Icelandic Times - Land og saga

A Greetingfrom thePresident of IcelandIceland is a country of creation. Its volcanoes, geysers, glaciers andlava offer a dramatic interplay of fire and ice. Beautiful rivers and lakes,green fields and multicoloured mountains have inspired painters andpoets.The people of Iceland have safeguarded this unique island for morethan a thousand years. From the period of Viking settlement to thecreation of a highly modern society the spirit of discovery has guided ourjourneys. The history can be found in every footstep; regions celebratingtheir heritage and redefining their vision.Photo.Hermann.SigurdssThe visitors will be welcomed by the people and invited to sharethe country where the creation of the Earth is still going on.Olafur Ragnar GrimssonCoverPhoto: Ingólfur JúlíussonModel: Gréta María KristinsdóttirThe photo was taken in Árbæjarsafnið museum, where Icelandic traditionsare preserved in historic houses which are transported to the museum wherethey are restored to capture the period in which they were habited.Gréta María is wearing Peysuföt, which is an Icelandic National Costumecommonly worn by women in the 18-19th century. She is seated in front ofa „rokkur,“ which is a domestic device for making yarn or thread with a singlespindle and a wheel driven by foot.The next issue of Icelandic Times will be published February 2010.The opinions expressed in Icelandic Times do not necessarily reflect those of the editor, publishers ortheir agents. Though the content of this issue have been meticulously prepared, no warranty is madeabout the accuracy and completeness of its content.2Congratulations for picking up thevery first issue of Icelandic Times, amagazine which scrutinizes the bestof what Iceland has to offer for ourforeign visitors. Our aim is to giveyou a genuine insight into our culture,history, arts, geology, business, politicsand whatever we consider Icelandic.Much has been written about Icelandfollowing the devastating crash ofIceland‘s banking system. While theIcelandic people are slowly recoveringfrom the impact of the crisis, theIcelandic glaciers, volcanoes and hotsprings pay little mind to those matters,which seem trivial in comparison toIceland‘s geological history, whichis plagued thousands of years ofcatastrophic volcanic eruptions andearthquakes.Iceland‘s majestic landscapes are atimeless reminder of how we oftenforget the things that are important.Try standing on top of a glacier, walkinginside a volcano or gaze at the NorthernPublisher:Interland ehf.Dragháls 10110 Reykjavík(+354) 534-1880www.landogsaga.iswww.icelandictimes.isEditor and General Manager:Einar Th. Thorsteinssoneinar@landogsaga.isLights and see if your mind wanders tomore trivial things.Even though some Icelanders seemedto have lost sight of this larger scheme ofthings, most Icelanders are very muchaware of nature‘s awesome powersand offer visitors unique opportunitiesto experience it. There are countlessindividuals and companies who havemeticulously labored for years anddecades towards making your staymore memorable. Hundreds of caveshave been mapped out, dozens of jeepshave been modified, millions havebeen spent on logistics, mountain trailsmapped out and thousands of sweatershave been knitted, just for you.We hope you enjoy reading about thesepeople and that our magazine willbe helpful in making your stay moreenjoyable.Thank youEinar Th. ThorsteinssonPhotography, Design and Layout:Ingólfur Júlíussonauglysingastofa@gmail.comSales and Marketing:Elín Björg Ragnarsdóttirelin@landogsaga.isText by:Vignir Andri Guðmundssonvignir@landogsaga.is

BORN AGAINBY EGGERT

The NationalMuseum of Iceland:Take a Stroll throughIceland’s Entire HistoryWhat better way to fullyexperience Iceland than to strollthrough its history? The NationalMuseum of Iceland’s permanentexhibition entitled The Makingof a Nation, allows you to walkthrough Iceland’s timeline, fromsettlement to the present day.The main exhibition is dividedinto seven time periods startingwith 800-1000: The Dawn of theIcelandic Society and ending with1900-2000: Into the ModernWorld. Each period is filled withitems and information representingthe development of Iceland; fromheathens to Christians, fromNorwegian and Danish rule toindependence and from Vikings tothe modern man. Every time periodhas a key item which represents thetrends of that time, these key itemsinclude a church door, a bible, areligious icon of ambiguous originand a carved drinking horn.The Icelandic PsycheExploredHelga Vollertsen, from the NationalMuseum of Iceland, says that theexhibition is meant to motivate theguest to ask themselves fundamentalquestions about what makesIceland the way we see it today:“The exhibition entails a moderninterpretation and reevaluation ofIceland’s history, which is of courseclosely connected to the Icelandicpsyche.”4The exhibition covers Iceland‘s history from settlementThe exhibition is concluded inthe 20 th century, which is cleverlyrepresented with a conveyerbelt. “The conveyor belt is meantto symbolize the excess, massproduction, disjointed fashiontrends and technological advanceswhich predominated the 20 thcentury. The items on the belt are ofa very varied nature, there you cansee shoes made out of hide next tomodern trainers, the first computer,a soda maker next to a carved outdinner plate, home pregnancy tests,cell phones and gas masks.The conveyer belt is also meant tosymbolize Iceland’s internationalconnections. At the beginningof the exhibition you can see theoutlines of a viking ship, on whichthe original settler came to Icelandand thus established a connection tothe outside world and at the end ofthe exhibition you see the conveyerbelt, which is our modern timeconnection.”Modern StandardsIn 2004 the museum reopened itsdoors after extensive refurbishmentand the now modernized museumoffers a wide variety of servicesto its guests. Helga says that withits new dynamic exhibition theMuseum hopes to fulfill all themodern standards required of suchan establishment, which keeps thenation´s treasures safe.The renovated museum makes fulluse of multimedia technology withseveral interactive screens placedthroughout the museum, where theuser can explore the different timeperiods at their own pace. You candecide how thoroughly you want toexplore the periods, how often andfor how long, giving you a chanceto delve into Iceland’s history as itwere. Each time period has an audiosection where you can hear the waypeople spoke in their own time.The National Museum also offersaudio commentary in five differentlanguages.

A source of healthThermal pools and baths in Reykjavik are a source ofhealth, relaxation and pureness. 94% of foreignguests that visited thermal pools and baths inReykjavik said it had a positive effect on theirhealth and well-being.Welcome to Reykjavik´s Thermal PoolsTel: +354 411 5000 www.itr.is www.spacity.is

A Photographer’s paradise-The Reykjanes peninsula is home to a multitude of geological phenomenaThe Reykjanes peninsula is the home of many spectacular attractions.The geographical phenomena are plentiful; seemingly endless lavafields, mysterious caves and colorful geothermal activity, all of whichare supported by a booming service industry. Kristján Pálsson, directorof the Reykjanes Tourism Board, says that in recent years efforts havebeen made to make this seemingly hostile landscape accessible to thoseinterested in its many wonders.Visitors can enjoy multiple walkingpaths, bird watching, exploremuseums which explore the areasrich history and culture, exhibitionswhich explain the geologicalphenomena of the area and of courserelax at the famous Blue Lagoon.Walk on theMid-Atlantic Ridge„Here you can see the mid-Atlanticridge rise above the sea surfaceand you can literally walk on itssurface. Here we can see the uniquepower in the earth unified with the6lands natural landscape to createa completely unique setting. Theground takes on spectacular formsin immense lava fields, caves, hotsprings and volcanic craters. Theinterplay of the wide spectrum ofcolors created by the geothermalareas make Reykjanes a paradisefor photographers. You can seevariable flora in between the blacksands, rugged lava fields and tallcliffs facing the ocean. The birdlife ofthese cliffs is considerable, especiallyin Krýsuvíkurbjarg and Hafnarberg, “says Kristján.Reykjanes’ unique geologicalphenomena stem from the fact thatit is positioned between the EurasianPlate and the North AmericanPlates in the North Atlantic Ocean.Reykjanes is in fact itself a part ofPhoto: Olgeir

