Author: Joanna Smith - The Reykjavik Grapevine

Show Me The Money: Hot Dogs And Independence

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Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland…

Drama Queens: Reykjavíkurdætur Take To The Stage At Borgarleikhúsið

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Reykjavíkurdætur, the thirteen-strong feminist rap group, are taking the world by storm. After performing at London’s WOW (Women Of The…

Reykjavík’s First “Poetry Brothel” Opens Its Doors

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The term “Poetry Brothel” is somewhat oxymoronic. Poetry is, of course, the age-old art of manipulating language to express one’s…

Making Waves: Braving The Sea With Iceland’s Crazy Surf Gang

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Hovering precariously at the edge of the incoming tide, surfboard tucked under my arm, I watch as the grey waves…

Where Was ‘Die Another Day’ Shot?

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Everyone’s favourite chauvinist spy, James Bond (albeit in everyone’s least favourite reincarnation, Pierce Brosnan), visited everyone’s favourite sub-Arctic island back…

Mind The Gap: The Future Is Female

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Being a woman in Iceland is pretty good: a female paradise in comparison to many other countries. But—and here’s the…

Where Was ‘Prometheus’ Shot?

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If you liked ‘Alien’, then ‘Prometheus’ is also a film by Ridley Scott, about aliens. Some would call it a…

A Week In Instagram: Snæfellsnes, Aurora, Harpa & Víkingur

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In today’s world, time is measured not in days or hours, but in Instagram photos. And in the last fortnight,…

Icelandic Kebangover: Testing The Lækjartorg Food Trucks So You Don’t Have To

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In the UK we have a concept known as the “kebangover.” This describes the horrific feeling you get when your…

Hour Of The Wolf: A Toy Story

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Once you notice one, you start seeing them everywhere. Toys stuck to signposts, window ledges and rooftops, throughout the downtown…

Ask A… Shark Guy! Do Icelanders Use Urine To Ferment Shark?

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Q: “Is human urine still used during the process of fermenting shark?” A: “No, it’s not and never has been….

Paradise Island: A Boat Trip to Vigur

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Although it boasts some of Iceland’s most beautiful landscapes, the Westfjords is one of the least visited areas in the…

Show Me The Money: The 10 Króna Coin

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Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland…

Show Me The Money: The 5 Króna Coin

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Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland…

Where Was ‘Walter Mitty’ Shot?

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‘The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty’ is another in a long line of films to take advantage of the beautiful,…

The Sun Rises On Ísafjörður: Aldrei fór ég suður festival is back and better than ever

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Aldrei fór ég suður (“I never went south,” in English) is an annual music festival in Ísafjörður that’s gone from…

Pantsuits And Platforms: The Crazy World Of Icelandic Eurovision

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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…

Ask A Meteorologist: Why Is Lightning So Rare In Iceland?

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Q: “Why is lightning so rare in Iceland?” A: “Lightning is actually more common in Iceland than people realise, however…

Making The Vagina Shameless: Michèle Degen Is Smashing Taboos

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Would you believe it: the “V-word” is still a taboo subject. That’s right, I’m talking about the part of the…

Show Me The Money: The 1 Króna Coin

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Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland…

Photos: List í Ljósi Festival Lights Up Seyðisfjörður

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Seyðisfjörður, a small town on the east coast of Iceland, recently celebrated the arrival of the sun after months of…

I Scream, You Scream: A Guide To Every Ice Cream Parlour In Downtown Reykjavík

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Most people associate ice cream with hot summer days at the beach, or strolling through an Italian city, rather than…

Svala Wins Icelandic Eurovision Finals

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Last night’s Eurovision Finals, which determine who will represent Iceland in this year’s Eurovision song contest, had everything you could…

A Wild Ride: Views From A Snowmobile

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Zooming, whooshing, flying through the powdery, pillowy snow and gazing out onto the arctic white desert: nothing says Icelandic adventure…

Iceland Is No Utopia

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I first visited Iceland two years ago and came home smitten; banging on about this geothermal, liberal paradise. Watching the…