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Show Me The Money: Hot Dogs And Independence
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the króna. Iceland never being the best at economic stability, the króna has lost significant value every…
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Drama Queens: Reykjavíkurdætur Take To The Stage At Borgarleikhúsið
Reykjavíkurdætur, the thirteen-strong feminist rap group, are taking the world by storm. After performing at London’s WOW (Women Of The World) Festival, they were scouted by BBC Radio One’s Huw Stephens. “Wowed, as it were, by their performance, Huw invited them to…
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Reykjavík’s First “Poetry Brothel” Opens Its Doors
The term “Poetry Brothel” is somewhat oxymoronic. Poetry is, of course, the age-old art of manipulating language to express one’s innermost emotions and desires. A brothel, on the other hand, is a place associated with debauchery, deviancy, and often times, cruelty. The…
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Making Waves: Braving The Sea With Iceland’s Crazy Surf Gang
Hovering precariously at the edge of the incoming tide, surfboard tucked under my arm, I watch as the grey waves crash over one another. The devouring, foaming, monstrous water that I’m about to plunge into is terrifying. Rut Sigurðardóttir, one of my…
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Where Was ‘Die Another Day’ Shot?
Everyone’s favourite chauvinist spy, James Bond (albeit in everyone’s least favourite reincarnation, Pierce Brosnan), visited everyone’s favourite sub-Arctic island back in 2002. The resulting film had diamonds, Madonna and, because it’s a James Bond film, a totally incoherent plotline. After being held…
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Mind The Gap: The Future Is Female
Being a woman in Iceland is pretty good: a female paradise in comparison to many other countries. But—and here’s the important part—it still isn’t as good as being a man in Iceland. As little as fifty years ago, just getting a stilettoed…
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Where Was ‘Prometheus’ Shot?
If you liked ‘Alien’, then ‘Prometheus’ is also a film by Ridley Scott, about aliens. Some would call it a prequel, others would call it a sellout. Regardless of your opinion of the movie itself, you have to admit that Ridley had…
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A Week In Instagram: Snæfellsnes, Aurora, Harpa & Víkingur
In today’s world, time is measured not in days or hours, but in Instagram photos. And in the last fortnight, Grapevine’s Instagram has been packed. We released our second March issue featuring prodigious pianist Víkingur Ólafsson as our cover star, ahead of…
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Icelandic Kebangover: Testing The Lækjartorg Food Trucks So You Don’t Have To
In the UK we have a concept known as the “kebangover.” This describes the horrific feeling you get when your already horrendous hangover is accompanied by the stale, fake-meat, heart-burning aftertaste of Britain’s imitation doner kebab. It’s a food that can literally…
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Hour Of The Wolf: A Toy Story
Once you notice one, you start seeing them everywhere. Toys stuck to signposts, window ledges and rooftops, throughout the downtown area, always just out of arm’s reach. Dótadreifarinn, or “the toy spreader,” is Reykjavík’s answer to Banksy, or the Easter Bunny with…
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Ask A… Shark Guy! Do Icelanders Use Urine To Ferment Shark?
Q: “Is human urine still used during the process of fermenting shark?” A: “No, it’s not and never has been. Traditionally, shark was buried in sand for six to twelve weeks to allow it to ferment properly. No urine (human or otherwise)…
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Paradise Island: A Boat Trip to Vigur
Although it boasts some of Iceland’s most beautiful landscapes, the Westfjords is one of the least visited areas in the country. Admittedly, the windy coastal roads mean the drive is a long one—five hours if you’re lucky, and more if you get…
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Show Me The Money: The 10 Króna Coin
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the króna. Iceland never being the best at economic stability, the króna has lost significant value every…
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Show Me The Money: The 5 Króna Coin
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the króna. Iceland never being the best at economic stability, the króna has lost significant value every…
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Where Was ‘Walter Mitty’ Shot?
‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’ is another in a long line of films to take advantage of the beautiful, varied and seemingly off-grid landscapes that makes Iceland so appealing to filmmakers. This movie follows Walter Mitty, played by Ben Stiller, as…
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The Sun Rises On Ísafjörður: Aldrei fór ég suður festival is back and better than ever
Aldrei fór ég suður (“I never went south,” in English) is an annual music festival in Ísafjörður that’s gone from strength to strength since it began in 2004. In the wilderness of the Westfjords, this remote town of a little under 3,000…
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Pantsuits And Platforms: The Crazy World Of Icelandic Eurovision
It’s Eurovision time. The time of year when half the population of Europe goes crazy—flag-waving, song-singing, chaos-inducing crazy—and the other half wants everyone to know that they don’t even care about Eurovision… whilst they watch the entire thing and live-tweet it “ironically.”…
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Ask A Meteorologist: Why Is Lightning So Rare In Iceland?
Q: “Why is lightning so rare in Iceland?” A: “Lightning is actually more common in Iceland than people realise, however in comparison to many other places on earth we get very little of it. The simple reason for this is that it…
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Making The Vagina Shameless: Michèle Degen Is Smashing Taboos
Would you believe it: the “V-word” is still a taboo subject. That’s right, I’m talking about the part of the human anatomy responsible for pleasure, pain, and even giving life. The part society can’t seem to talk about except in hushed tones.…
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Show Me The Money: The 1 Króna Coin
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the króna. Iceland never being the best at economic stability, the króna has lost value significantly every…
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Photos: List í Ljósi Festival Lights Up Seyðisfjörður
Seyðisfjörður, a small town on the east coast of Iceland, recently celebrated the arrival of the sun after months of long, dark nights. The List í Ljósi Festival, which translates to ‘art by light’ is exactly that. The town is illuminated with…
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I Scream, You Scream: A Guide To Every Ice Cream Parlour In Downtown Reykjavík
Most people associate ice cream with hot summer days at the beach, or strolling through an Italian city, rather than the sub-arctic chill of Iceland. But, as it happens, the world’s northernmost capital is obsessed with the frozen dessert, whatever the weather.…
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Svala Wins Icelandic Eurovision Finals
Last night’s Eurovision Finals, which determine who will represent Iceland in this year’s Eurovision song contest, had everything you could wish for from a Eurovision event. There was confetti (lots of it), leather trousers, keyboard guitars, and lasers. After seven acts sung…