“The interplay of the wide spectrumof colors created by the geothermalareas make Reykjanes a paradise forphotographers. You can see variable flora inbetween the black sands, rugged lava fieldsand tall cliffs facing the ocean. The birdlifeof these cliffs is considerable, especially inKrýsuvíkurbjarg and Hafnarberg”the longest mountain range in theworld; the mid-Atlantic ridge, andis one of the few peaks which riseabove the ocean surface. The areais particularly active, with severalvolcanic eruptions in human times,due to the fact that the space betweenthe two plates widens by aroundtwo centimeters every year. “Todaythere is still considerable geothermalactivity close to the surface in thearea, especially along the edge ofthe peninsula, which has created aunique and colorful landscape in itssurroundings,” says Kristján.Peninsula on FireGeologically Reykjanes is theyoungest part of Iceland, at least ofthe populated areas. The youngestlava fields came to be in an eruptionaround the year 1226, when thewhole peninsula literally came onfire. The eruption before that datesback to 1151. The lava fields are thusof different origin and nature, andare therefore different in appearanceand have various amounts of flora. Inthese fields there have been recordedover 200 caves of various shapes andsizes.Kristján says that those who visitReykjanes have a wide variety ofoptions when it comes to exploringthe peninsula‘s geology. „You canfind tourist operations which offerorganized trips to volcanoes, caveexploring and guided trips aroundthe lava fields. The tourism industryis thus closely connected to thegeology of the area, “says Kristján.Haunted Hot SpringsAccording to Kristján the mostgeologically prominent sites can befound on the southern edge of thepeninsula, particularly Eldvörp andKrýsuvík. „This is the area in whichKristján PálssonHiking trails are plentiful in Reykjanes. Photo:Ellert Grétarssonwe have based our services to ourvisitors. The Blue Lagoon is of coursethe most famous of these, in additionto Seltún in Krýsuvík and Gunnuhver.The Blue Lagoon is more than just atourist attraction though. There isa skin affliction treatment facilityon location as well as a productionplant for skin treatment products.It is now the most popular touristattraction of the country with morethan 420 thousand visitors annually,“says Kristján.Gunnuhver is allegedly a haunted hotspring which has seen a considerablerise in geothermal energy in recenttimes. Legend has it that long agoa specter named Guðrún caused agreat disturbance in the area, untila priest set a trap for her whichultimately led to her falling into thehot spring. Kristján says Gunnuhveris an increasingly popular attraction,as it has additional educational value.„Gunnuhver extremely helpful whenit comes to showing people how theearth‘s energy bursts through theearth‘s crust in the form of bubblingmud, boiling water or vapor. Thisfrequently causes a wide array ofcolors to appear in the landscape,which often causes amazement andwonder for our visitor, especiallythose interested in photography,“says Kristján.Adventure LandKristján says that in the near futurean adventure land of sorts will risein the area, where people can stayover an extended period of time.Activities will include: nature walks,bird watching, nature baths andgeology research. „Gunnuhver will bethe centre of the geological portionof the area, where we want to giveReykjanes is geologically the youngest inhabited part of Iceland. Photo: Olgeir7

The Northern Lights can often be seen dancing in the sky over the Reykjanes peninsula. Photo: Olgeirvisitors a chance to do some cookingin the hot springs, specifically boilingeggs and baking bread. Birdwatcherswill get their share of activiries.Valahnjúkur is a nesting area forlocal birdlife and also the locationfor the oldest lighthouse in Iceland.The original lighthouse was actuallydamaged badly by an earthquakein 1905, but a new lighthouse waserected in 1907-08 at a differentlocation, which is now the mostrecognizable lighthouse in Iceland.Just off the shore is Eldey, which is anisland created in a volcanic eruptionin 1226, home to one of the largestpopulation of Northern Gannetsin the world. Nearby in Bæjarhóllyou can find an old pool, whereGrindavík‘s population learned toswim in the olden days.A 100 megawatt geothermal powerstation is located nearby whichharnesses the power largely fromGunnuhver. Inside the plant there isa very interesting show called „Earth,the power plant, “which explainshow the earth‘s energy is created andhow man is able to harness it. Theharnessing of Gunnuhver‘s powerhas also formed the Grey Lagoon ina similar way that the Blue Lagooncame to be, where we hope to offer a“The harnessing ofGunnuhver‘s powerhas also formedthe Grey Lagoon ina similar way thatthe Blue Lagooncame to be, wherewe hope to offer abathing facility inthe near future.”Photo: Olgeir8

“As Reykjanes isa relatively smallarea it is easy tocommute betweenits varied attractions.“Photo: Olgeirbathing facility in the near future. Thisarea thus has exciting opportunitiesin abundance, which will hopefullybe accessible to our many visitors inthe near future, “says Kristján.Close to the CapitalKristján says that one of the manybenefits of touring the Reykjanespeninsula is its proximity to thecapital area. “70% of the populationlives within an hour’s drive from mostof the locations in Reykjanes. Theroad system here is excellent, withthe only lighted highway in Iceland.As Reykjanes is a relatively smallarea it is easy to commute betweenits varied attractions. It also boastsof more accommodation than mostother areas in the country creatinghealthy competition, which resultsin lower prices for the consumer,“says Kristján.shore of Reykjanes in 1936. Kristjánsays it is also worthwhile to visit thedocks in Sandgerði, where you canobserve the small fishing boats bringin the catch of the day. In Grindavíkyou can visit the Salt Fish Museum,which tells an important part ofIceland‘s history, as salted fish wasonce one of Iceland’s main exports.You can also book adventurous quadbike tours and volcanic tours aroundthe peninsula.Other services worth noting are seafishing, car rental, horseback ridingand guided walking tours. Kristjánsays that walking paths around thearea are numerous and that ancientwalking paths from a time when noroads or automobiles existed. All ofthe major attractions in Reykjanesare handicapped accessible,including the Blue Lagoon, the SaltFish Museum and Viking Worlds.For further information, visit www.reykjanes.isWide Array of MuseumsAmong the activities offered inReykjanes is a long list of museums,with exhibitions connected to thearea and its history. One of those isVíkingaheimar (e. Viking Worlds)in Reykjanesbær where you cansee a genuine Icelandic Viking shipcalled Íslendingur as well as catchthe show Vikings – the NorthAtlantic Saga, which was a giftfrom the Smithsonian Museum.In Reykjanesbær you can also findDuushús, which is a cluster ofhistorical buildings which amongstothers exhibit a huge collection ofmodel boats. The natural museumin Sandgerði, Fræðasetrið, offersan exciting exhibition on the arcticexplorer Jean-Babtiste Charco, whoseship the Pourqui Pas sunk off theThe Geothermal activity in the area has created unique landscapes. Photo:Ellert Grétarsson9

