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One Day In The Þórsmörk Dimension: A Wild Valley Behind Eyjafjallajökull
Living in Reykjavík, it’s quite easy to get caught up in the routine of city life, and forget that this town is just a tiny dot on a coast of an island that’s full of monumental nature. Iceland’s vast and beautiful wilderness…
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Dreifing In Bagdad: The Sunny Nostalgia Of The Bagdad Brothers
With their warm, flowing, mellow sound, Bagdad Brothers are a unique addition to the ever-blossoming Reykjavík music scene. They describe themselves as a pop band, but when you listen to their first album (‘Jazz Kid’s Summer Project,’ released last autumn), you can…
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Flying Cars: The Monster Off-Roaders Are Back In The Air
Invented in Iceland in the 1960s, Formula Off Road is considered to be one of the most extreme forms of 4×4 off-road racing. It all started out with local rescue teams showing off their vehicles in action and quickly developed into a…
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The Crazy Flight Of The Icelandic Bitcoin Bandit
Last month, the Icelandic media was trying to keep up with a very strange criminal case which involved a “prison break” and an escape abroad, while being simultaneously connected to the biggest series of thefts in the history of Iceland (the “Big…
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Photos: Grapevine Grassroots n° 5
It’s true that at first glance the music scene in Reykjavík presents itself as very colourful and vibrant, but after a while you start noticing the patterns – the same bands and acts tend to be booked over and over again, which…
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The Wild Westfjords: A Whistle-Stop Tour Of Ísafjörður And Súðavík
It was a very frosty morning in early March. I woke up too early for my own good, as I always do when I have a plane to catch, and headed to the Reykjavík airport for a flight to Ísafjörður. Along with…
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Ask A Glaciologist: Are Glaciers Melting Too Fast In Iceland?
One of the arguments that the global warming deniers can’t really argue with is the grim reality of the melting of the glaciers. I asked professor Guðfinna Aðalgeirsdóttir from the Faculty of Earth Sciences at Háskóli Íslands to tell me more about…
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The Dark Side Of Masculinity, Or How Rigid Behaviour Codes Hinder Men’s Potential
Toxic masculinity is not the easiest of concepts to just delve into, as it comes with an abundance of negative connotations, which understandably create a lot of tension and resistance among men. Let’s be honest—why would anyone want to hear that there…
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A Quiet Wave Of Change: In Conversation With Katrín Gunnarsdóttir
“Crescendo”, the new work by the acclaimed choreographer Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, opens tonight at Tjarnarbíó. It is a conceptual piece, gentle and slow-paced, demanding the viewers’ full attention as they become immersed in the dreamy flow of a journey along with the trio…
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Ask A Sociologist: What Could Be The Next Step In The Struggle For Gender Equality?
Iceland is famous for being a leader in the fight for gender equality, topping the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for nine consecutive years. On the occasion of International Womens’ Day, I reached out to a sociologist from Háskóli Íslands…
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The Fjords Are Alive With The Sound Of Aldrei Fór Eg Suður’s 15th year
Easter is right around the corner, which means one thing for the Westfjord town of Ísafjörður—it’s about to get really busy. Since 2004, the town has been proudly hosting a truly unique musical gathering. Named after a song by Bubbi Morthens “Aldrei…
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Ask A Geoscientist: What’s With This Eggy Water?
Tap water in Iceland: pure, refreshing and—as they often say about the best things in life—it comes for free. Why, then, does this source of Icelandic pride (and hydration) leave so many newcomers and tourists flabbergasted the first time they come to…
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Life In Pictures: Diary Of An Activist
Sigursteinn Másson is a busy man. Following a long and successful career in the television industry, he decided to concentrate on activities and social causes that he finds more meaningful. He’s vocal about his past struggles with depression, crediting a series of…
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Workers’ Spring: Meet The Immigrants Who Are Aiming For A Real Change
This spring, something revolutionary might happen in the realm of Icelandic trade unions. After 18 years of running Efling, one of the largest unions in Iceland, Sigurður Bessason stepped down from his position as chairman and eight out of fifteen board members…
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Avalanche Risk Rising Across The Country
Following heavy snowfall covering most of the country in recent days, RÚV reports that the weather might only get worse over the weekend with an increasing risk of avalanches. Outdoor workers and tourists planning to engage in winter activities should be especially…
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52 Refugees On Their Way To Iceland
In the next few weeks 52 new refugees are expected to arrive to Iceland, as reported by Vísir.is. Most of them are children and young adults under the age of 24. Last August, the Icelandic government agreed to welcome 55 refugees. As we…
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Iceland Prominent In Super Bowl Ads
Even though there were no Icelandic representatives to be found at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis during Super Bowl night, Vísir reports that the country’s landscapes along with native strongmen featured prominently in two halftime show commercials. Watching the Ram ad will…
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Danish-Icelandic Movie ‘Vinterbrødre’ Showered With Awards
Hlýnur Pálmason’s debut feature ‘Vinterbrødre’ (‘The Winter Brothers’) received on Sunday the annual Robert Award for Best Film from the Danish Film Academy. The movie also received the Best Actor Award for Elliott Crosset Hove’s performance, as well as the Best Supporting Actress…
