Pylsuspjall: The Best of Reykjavík - 1. Hot Dog Chat 2. A Brief Conversation Held With Strangers Holding Sausages

1. Hot Dog Chat 2. A Brief Conversation Held With Strangers Holding Sausages

Today’s Topic: The Best of Reykjavík

Welcome to our sixth edition of Pylsuspjall, a feature in which we accost strangers at the Bæjarins Beztu hot dog stand and ask them questions. This time we brave the shitty weather to ask them what they like about Reykjavík.

What’s your name?
Zhang Xiauying

Where are you from?
Beijing, China

What do you do for a living?
I just graduated from medical school, so I’m going to be a doctor in China.

What do you think makes these hot dogs so good?
I’m not sure. The place just showed up when I googled Reykjavík, so I came here to try them.

Describe Iceland in three words.
Rainy. Beautiful. Cold.

What’s the best day trip from here that you’ve been on?
I went to the Golden Circle and Blue Lagoon, but I liked the Golden Circle best. The natural beauty was something I hadn’t seen before.

What’s the best thing you’ve bought here?
A wool coat.

What’s the best bar you’ve been to?
Actually, I didn’t go to any bars! I came here for a meeting so I didn’t have time for drinking.

What’s the best thing you’ve done so far while here?
Eating at the Perlan. You can see all of Reykjavík while eating great fish.

What’s been the best thing about your trip?
The nature, especially the Golden Circle.

—

What’s your name?
Rúnar Þór Friðriksson

Where are you from?
Iceland

What do you do for a living?
I’m a truck driver.

What do you think makes these hot dogs so good?
They’re just good. Always have been.

Describe Iceland in three words.
Shitty weather. Isolated island. Beautiful landscapes. [Yeah, nope. Not three words.]
What’s the best part about being an Icelander?
I have no idea.

Growing up in Iceland, what was the best part about being a kid here?
I got away with a lot of shit.

What’s the best-kept secret of Reykjavík?
Geirfinnur. He’s a guy who was supposed to have been killed 30 or 40 years ago, but he was never found. [He’s talking about Iceland’s best-known criminal case known as Guðmundar og Geirfinnsmálið (“The case of Guðmundur and Geirfinnur”). It is also possibly Iceland’s best-known miscarriage of justice for the six suspects involved.]
What’s the best bar to go to?
The Icelandic Rock Bar, because they play rock and roll and there aren’t a lot of stupid drunks.

Where’s the best place to people-watch?
Probably Hlemmur square. There are a lot of interesting characters who walk by there.

—

What’s your name?
Peter Brofman [on the left]
Where are you from?
Charleston, South Carolina [USA]
What do you do for a living?
I’m a veterinarian.

Do you like cats or dogs better?
Cats [“Wait, why?” exclaims his friend.]
What do you think makes these hot dogs so good?
Not the mayo, so I’m gonna have to go with the honey mustard. [By mayo he means remoulade.]
Describe Iceland in three words.
Cold, windy and rainy.

Are these the best hot dogs you’ve ever had?
No

Where are the best hot dogs you’ve had?
Anywhere in New York City, but especially at the Yankee Stadium.

What’s the best day trip from here that you’ve been on?
Our hike from Skógar to Þórsmörk.

What’s the best thing you’ve done so far while here?
Our hike. The awesome views made it the best.

—

Hungry for more hot dog chats?

Whaling in Iceland

Iceland’s Love Scene

Iceland’s Bar Scene

Downtown Hotels