Relaxing Stay on the Arctic Circle-Básar in Grímsey offers accommodation on Iceland’s northernmost PartThe northernmost part of Iceland is the tiny island of Grímsey, locatedsome 41 kilometers (25 miles) off the shore from the mainland. Grímseyis an unforgettable place to visit, with its unique culture and majesticlandscapes. The island is just under two square miles in size with apopulation of around 150. Básar Guesthouse offers comfortable roomsand services during your stay in Grímsey and it doesn’t hurt that theguesthouse is positioned on the actual Arctic Circle, which gives yousome pretty impressive boasting rights once you get home.Básar is only a ten minute walk fromthe town and pier and has eightcomfortable rooms on offer, eitherwith made up beds or sleeping bags,with breakfast and other mealsBásar is located on the arctic circle.on order. There are a multitude ofactivities you can undertake duringyour stay at Básar.You can of course explore the wholeisland on foot in a few hours, whichin itself is an extremely rewardingexperience. Básar can arrange for asailing trip around the island whereyou can view the steep cliffs whichsurround most of the island. Youcan also try your luck in sea angling.The people of Grímsey are of courseexperienced fishermen and can giveyou some valuable fishing tips.The birdlife in Grímsey is especiallycolorful, with over 60 different speciespresent during the summertime. Animportant part of Grímsey’s culture isegg picking during the spring, whichof course is done with sustainabilityin mind.The people of Grímsey are known tobe extremely friendly and welcoming,so expect to make some new friendsfrom the Arctic Circle. Though thepopulation is small Grímsey doesn’tlack in services, as there is a grocerystore, restaurant, craft shop, churchand a swimming pool on the island.The island is only two square miles in size.Grímsey can be reach either by ferrydeparting from Dalvík three timesa week or by airplane which departsfrom Akureyri three times a weekduring the winter time and dailyduring the summer. Básar is situatedright next to the airport in Grímsey.For booking at Básar contact 467-3103Hidden Pearls of the Highlands-Fjalladýrð offers accommodation in the highest inhabited settlement in IcelandThe highest inhabited area in Iceland is called Möðrudalur, where youcan find accommodation and guided tours to the northern highlands ofIceland. Tourist company Fjalladýrð offers 27 made up beds and campingfacilities, guided hiking tours as well as specially designed jeep tours tohidden pearls of the highlands.Fjalladýrð is located at 1500 feet abovesea level in between Mývatn andEgilsstaðir. On location is a uniquerestaurant, called Fjallakaffi (orMountain Café) which offers genuineIcelandic cuisine, ideal refreshmentsafter a hardy walk. All the meat inFjallakaffi comes from locally bredsheep, which is cooked and smokedaccording to age old traditions.On special order, Fjallakaffi offersthe completely unique dish calledSláturterta (or blood-pudding cake),which is a full meal made to resembleHerðubreið Mountain, complete withmashed potatoes in the crater. You canalso purchase unique wool-productsin Fjallakaffi, dutifully knitted by thelocal women of the area.Möðrudalur‘s history is particularlyinteresting, as it has been inhabitedsince the settlement of Iceland andserved as an important waypointever since. The northern highlandsalso served as a hiding place forIceland‘s most famous outlaw, Fjalla-Eyvindur. Elísabet Kristjánsdóttirfrom Fjalladýrð, says the Möðrudalurvalley is thus surrounded by a hue ofmystery and adventure, which canonly be fully enjoyed in the companyof those who know the area’s richhistory.Fjalladýrð offers guided jeep tours toremote locations such as Askja, whichis an immense active volcanic craterwith a pool of water at the bottom, theIce Caves of Kverkfjöll, the enormouscanyons of Hafrahvammagljúfur andHerðubreiðalindir, an oasis in themiddle of the barren highlands whereFjalla-Eyvindur resided during thehardest winter of his banishment. Thehighlands of Iceland have especiallyFjalladýrð offers a wide array of guided hiking tours.rich geological history with countlessvolcanic eruptions throughoutthe ages creating a completelyunique landscape. These geologicalphenomena are explained in detail inFjalladýrð’s nature tours.Fjalladýrð also offers guided hikingtours of various length and nature, allaccording to the customer’s wishes.In the summertime Fjalladýrð offersguided walks during the eveningswhere guests staying overnight canlearn about the local geology, flora,agriculture, culture and history.For further information visit www.fjalladyrd.is10

Sea Monsters andOutlaws in Arnarfjörður-EagleTours offer a wide variety of activities in one ofIceland’s most remote areasIn the many fjords of the Westfjords lies one of Iceland‘s most beautifulfjords, Arnarfjordur, where you can find the tiny fishing village Bíldudalur,which offers a seemingly endless range of activities and opportunities.EagleTours is a local tourist company which offers accommodation,various adventure tours, guided historical tours, theatre plays, seaangling, remote outdoor BBQ‘s and ice climbing to name a few. Oneof the more exciting tours is the four day all inclusive adventure tour,departing all year round, called The Surprises of the West, which includesnatural pools, exotic foods, staggering cliffs and many more surprises.Bíldudalur is renowned for itstranquility and majestic mountainviews. Some say that enormoussea monsters occupied the watersof Arnarfjörður at some point intime. A museum has been openedin town to enlighten visitor aboutthese fearsome creatures, whichthe people of Bíldudalur call theirfriends. The people of Bíldudalurare famous for their friendly natureand free spirits, known to breakout in a song at any given moment.A museum has been opened tocelebrate the musical tradition ofthis tiny village of 150 inhabitants.Bíldudalur is accessible by planeand EagleTours offers a drive andpick up to the local airport, which isjust outside of town.Fish on a Hook -Fish on a PlateSailing around Arnarfjörður is oneof many activities EagleTours hason offer. As many of the locations inArnarfjörður are impossible to get toby land, this offers an opportunity toset foot down where only a few peoplehave ever been before. Sea anglingis also very popular in Arnarfjörðurand EeagleTours offers variousopportunities to catch and evencook some freshly caught haddock.Scheduled short tours depart twicea week during the summertime, butlonger trips can be arranged on order(including pick up at the airport).It has proven popular to intertwine thevarious excursions EagleTours offerswith a barbeque. With the assistanceof EagleTours a remote and beautifulsetting is chosen where a BBQ partywill be held. You can even cook yourown catch of the day, giving truemeaning to the saying: “Fish on a hook,fish on a plate.”Historical SettingsOne of Iceland’s most famous sagas,Gísla saga Súrssonar, takes place inthe Westfjords around 1000 A.D. Anepic tale of murder and vengeance,which tells the tale of the hero andoutlaw Gísli Súrsson, whose tragicfate is known by most Icelanders.EagleTours offers a unique chance toexplore the story’s setting, as parts ofit took place in Arnarfjörður. The GísliSúrsson History Tour includes a boattrip, where the homes of the monstersOne of Iceland’smost famous sagas,Gísla saga Súrssonar,takes place in theWestfjords around1000 A.D. An epictale of murder andvengeance, whichtells the tale of thehero and outlaw GísliSúrsson, whose tragicfate is known bymost Icelanders.of Arnarfjörður are visited and a visitto homesteads and hideouts of theheroes of Gísla saga. In the summerof 2010 the tour will be complete withan on-site theatrical play detailing thestory of Gísli Súrsson.Optimal Ice ClimbingConditionsArnarfjörður has one of the bestconditions for ice climbing available,as the sun doesn’t shine on thesouthern mountains and valleys forseveral months, creating unique iceformations.Fully Furnished ApartmentsEagleTours offers accommodationin fully furnished apartments atreasonable prices, which include akitchen, living room, bathroom with ashower, access to a washer and dryeras well as internet connection. Theapartments come in various sizes,from two bedrooms up to seven.For further information visit www.bildudalur.is11

