Author: Zoë Robert
High Hopes
by Zoë Robert
In December, Iceland joined over 190 nations for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. The two-week summit, blasted…
Asylum Seekers In Norway
by Zoë Robert
Our arrival on a Saturday afternoon at a reception centre for asylum seekers on the outskirts of Trondheim, Norway’s third…
Hot Springs and Mountans of Many Colours
by Zoë Robert
It is an overcast, cold day when I arrive at the BSÍ bus terminal and board the mini bus along…
Exploring fishing villages in the far northwest
by Zoë Robert
With petrol prices at an all time high and a car suited to city streets, it didn’t exactly seem like…
Office Skills for Foreigners
by Zoë Robert
Since 2006, Menntaskólinn í Kópavogi (MK) has been offering a course in Office Skills for students over the age of…
Calling Vatnajökull
by Zoë Robert
You are bound to listen carefully. The drip, crack, splash, plop and clack of icebergs melting echoes down the phone…
Destination: Lake Mývatn
by Zoë Robert
There are few reasons, in my opinion, to get out of bed early. The rare occasion of catching a flight…
Belgium, an Unlikely Choice
by Zoë Robert
It is common knowledge, or, at least it should be common knowledge, that Belgium is home to the best beer…
Island Life: 24 hours on Grímsey
by Zoë Robert
The Island Situated on the Arctic Circle north of Iceland, Grímsey is a small island home to just 95 people,…
Great Wall
by Zoë Robert
We here at the Grapevine have been watching the construction of the Great Wall restaurant through our office windows the…
Toys for Tourists
by Zoë Robert
Choosing that perfect souvenir to send home can be difficult when stores sell pretty much the same the world ‘round….
The Westman Islands: Puffins Abound
by Zoë Robert
No sooner had I started to settle into my seat than the pilot announced he was commencing the descent. The…
A Story of Asylum
by Zoë Robert
According to Red Cross Project Manager for Refugees and Asylum Seekers, Atli Thorstensen, there are currently 20 to 25 asylum…
Surtsey Exhibition
by Zoë Robert
A continuous (and unsettling) loud rumbling sound and flickering yellow-orange light greet you as you approach the entrance to the…
Laws on Stripping Laid Bare
by Zoë Robert
In March, Parliament accepted new licensing laws making strip shows illegal in Iceland. According to the new laws which took…
Women Paint the Town Pink
by Zoë Robert
Women around the country took part in the annual National Women’s Day celebration on June 19. The event marks the…
Protection in Numbers
by Zoë Robert
According to the the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), a refugee is a person who “owing to a wellfounded fear…
Home Restaurant and Spa
by Zoë Robert
On the inlet at Hlið lies one of Reykjavík’s best kept dining secrets. In what also has to be the…
Better Late Than Never
by Zoë Robert
Icelandic/Swedish reggae band Hjálmar set the perfect example of how not to reward their dedicated fans. Let me explain. Hjálmar…
Pioneering Sculptures
by Zoë Robert
You’ll find Ásmundarsafn, the Ásmundur Sveinsson Sculpture Museum, in a unique building near Laugardalslaug swimming pool, just outside of the…
Bubbling Icelandic Design
by Zoë Robert
If 18th century governor of Iceland and entrepreneur Skúli Magnússon were alive today he would be a happy man. After…
Fotografí Fine Photography
by Zoë Robert
Ari Sigvaldason knew he was interested in photography, but it wasn’t until February when he quit his job of 15…
Thorvaldsen’s Bar
by Zoë Robert
Located on Austurstræti, in downtown Reykjavík, Thorvaldsen’s Bar is a hip bistro and bar with a relaxed feel. The restaurant…
Four days in Northern Poland
by Zoë Robert
Day 1 – The very long drive from Berlin After several wrong turns, we find what we think is the…
Grænn Kostur
by Zoë Robert
Grænn Kostur, or “The Green Choice,” is a small vegan/vegetarian restaurant in downtown Reykjavík. Seating around 30-40 people, Grænn Kostur…