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Integrating In Iceland: Tackling The Icelandic Language
For newcomers, integrating into Iceland can be difficult. You don’t know your way around the country or are unfamiliar with social norms and customs. But what makes living here the most nerve-wracking is unable to speak or understand Icelandic. With tourism increasing,…
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Inside Small-Town Icelandic Life In ‘690 Vopnafjörður’
No frills and bare bones, ‘690 Vopnafjörður’ documents everyday life in a small fishing village in Iceland. Director Karna Sigurðardóttir and cinematographer Sebastian Ziegler have beautifully demonstrated the highs and lows of living in a community of fewer than 700 people. 600 kilometers away from Reykjavík, Vopnafjörður thrives…
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Missing In Iceland: Roller Coasters
Want to ride a roller coaster in Iceland? Sorry, it’s not going to happen. If you’re looking for an exhilarating experience that makes you dizzy to the point of puking and leaves your body feeling like jell-o, you’ll just have to binge…
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Where Was It Shot: Echo & The Bunnymen’s ‘The Cutter’
Long ago, Iceland was graced with the presence of one of the best new wave, post-punk bands from Liverpool, Echo & the Bunnymen. In 1982, they filmed a music video for their single ‘The Cutter’ from their third album ‘Porcupine.’ Shot at…
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After Party At Mandi: The Fun Doesn’t Stop After Last Call
It’s 4:30 AM on a weekend night and you’re beyond wasted. The doors to your favourite bar are closing but you’re not ready to go home yet, let alone on an empty stomach. Don’t fret: Hlal Jarah, owner of the local favourite…
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The Countryside Cavalry: Horseback Riding Through Lava Fields
You’re never too old to yell “HORSES!” when you spot them from a car in the countryside. For me, it’s one thing to admire Icelandic horses from afar. Riding them, however, is a whole different story. I’ve never been on a horse…
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Missing In Iceland: Hookah Bars
In Iceland, since 2007 it’s been illegal to smoke indoors in public buildings such as restaurants, bars, cafés, on school grounds, sport facilities, and public spaces inside apartments buildings. The list is long, but you get the idea. So, it’s no wonder…
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Where Was It Shot: Woodkid’s ‘I Love You’
Looking like an advertisement for Icelandic nature, the music video for ‘I Love You’—what better place than Iceland for such a title?—by Woodkid takes you on a cinematic adventure around the country. Director of the video and Renaissance man, Yoann Lemoine, has…
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The Airwaves, They Are A-Changin’
The Iceland Airwaves Music Festival is here once again. From November 1-5, this classic downtown event has much to offer, with a dynamic lineup and big changes in venues for 2017. Iceland Airwaves is known for showcasing new music from Iceland and…
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Sugar Paper Theories: Notorious Murder Case Through The Lens
Iceland’s biggest and most controversial murder investigation is brought back to life in the exhibit Sugar Paper Theories. British photographer, Jack Latham uses the Guðmundur and Geirfinnur case as a platform to explore the different ways we interpret images. The famous case,…
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Remember Christine Douglass-Williams? She’s In Trouble Now
Board member of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation Christine Douglass-Williams is being criticized by the Canadian government for her views on Islam and her warning to Icelanders. She is now being evaluated for her writings on Islam and can potentially lose her…
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Bjarni Benediktsson Sold Assets Hours Before Financial Crisis
Leaked documents suggest current Prime Minister Bjarni Benediktsson sold all his remaining assets in a Glitnir bank fund called “Sjóður 9“ only hours before the financial crash in 2008. Bjarni’s name has been associated in the Panama Papers scandal, however he has…
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Icelandic Facebook Groups: Kommóða Kalígarís
Icelanders don’t shy away from horror movies and the Facebook group Kommóða Kalígarís contains everything to fulfill anyone’s horror needs, with a little extra as well—from reviews to memes, this site has you covered. For example, you can find useful links to…
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Fighting For A Better Welfare State: Kjartan Theódórsson Against The Icelandic Government
For three months Kjartan Theódórsson has been living in a tent at a campground in Hafnarfjörður. A former skipper at sea for 22 years, and having spent the last three years working as a foreman in a fishing factory, Kjartan found himself…
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New In Town: CupCake Café
Only three weeks old, the CupCake Café is a family owned business located at Mýrargata 26. Baker Egill Björgvinsson and his wife Elísabet Guðmundsdóttir offer a variety of decadent cupcake flavors such as KitKat, vanilla, chocolate, and more. Egill is hoping to…
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Hour Of The Wolf: Haunted Nights At Landspítali
Hailing all the way from the Philippines, Ma Janice Ymbong Silao has been in Iceland for seven years now. As a nurse working night shifts in the intensive care unit, she’s seen quite a bit. Working the graveyard shift in a hospital…
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Time Capsule: Landsbankinn
In 2013, five years after the financial crisis, one of Iceland’s major banks, Landsbankinn, redesigned its headquarters. Currently Landsbankinn holds all of its operations under one roof at Austurhöfn, which is the original Landsbankinn building and one of the city’s most important…
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Breaking Boundaries: The Reykjavík International Film Festival holds its 14th edition
This year’s Reykjavík International Film Festival (RIFF) will be held on 28 September, all the way through to 8 October. The program is made up of diverse films offering something for every film fanatic. Featuring an array of films to see over…
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CYCLE Festival: Understanding Icelandic Sovereignty
Iceland’s political history is one that is unique and thought provoking. Coming up on 100 years of independence, Iceland’s vivid culture and past will be showcased in Cycle – Sovereign | Colony (CSC), a lively art project consisting of works by various…
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Hour Of The Wolf: Musical Hot Dogs
Life is pretty simple for Skúli Þórðarsson, otherwise known by his musician name, Skúli Mennski (“mennski” just means “human”). Working at the legendary hot dog stand Bæjarins Beztu for a decade now, Skúli manages to keep things simple between work, family life…
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Time Capsule: Höfði
Politicians and ghosts make for a terrifying combination. The Höfði House is Reykjavík’s most famous and haunted residence. Built in 1909, Höfði sits on the waterfront just off Borgartún. Inspired by Nordic Art Nouveau, it was constructed in Norway and shipped to…
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Missing In Iceland: Casinos
Looking for a casino to spend countless hours playing blackjack in the hope of scoring some big bucks? Well, in Iceland, you’re out of luck. There are no casinos, as such establishments are illegal by law. Apart from the old-fashioned slot machines…
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Where Was It Shot: Cold Water
I feel a sense of national obligation to be somewhat of a Justin Bieber fan, considering the fact that he grew up in a small Canadian town near mine. However, since he made the music video for the song ‘Cold Water’ in…