“For those who wantto remember Icelandby in a more unusualway, why not buya stuffed puffin toadorn your livingroom with?”Photos: IngóA Piece of Iceland-The Viking Souvenir ShopFor many the worst part about visiting Iceland is that eventuallyyou‘ll have to leave. What better way to cherish the memories of anunforgettable trip than with unique Icelandic souvenirs? The Viking storeoffers a wide selection of items, ranging from decorative ornaments tofull winter coats.The Viking has been run by the samefamily for over fifty year and hasrecently been passed on to the thirdgeneration. Sigurður Guðmundsson,owner, says that The Viking has alwaysput emphasis on offering qualityproducts at fair prices. “I think it is safeto say that we have one of the largestselections of souvenirs around. Wewant to offer our customers qualityproducts, which they can cherish andremember Iceland by. Nobody shouldleave Iceland without somethingwarm and fuzzy to keep them warmwhen it gets cold, sparking thememories of their stay in Iceland,” saysSigurður.After a visit to the Viking you won’tever have to be cold again. Thereyou can buy knitted wool sweaters,mittens and socks, winter coats, furshoes and Icelandic design products.For those who want to rememberIceland by in a more unusual way, whyWool caps and mittens to keep you warm once you get home.not buy a stuffed puffin to adorn yourliving room with?The list of items is almost endless;key rings, statues, novelty items,heathen ornaments, baseball caps.Be sure not to leave home without atleast one book about Iceland, whereyou can reminisce about your staywith spectacular photographs ofeverything Iceland has to iffer.Drop by at one of their stores and seefor yourself. You can find The Viking inboth Laugarvegur 1 and Hafnarstræti1 in Reykjavík and in Hafnarstræti inAkureyri.The Viking boasts of the largest selection of souvenirs around.12

Controversial IndustryIceland’s decision to allow commercial whaling for the next five years,after having been banned for nearly two decades, has been met mixedenthusiasm. Two opposing views clash over economic and environmentalissues. Some say that commercial whaling is necessary to control fishstocks in the North Atlantic, while others say that the whales in questionare endangered species which should under no circumstances be huntedcommercially.Although the two views seemirreconcilable, early this year Iceland‘sministry of fisheries issued quotas tohunt 150 fin whales and 100 minkewhales annually for the next fiveyears. According to the Ministry ofFisheries estimated sustainable annualcatch levels are 200 and 400 fin andminke whales. Commercial whalingis estimated to create around 200 newjobs in Iceland. However since thedecision to allow commercial whalingwas made there has been a change ofgovernment and the current primeminister has said that the laws willbe reconsidered and hinted thatthe initial five year period will beshortened.Whether people believe whaling tobe fundamentally disagreeable or not,current whaling quotas are issuedwith sustainable whaling in mind.According to a recent statement,the ministry of fisheries places greatemphasis on effective managementof fisheries and on scientific researchon all the components of the marineecosystem. The statement goes on tosay: “At a time when many fish stocksaround the world are declining, or evendepleted, Iceland’s marine resourcesare generally in a healthy state,because of this emphasis. The annualcatch quotas for fishing and whalingare based on recommendations byscientists, who regularly monitor thestatus of stocks, thus ensuring that theactivity is sustainable.”Fin WhaleThe fin whale, or Langreyður inIcelandic, is the second largest animalon earth (after the blue whale),reaching up to 27 meters (88 ft.) inlength and weighing up to 74 tons.Its primary food nutrition consists ofsmall schooling fish, squid and variouscrustaceans. The total number of finwhales is estimated to be around 120-150 thousand globally, while around25 thousand animals are estimatedto reside in the Central NorthAtlantic. The fin whale was heavilyhunted during the 21st century andis now listed under „endangered“onthe IUCN Red List of ThreatenedSpecies. The International WhalingCommission (IWC) has issued amoratorium on commercial huntingof fin whales.Commercial whaling is estimated to create around 200 new jobs in Iceland. Photo: Ingó“At a time when manyfish stocks around theworld are declining, oreven depleted, Iceland’smarine resources aregenerally in a healthystate, because of thisemphasis. The annualcatch quotas for fishingand whaling are basedon recommendations byscientists, who regularlymonitor the status ofstocks, thus ensuring thatthe activity is sustainable.”Minke WhaleThe Minke Whale is considerablysmaller than the Fin Whale, reachingup to ten meters in length andweighing up to ten tons. Minkewhales have been hunted since earlylast century, yet the population hasbeen increasing. There are estimatedto be around 70 thousand animals ofthe Central North-Atlantic minke,of which around 43 thousand are inIcelandic coastal waters. It is listedunder „least concern“on the IUCNRed List of Threatened Species.13

Houses such as this one have been covered by ash and lava since 1973.Pompeii of the North-Thirty Years of Ash and Lava UncoveredOne of the largest natural disasters in Iceland‘s recent history is thevolcanic eruption in Vestmannaeyjar in 1973. While only resulting inone casualty, it destroyed a large portion of the town and made thewhole island uninhabitable for the five months it lasted. The eruptionwas particularly powerful and caused the island to grow by about 2.24square kilometers. It also covered almost 400 homes in lava and ash,which have remained there untouched since. That is until now.An ambitious project, namedPompeii of the North, has beenstarted which will eventually resultin some of the houses being dugup and made available to visit. Theproject is already underway andseveral houses have been partiallyuncovered. Kristin Jóhannsdóttir,Vestmannaeyjar’s Tourism-, Cultureand Marketing Manager, says thatpeople were pleasantly surprised tosee the condition of the houses oncethey were uncovered. “Experts hadpredicted that the houses would bein shambles, but we were pleasantlysurprised to see entire walls intactstill with the original paint on. Seeingthese houses rise from the ashes after30 years is an exceptional experience.This is a unique, modern archeologydig that cannot be compared toanything else,“ says Kristín.The project started officially in2005 and is expected to take several14“Experts hadpredicted that thehouses would bein shambles, butwe were pleasantlysurprised to seeentire walls intactstill with the originalpaint on.”years. Digging around the houses isdone by industrial machinery, whiledigging close to the houses is doneby hand. „Several houses have alreadyappeared from underneath the ashand hopefully we will be able to enterthe first house next summer,“ saysKristín.The project entails creating a smallvillage that will rise from the ashesof the disaster, giving visitors achance to experience the effects ofthe awesome destructive force of avolcanic eruption. Some houses willbe partially uncovered, while otherswill be completely uncovered andreopened for guests to visit. AlreadyDigging close to the houses is done by hand.there have been put up signs next toeach home, detailing its inhabitantsand what the houses looked like.Even though the excavation has notyet been completed, it has been openfor people to visit for some time now.Kristín says that visitors have beenvery impressed by Pompeii of theNorth and that many had expressedtheir intention of revisiting once theproject develops further.

