Westman Islands, Jewel of the South Coast
“You haven’t seen Iceland until you have visited the Westman Islands!” is a direct quote from visitwestmanislands.com. This cluster of volcanic islands, located off the south coast of Island, is stuffed to the brim with examples of amazing nature. Mountains, islands, volcanoes and of course a wide variety of sea birds, including puffins.
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Offer Of Beluga Whales Declined By Westman Islands
A British company would like to bring three beluga whales to the Westman Islands from a zoo in Shanghai, but the mayor of the Westman Islands wants no part of any “Keiko adventures”. Vísir reports that Merlin Entertainments filed paperwork with the…
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Golf In The Westman Islands: Being Angry and Frustrated In A Beautiful Place
“I’m going to tell you something, ok? What shot do you really think you can do? Do you think you’re going to make that long difficult shot? Probably not. You want to be a better golfer? Make better decisions,” said Howard Glassman,…
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Police Chief Unmoved, Musicians To Play Festival Anyway
Despite a strong showing of solidarity, the Westman Islands chief of police will not change her policy of asking for media silence of sexual assaults during the Merchants’ Weekend festival. The musicians who pledged to drop out if no change in policy…
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More Bands May Leave Festival, Mayor Meets With Artists
Two more bands have joined five others who have pledged to not play at the Merchants’ Weekend festival in the Westman Islands, and the mayor of the islands’ town met with the musicians who have called for a change in policy in…
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Five Bands Quit Festival Over Police Silencing Tactics
Five bands have dropped out of the Merchants’ Weekend festival in the Westman Islands, citing the police chief’s silencing of sexual assault reporting. RÚV reports that Retro Stefson, Úlfur Úlfur, Agent Fresco, Emmsjé Gauti and Sturla Atlas – all of them slated…
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Police Again Demand Silence Over Sexual Assaults
Hospital staff say they will ignore a police order to not talk to the media about any reported rapes at the Merchants’ Weekend festival this year. Vísir reports that Páley Borgþórsdóttir, the chief of police in the Westman Islands, has once again…
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South By Southwest: Nature, Culture And Fine Dining In The Westman Islands
Iceland seems fantastical so much of the time. Travelling around the country, I’m always reminded of novels and films of lands that aren’t based in reality. Just when you think you’ve seen the most magnificent landscape imaginable, you’ll stumble upon something even…
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Ashes To Ashes: The Westman Islands Volcano Museum
The Volcano On the night of January 23, 1973 the inhabitants of Heimaey in the Westman Islands were woken by a violent volcanic eruption. With little warning, lava shot up to 150 metres into the air. The islanders rushed to gather whatever…
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On The Road: The Westman Islands
As you drive the southern Ring Road, you’ll notice out some intriguing rock formations out to sea. Some are just picturesque sea stacks—the remnants of eroded archways that have long since collapsed. Others are tiny islands occupied only by birds, and the…
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The Westman Islands Are Alive (Even In The Wintertime)
Hrefna and I stumble onto Strætó’s 53 bus at precisely 5:43 in the morning. Behind us, the Mjódd bus station looks as if it belongs in a ‘CSI’ murder scene. The bus driver breaks the morning silence with a booming exclamation: “Where…
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Three Reported Sexual Assaults In Westman Islands Last Weekend
Three survivors went to the emergency room after being reportedly sexually assaulted at last weekend’s Merchants Holiday Festival in the Westman Islands. The police chief of the Westman Islands contends that such crimes are a part of large festivals, despite evidence to…
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Police Chief Demands Media Silence On Sexual Assaults
The Westman Islands’ police chief has called upon all responders and festival staff to remain silent to the media on any reported sexual assaults at this weekend’s Merchants’ Holiday festival. The Journalists’ Union criticised the order as “an attempt to silence”. Vísir…
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The Merchants’ Weekend Lowdown
In Iceland, every first weekend in August is a bank holiday known as Merchants’ Weekend. With many Icelanders getting three or four days off work, things get pretty messy in the drinks department. However, with music and family-oriented festivals being held all across the country,…
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Festival Encouraged To Do More To Prevent Rape And Assault
Organisers of this weekend’s Merchants’ Holiday festival in the Westman Islands have been challenged to ensure there will be no rapes nor assaults this year. Vísir reports that last year, 16 sexual assaults at the festival were reported to police. This figure…
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Surtsey Flourishing With Life
One of Iceland’s youngest islands is now home to more plant species than any of the other outlying islands of the Westman Islands chain. Surtsey, a volcanic island that rose out of the ocean between 1963 and 1967, has been officially protected…
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Exploring A Small Volcanic Island Off The Coast Of A Slightly Larger Volcanic Island
As the ferry Herjólfur enters the narrow opening into the harbour of Heimaey at night, the sight of Ystiklettur and Heimaklettur cliffs leave you awe-struck. They were formed by volcanic eruptions during the last ice age, around ten to twelve thousand years…
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Westman Islands: More Like ‘Best Man Islands’
Three weeks ago on the Westman Islands there was one day when Eyjafjallajökull’s ash fell so thick that everything outdoors was covered. Everything. But the Grapevine arrived in Heimaey on a sunny morning that belied the long stretch of ash fall the…