Ask an Expert: How the fuck do Icelanders Swear?
As much as it’s discouraged by our elders, curse words tend to sneak into the vocabularies of most people…
Nerds of Iceland, Unite!
You are entering a dimly lit room. Around you, figurines of humanoid and monstrous creatures occupy every available surface. You…
Well, You Asked: Don’t Worry About the Dragon
Why do all Icelanders have kids? Not much to do in the winter, I would gather. The general mentality towards…
Ask An Expert: How Do Geysers Erupt?
Geysers are some of the most popular natural phenomena to be observed and studied — there’s just something fun about…
Well, You Asked: Tuna in for more fishy advice
Why is it that whenever a restaurant offers a “catch of the day”, it’s always cod? When in trout, you…
Ask an Expert: What Influences the Strength of the Northern Lights?
The magical beauty of the northern lights draws lots of people to Iceland. In fact, a whole lot of people…