SizzlingDesigns-Kraum offersunique designitems by over 200designersHalla Bogadóttir, manager of Kraum. Photos: IngóThe aptly named design shop Kraum offers an especially diverseselection of design products, ranging from small decorative ornaments,practical clothing to full sized furniture. The name represents the sizzlingcreativity within the almost 200 designers who contribute to Kraum’sselection. The one thing the products in Kraum have in common is thatthey all have a strong reference to Iceland’s history, culture and nature.Icelandic designers are known tobe very progressive and imaginativeso expect each item to have a richhistorical and cultural concept behindthem. Just ask the friendly staff atKraum about the items you like togive you the full concept behind theunique designs.Many of the products are made fromall Icelandic materials, includingwool, fish skin, rocks from thebeach or anything that can be usedfrom Iceland‘s nature. One of thoseproducts is a special massage stonemade out of rocks from the magicallandscapes of Snæfellsnes, where JulesVerne once said the entrance to thecenter of the earth was located.An ideal present for majorachievements is a silver Birki twig,which symbolizes the prosperityof Icelandic flora despite the harshconditions in which it lives.Wool products play an importantrole in the design of many of Kraum‘scontributors. Among the woolproducts you can find are the everpopular fuzzy chair, knitted neckties,modern designs of the Icelandicsweater and the ram‘s wool cap, whichcomes with knitted „horns.“ For thesinners out there, be sure to notleave home without the „Virtue quilt,“which is based on the old Icelandictradition of sewing desired virtuesonto a quilt. One famous story tells offour priest‘s daughters who were eachmade to embroider virtues for theirproposed marriages, but the youngestone couldn‘t be bothered to make oneand thus her marriage failed tragically.The new virtue quilt comes withpre-embroidered virtues, which havebeen updated to accommodate themodern man.Products made out of fish skin havealso proven very popular, includingclothes, chandeliers and varioussmaller items.Iceland‘s geology is well representedin Kraum; check out the notepadwhich emulates the volcanic activityof Hekla and Askja, where each pageof the notepad represents a particularlayer of ash or lava with the year ofthe eruption indicated. A good wayto remember Iceland in the kitchenis a replica of Herðubreið Mountainwhich you put under a steamingsaucepan or Iceland shaped ice cubes.Kraum is located in Aðalstræti 10,which is in fact the oldest house inReykjavík and home to the first wooldesign house in the country. You canalso find various exciting exhibitionswithin, both historical and designoriented. For those of you visitingover the holidays be sure not to missthe Christmas exhibition, where craftdesigners display their incrediblearray of Christmas items.For more information visit www.kraum.is15

The Kingdom of Vatnajökull-Home to Europe’s Largest GlacierThe Kingdom of Vatnajökull is a majestic wonderland home to Europe‘slargest glacier, the picturesque Jökulsárlón, the highest peak in Iceland,Skaftafell National Park and many more attractions. For the people ofHornafjörður county Vatnajökull glacier has been a simultaneous boon anda bane throughout the centuries, the glacial rivers streaming towards thesea isolating the county for months on end. The glacial rivers have sinceall been bridged and Hornafjörður now boasts of an impressive serviceindustry centered round the many wonders of the Kingdom of Vatnajökull.The activities available in the Kingdomof Vatnajökull are sure to make yourstay memorable. Imagine scalingEurope’s largest glacier with a pick axeand crampons, speeding across itswidespread surface by snowmobile orsightseeing by airplane over its 8100square kilometers of snow.The town of Höfn in Hornarfjörðuris home to a plethora of companiesproviding services to visitors. The townand its surroundings have an abundanceof accommodation providers, rangingfrom home stays on local farms toupscale hotels. Every Saturday a16Farmers and Fish market is held, whichis renowned for its lively atmosphere.Hornafjörður can be reached by themain road all year round.Land of OppositesThe Skaftafell National Park is a popularstop due to its incredible landscapeswhere opposites meet. In Skaftafell youcan see seemingly endless deserts ofblack sand meet white the white glacialtongues of Vatnajökull. The Skaftafellvisitor’s center is now open during thewintertime.The glacial lake of Jökulsárlón a uniquenatural phenomenon which many feelis the highpoint of their stay in Iceland.It’s breathtaking landscape has alsoinspired international filmmakers andEngland’s most famous spy, JamesBond, can be seen maneuvering afuturistic sports car on the frozen lakein a recent film. During the wintertimethe local seal population can often beseen relaxing on the icebergs floating inthe lake, they are known to be a curiousand friendly bunch.Whether you seek the adrenaline rushof extreme sports or not, just standingin the presence of nature’s awesomepower is enough to make your staymemorable.“During thewintertime the localseal population canoften be seen relaxingon the icebergsfloating in the lake,they are known to bea curious and friendlybunch.”

Bay of athousand islands-Seatours offer sailing tours aroundBreiðafjörður bayBreiðafjörður Bay is a place of many wonders, home to thousands ofislands, fascinating birdlife and beautiful landscapes. Tourist CompanySeatours offers a wide variety of boat tours where you can navigatearound the islands, visit the people of Flatey or have a taste of some veryexotic seafood.Display of BraverySeatours operate various scheduledtours, one of which is called theUnique Adventure Tour. This tour ison schedule daily during the summermonths. On the tour you get to see theuncountable islands, navigate powerfultidal currents, see countless birds;including puffins, eider ducks, shags,kittiwakes and if lucky, the majesticwhite-tailed eagle. The highlight of thetour for many is when a small net-ploughis cast overboard and shellfish delicaciesare brought on board, including freshscallops and urchin rows. Kristrún saysthat most people want to try them, eventhough it is just to show their bravery.“We get very different reactions fromthe fresh scallop tasting, but they have asurprising taste and texture that is muchless potent than many would imagine.Some absolutely love it and eat as muchas they can. Then there are those extraThe Let‘s Talk Local play covers the entire history of Reykjavík.brave ones that try the sea urchin rows,but they have a much more definiteflavour,” says Kristrún.Other scheduled tours include amagnificent three day nature touraround the bay, sea angling tours andday trips to the habited island of Flatey.The Best Kept Secret of IcelandSeatours also offers private trips onrequest. “For groups our GourmetAdventure is the most popular tour,here we start with sightseeing like onthe Unique Adventure Tour but thenserve a delicious three course dinnerin our restaurant below deck. Privatetours to Flatey Island have also beenvery popular. Flatey Island is one ofthe best-kept secrets in Iceland, anutterly timeless place where you canrelax listening to the birds and the sea.For those interested in learningthe history of Iceland’s capitalwithout having to spend a day atthe library can quench their thirstfor knowledge by attending theone hour comedy play “Let’s talkLocal - Reykjavík. “The play is performed in English everyday in Restaurant Reykjavík at 18:00,where you can also enjoy drinks andlight refreshments before and afterthe show. The play is performed bytwo actors and covers the history ofReykjavík dating from the Vikings up topresent times.A relatively new theatre group namedKraðak is behind the play. The group’sfirst play, Let’s talk Christmas, waspremiered before last Christmas andwas a great success. Anna BergljótThorarensen, from Kraðak, says thatKraðak always puts special emphasison humor and making the playsas entertaining as possible, whichaccording to the smiles on their guestsBreiðafjörður is the home to many wondersFor individuals private sea anglingtours have been popular but also theWonders of Breidafjordur Bay whichis a combination of sea angling andsightseeing. Our personal favouritetour is the Oceans Secrets, a tour thattakes you to Flatey Island but also to atiny island in the middle of nowherewith a natural geothermal pool,” saysKristrún.The History of Reykjavíkin One Funny HourFresh scallop tasting.Grýla tells an unconventionalChristmas story.faces, has proven successful.For those who missed Let’s talkChristmas last year need not despair,as Kraðak intends to start showing itagain this Christmas. Those expecting atraditional Christmas story are in for asurprise, as Icelandic Christmas storiesare quite different from those of thejolly white bearded man in red. The playis told from the perspective of Grýla (asort of female troll), the mother of the13 Icelandic Yule lads who get into allsorts of trouble around Christmas.17

Bus Tours with aPersonal Touch-Time Tours offers both scheduled andspecially designed toursTime Tours can tailor make the trip of your dreams.an all inclusive eight day adventuretour, which includes locations such asSnæfellsnes peninsula, Borgarfjörðurfjord, The Golden Circle and asnowmobile trip on Mýrdalsjökullglacier. Other trips include: The SouthCoast, where majestic waterfallsand glaciers are among attractions.Landmannalaugar, where you canenjoy natural baths and multicoloredrhyolite mountains. Volcanic Power,where the eco-friendly GeothermalPlant at Hellisheiði and surroundingsare explored. Glacier Adventureincludes a visit to Þingvellir NationalPark, Langjökull glacier and Europe’slargest hot spring. The NorthernLights tour chases the elusive AuroraBorealis to different locations for thebest possible view.Explore Time Tour‘s wide varietyof options on www.timi.is. TimeTours also operate scheduled toursunder www.gotraveliceland.is,which includes locations such asLandmannalaugar, The Blue Lagoon,and Snæfelsjökull National Park.Time Tours offers a wide range ofbuses of all sizes, from nine seats upto 37 seats.Time Tours is a small but ambitious family owned bus tour company,which offers guided trips to many of Iceland‘s most exciting locations.Time Tours offer a personal touch and aim to offer their customersservices according to their needs.Time Tours offers a wide varietyof tours, each specially designedaccording to the customer’s wishes.So whether you want to explore themagnificent Golden Circle, explorea glacier by snowmobile or enjoy thenorthern lights in the evening, TimeTours will take you there. Time Tourscan also arrange for transportationto and from airport, as well as longertrips around Iceland. Time toursalso offer exciting and informativesightseeing trips around Reykjavik,where historic buildings are visited,including the presidential residence.Among the most popular trips areBookings at: info@auroraexperience.comFurther information: www.auroraexperience.comCoach Rental in IcelandGuðmundur Tyrfingsson ehfoffers coaches of all sizes foryour group tour.gt@gtbus.iswww.gtbus.is00354-482-121018

RánargataNaustinand diaper rash, to name a few. Thematerials used for the balms are pickedfrom the largest certified organicpicking area in Iceland, which is over120 km2 in size. The production isalso organically certified.Villimey‘s products are based on an age old tradition of herbal medicine.Icelandic Organic BalmsVillimey offers a wide range of organic Icelandic balms which can treateverything from baby rash to sore joints. The balms are made from 100%organic plants handpicked in the unspoiled landscape of the West Fjordsof Iceland.The knowledge of the usage of herbsfor medicinal purposes descendsfrom age old traditions, Icelandicwisdom and know-how. AðalbjörgÞorsteinsdóttir, the founder ofVillimey, says that there is a strongtradition in her family of using herbsand balms to treat various illnessesand discomfort. She built on thefoundation of those traditions tofurther develop the balms. “I alwayshad great interest in the effects herbshave on people, so some twentyyears ago I started trying differentremedies for whatever ailments myfamily members had. My family wasEat and drink like the localsat the original Icelandic Bar, the home of nostalgiaso happy with the results that theyencouraged me to let other peopleenjoy the benefits, thus Villimey wasfounded,” says Aðalbjörg.Among the list of products is: SkinMagic, Wound Magic, Foot Magic,Muscle and Joint Magic, Baby-Bottom Magic, Belly Magic and LipMagic. The products can be used totreat ailments of various nature suchas pain, swelling, skin rash, skin burnAðalbjörg says that Icelandic herbsare especially potent since the soil isextremely cold and the summers arevery short. “Herbs in Iceland havea very short growth period and aretherefore very potent and resilient.Since we are positioned in the WestFjords, which are even colder andmore barren than the rest of thecountry, the herbs here are evenmore potent than in other parts of thecountry,” says Aðalbjörg.She says that even though somepeople are skeptical of unconventionalmedicine, the response she getsfrom her customers is proof of theeffectiveness of her products. Arthritispatients say Villimey products relivethe pain when even morphine fails,patient recovering from surgery saythe wound magic heals scars betterthan other balms and even BBQaccidents have been quickly remediedwith Villimey products.The HarborTryggvagataVesturgataBárugataGeirsgataKalkofnsvegurFischersundÖldugataTúngataTjarnargataGrjótagataVonarstrætiThe pondVeltusundiTryggvagataHafnarstrætiAusturvöllurPósthússtrætiAusturstrætiHafnarstrætiLækjargataSkólastrætiBankastrætiIngólfsstrætiSölfhólsgataLindargataLaugavegur (Main Street)Pósthússtræti 9101 ReykjavíkTel: (354) 578 2020info@icelandicbar.iswww.islenskibarinn.is19

its most magnificent creations. Thatswhy we call it an outdoors excursion,instead of a skiing tour exclusively,“ saysSigurbjörn.Top of the World-Kaldbaksferðir offers tours to the top of Kaldbakur mountainImagine standing on top of a 1,173 m (3800 feet) high mountain peakwith a spectacular panoramic view overlooking the north of Iceland.Now imagine skiing down.Tourist company Kaldbaksferðiroffers outdoors tours by special snowcats to the peak of Kaldbakur, oneof Icelands highest northern peaks.From the top of Kaldbakur passengerscan enjoy the magnificent view andthen choose to ski, snowboard, walk,sled or simply sit back and enjoy theride down in the snow cat.A New WorldSigurbjörn Höskuldsson, managerof Kaldbaksferðir, says that the snowcats offer everyone a chance toexperience the awesome landscapesof the north. „Once we reach the top acompletely new world opens up. Theview stretches towards Langanes inthe East, the Highlands in the southand Herðubreiðar mountains in theEast. It is an experience most peoplewon‘t regret living, even if you choosenot to ski down. Not everyone has thechance to experience the sheer powerof nature by standing on top of one ofEnjoy the Silence at Hotel BrimnesIceland‘s Longest Ski SlopeHe says the skiing part isn‘t as difficultas the length of the slope might indicate,but the total length of skiing comes toabout six kilometers (3.7 miles). „Thisprobably is Iceland‘s longest skiingslope, but that doesn‘t mean you have todo it all in one go. You can choose easierroutes and rest in between and we canof course pick those up who get inover their heads, but that almost neverhappens,“ says Sigurbjörn.The two snow cats can carry up to 52passengers, but as they are open air, besure to dress accordingly. Tours must bebooked in advance.For more information visit www.kaldbaksferdir.com or phone +3548673770.The mystical “peninsula of Trolls,”or Tröllaskagi, offers a widevariety of activities, all which canbe enjoyed within the tranquilityof fully furnished Finnish styledcabins at Hotel Brimnes.The family run hotel is locatedjust under an hour drive north ofAkureyri in the quiet fishing townof Ólafsfjörður. Brimnes offersboth standard rooms in addition tobungalows, each with a private hottub. The hotel is positioned next toa lake, on which guests can go outsailing and try their luck in fishingtrout.The manager of Brimnes, Axel PéturÁsgeirsson, says that even thoughthe immediate surroundings ofBrimnes are plentiful he hopes thathis guests seize the opportunity toexplore the peninsula and that thehotel staff will gladly help arrangingtrips around the area.The list of activities includes: hiking,fishing at the pier, visiting remotefishing towns, hunting and sailingout to the northest settlement ofIceland: the island Grimsey, 41 kmoff the coast of Iceland where thesun doesn’t set during summersolstice. And if you’re planning tovisit during winter Trollaskagi offersexcellent skiing slopes.20

Hólar in HjaltadalurFrom 1106 Hólar was one of two Episcopal sees in Iceland and a site for learning and education.Enjoy Garden AngelicaSoup at a Historical SettingHólar, which is located in the northern part of the country not far fromSauðarkrókur, is a site of cultural and historical importance. From 1106Hólar was one of two Episcopal sees in Iceland and became a site forlearning and education. Still a site for learning today, Hólar now alsoprovides it‘s visitors with accommodation and a restaurant with somevery interesting courses.Ólafur Jónsson, the manager oftourism in Hólar, says that therestaurant emphasizes on providingunique dishes which rely onlocal materials. One of these isthe renowned Garden AngelicaSoup which is made from GardenAngelicas (Angelica archangelica)picked from a valley nearby. In thetime of Vikings the Garden Angelicawas renowned for its medicinalqualities, a myth supported bymodern research which indicatesthat consumption of the herbstrengthens the immune system andthat it is effective against variousbacteria, fungal infections and evenviral infections.Another course is the Arctic charwhich is caught locally on a dailybasis and thus always served fresh.Other courses are spiced with locallygathered herbs and mushrooms.Activities are abundant in Hólar,including a camping ground locatedin a tranquil forest setting, variouswalking paths, hiking options,church, swimming pool and variousexhibitions detailing the historicaland cultural importance of the site.The list of activities in Hólar includes a swimming pool, walking paths, museum exhibitions and hiking.21

Driving on top of a glacier is an experience you won‘t forget soon.Winter Wonderland-Enjoy the Icelandic Winter with Reykjavik ExcursionsReykjavík Excursions is one of the largest and most experienced touroperators in Iceland. They offer a grand selection of exciting options forthose who want to see the best of Iceland, including a wide variety ofexciting day trips during the wintertime. Be sure not to miss a chance togo on glacier hikes, snowmobile drives, a chance to stand in the footstepsof Vikings or see the Northern Lights dancing around in fantastic colorsacross the Icelandic Arctic sky.Reykjavik Excursions operates anextensive list of day tours fromReykjavík all year around, including:Reykjavík Excursions offers a wide variety of hiking tours.22The Golden Circle,South ShoreAdventure, Take a Walk on theIce Side, Gullfoss- Geysir Direct,to name a few. The tours are guidedby professional guides in English,German, French or Scandinavian. REalso offers a great flexibility in BlueLagoon tours, a spot not to be missedwhen in Iceland.Glacier AdventuresThough the Icelandic winters canappear harsh and unwelcoming, theyoffer unforgettable opportunitiesfor outdoor activities. The GlacierAdventure tour takes you up tothe top of Mýrdalsjökull glacier,where you are invited to exploreit‘s surface by snowmobile for a fullhour. Standing on top of a glacieris a truly rewarding experience,where you are surrounded by snowand ice as far as the eye can see.Another icy expedition is the hikingtour Take a Walk on the Ice Sideon Eyjafjallajökull glacier. This isconsidered a relatively easy hike withspecial crampons up on to an ice fieldwhere a wonderland of ice sculptures,ridges and deep crevasses awaitsdiscovery. For those who wish tocombine staple tourist attraction withexciting winter sports the Gullfoss –Geysir & Langjökull Snowmobilingtour is the perfect solution. Startedby visits to the unique Gullfossand Geysir and followed by anadventurous snowmobile trek/ride on Langjökull glacier, Iceland’ssecond largest glacier.Catch the Northern LightsThe often elusive Northern Lights(Aurora Borealis) are for somethe most memorable part of theirtrip. The problem is that they don’tfollow any given schedules and

The often elusive Northern Lights (AuroraBorealis) are for some the most memorablepart of their trip. The problem is that theydon’t follow any given schedules and thelocations from which they can be seen arenot always the same. The Northern LightsTour takes care of that problem.the locations from which they canbe seen are not always the same.The Northern Lights Tour takescare of that problem as ReykjavikExcursions guides will take you tothe place where they’re most likelyto be seen.Explore Iceland’s SagaIn the informative Saga Circle, youare taken to some of some of Iceland’smost famous historical settingswhere you will be able to stand inthe footsteps of some of Iceland’smost noted people. The first stopis Borgarnes, the home to one ofIceland’s most famous Vikings andfirst poets, Egill Skallagrímsson. Thevisit includes a stop in the IcelandicSettlement Centre, which tells thesaga of the settlement of Iceland andhas an exciting and lively exhibitionon the life and adventures of Egill.The next stop is Reykholt, thehome of one of the most importantNordic poets and historians, SnorriSturluson. The trip is completed witha visit to Hraunfossar waterfalls andthe largest hot spring in the NorthernHemisphere, Deildartunguhver. Amust do tour for Saga enthusiasts.Bonfire Tour on New Year’sEveBe sure not to miss the ReykjavíkGrand Excursion while you’re intown. Reykjavík has a lot to offer,which all too many miss due to lack ofeither information or transportation.RE offers a guided tour throughSnowmobile tours on seemingly endless plains of snow.all the city’s highlights, including avisit to the Pearl, Hallgrímskirkjachurch, the National Museum, theharbor and the famous downtownarea. If you are in Reykjavík overthe holidays RE offers the uniqueBonfire Tour which explores thevarious bonfires lit up throughoutthe city on New Year’s Eve and offersyou the chance to join in on thecelebration. The fireworks displayimmediately following is somethingto be remembered.Plan Your Own VacationWith prior notice ReykjavikExcursions can tailor makeadventure tours for individuals andgroups, combining all the locationsand activities you can think of.Through its many partners ReykjavikExcursions offers a multitude ofexciting activities such as horsebackriding, quad bike tours, sailing tours,4X4 jeep tours and white riverrafting.For further information and bookingsend an e-mail to main@re.is orvisit www.re.is23

BORN AGAINA Unique Novelty in High Fashion“Today we must change our minds about throwing valuable things away.Here we have the skin and first wool of a young lamb. Soft, gentle curls– a beautiful Icelandic product,” says Eggert Jóhannsson, the furrier, whois responsible for a new fashion product called BORN AGAIN.BORN AGAIN is the result ofexperiments with special lambskin.These are skins from lambs that diedin birth or shortly thereafter. Thisis material that previously wouldhave been discarded but now has apurpose.Approved by Left GreenPartyIceland’s Minister of Agriculture andmember of the Left Green Party,Jón Bjarnason has applauded thisnovelty, which he says supports theenvironment by utilizing goods,which otherwise would have beendiscarded.The experiments were done moreor less in order to find a new andvaluable export item in times of localeconomic difficulties. This pioneeringwork is done in close cooperationwith local farmers, skinners andtanners. The basic idea behind this isto create an entirely new skin materialfor use in high fashion.Renowned furrierAfter 30 years of creating beautifulgarments, Eggert Jóhannsson has24become one of the top professionalfurriers in the world, and his work isinternationally acclaimed. Eggert is amember of the exclusive Purple Clubwhose members are selected by highstandards and custom design. Eggertreceived his training in England andin Sweden. His first training waswith Mr. Jack Marcel in London. Mr.Marcel was at that time consideredto be an outstanding furrier. LaterEggert moved to Sweden where hestudied with the Master Furrier Ms.Doris Stille. Her influence uponyoung Eggert Jóhannsson is still withhim today. Ms. Stille told Eggert oneday: “I cannot understand people whowant to throw away natural resourcesand how that can benefit nature.” Thishas been Eggert´s professional mottoever since !Ocean LeatherEggert Feldskeri has become aninternational trendsetter in his field.His early work with fishskins, usuallythrown away in the fishing industry, -mostly skins of salmon, perch and cod,were unique at the time, but are nowknown as Ocean Leather and widelyused in high fashion. Eggert still workswith Ocean Leather, but now mostlyfor colorful jackets and the trim of hisfur creations.

Unique wool andexceptional prices!In our Álafoss store in Mosfellsbær youwill find Icelandic wool, yarn and ahuge selection of woollen sweatersand wool accessories. There wealso offer traditional souvenirs,ceramics and handicrafts bylocal artists. Remember,now on extremelygood prices!Since 1896Álafossvegur 23, MosfellsbærOpen: Mondays - Fridays 9:00 - 18:00Saturdays 9:00 - 16:00www.alafoss.is

Among the highlights of this seasonin Reykjavík Art Museum is theKjarvalsstaðir exhibition of SteinunnSiguraðardóttir’s fashion designer,who has gained a worldwiderecognition for her timeless andunique clothes design.Experience Icelandic Art-Reykjavík Art Museum exhibits classic and contemporary Icelandic artWhile Iceland is usually most often recognized for its unique landscape,Iceland boasts a number of highly talented artists, some who havereached international acclaim. The Reykjavík Art Museum exhibitsthree of Iceland’s most successful artists on a permanent basis, as wellas exhibiting works of exciting new artists and works from renownedartists from all over the world.The Reykjavík Art Museum ishoused in three unique buildingsin different parts of the city. Oneof which is Kjarvalsstaðir, namedafter Iceland’s most beloved painter,Jóhannes Kjarval (1885-1972).The current exhibition focusesAsmundarsafnon Kjarval’s key works and offersan unique overview of his prolificcareer.The works of Iceland’s mosteccentric painter, Erró, are on displayin Hafnarhús, which is locateddowntown by the harbor. While Erróis on permanent display, Hafnarhúsis simultaneously a melting pot foryoung and aspiring artists fromIceland and abroad and promotes alltypes of contemporary art.The third building is the sculpturemuseum Ásmundarsafn, formerhome and studio of the sculptorÁsmundur Sveinsson. His works arePhoto:Mary EllenMarkoften displayed with works by otherartists.Among the highlights of this seasonin Reykjavík Art Museum is theKjarvalsstaðir exhibition of SteinunnHafnarhusidSiguraðardóttir’s fashion designer, whohas gained a worldwide recognition forher timeless and unique clothes design.At Hafnarhús the internationallyacclaimed Japanese artist YoshitomoNara has made a new installationspecially designed for the gallery, withspecial shipping containers equippedwith peepholes and window.The museum buildings are open dailyand entrance is free to all exhibitions.For more information take a lookat the museum’s website, www.artmuseum.is.Kjarvalsstadir27

Knit your own Icelandic Wool Sweater-Garnbudin offers everything you need for knittingPhoto: IngóIcelandic knitting products are popular souvenirs and gifts to bringhome from Iceland. Garnbudin (The Yarn Store) now offers you a chanceto make your own Icelandic Wool sweaters, with its wide array of yarns,knitting pins and instruction books. You can even order them online andthus make yourself a little piece of Iceland without ever having gonethere.Garnbudin is located in Akranes,just outside of Reykjavík, and offersall you would ever need for knitting.As the name indicates Garnbudinoffers a seemingly endless variety ofyarn, including Icelandic yarn, variousmulti-colored decorative yarns and theArgentinean AslanTrends yarn.Anna Silfa Þorsteinsdóttir, owner ofGarnbudin, says that Icelanders areespecially avid knitters. “Icelanders usedto export knitted goods and the wholefamily would sit together and knit; men,women and children. The most popularproduct is of course the Icelandic woolsweater, while another unique Icelandicproduct is the two-thumbed sailor’smittens,” says Anna.You can find the patterns of the Icelandicproducts in special guidebooks,available in English. “The Icelandicyarn is available in many beautifulcolors. The Icelandic yarn comes in twotypes “þel” and “tog” which give it itsunique durability and resistance to theelements.All products from Garnbudin areavailable online, so you can knitsweaters for your whole family, which isnot an uncommon tradition in Iceland,long after your visit is over.For more visit www.garnbudin.isBudget Accommodation with Majestic Views-Móar Guesthouse is located just outside the CapitalMóar Guesthouse offers accommodationfor reasonable prices, justoutside Akranes, which is closeto the capital area. Accordingto Sólveig Jóna Jóhannesdóttir,manager of Móar, visitors havefound Móar to be an ideal basewhile touring the South ofIceland.„Many of our visitors have decided tostay with us for several days, exploringattractions such as Gullfoss, Geysirand Þingvellir during the day andcoming back to Móar to relax in theevening. The town of Akranes alsooffers a wide array of services such asa golf course, a swimming pool andmuseums.People find the surroundings of Móarto be both very peaceful and beautiful.Móar is an ideal base for your travels in the South of Iceland. Photo: IngóIn fact many of our customers chooseto stay with us just by seeing Móarfrom the road. The view covers theentire Faxaflói bay, the mountain ofAkrafjall and even a glacier in thedistance,“ says Sólveig.Móar offers accommodation for up to20 persons, either for sleeping bags orwith made up beds. Each room comeswith a private toilet and shower. Thereis a communal lounge area with a TVand a kitchen area for those wishingto cook their own meals.For booking: 431 1389 or sollajoh@simnet.is28

Enjoy Icelandwith the best* local tour expertCheck out our Day Tours brochure,call us at (+354) 540-1313 or visit www.grayline.is*According to the Dear Visitor study done by Tourism Research and Consulting in the summer of 2008,Iceland Excursions had a significant lead compared to compitetitors in satisfaction and quality.

Visit the Settingfor Iceland’s Greatest Saga-The Saga Center in Hvolsvöllur offers a unique Chance to Stand in theFootprints of Iceland’s greatest HeroesThe most famous and acclaimed of all of the Icelandic Sagas is without adoubt Brennu Njáls Saga, or Njála as most Icelanders call it. It is an epicprose written in the thirteenth century by an unknown author whichtells the story of blood feud lasting fifty years. Njála is a highly complexwork telling the lives of memorable characters such as the powerful, yetpeaceful, warrior Gunnar Hámundarson from HlíðarendiHllh and hisfriend and title character Njáll from Bergþórshvoll, who were continuallysucked into power struggles and battles by both their enemies and theirown families.The Saga Centre in Hvolsvöllur offersyou a chance to actually visit thesites described in the story and learnmore about its characters throughthe informative Njála exhibition.There the story and principalcharacters are explained in greatdetail, richly illustrated with picturesand descriptions of their conflictsat fateful moments in the story.30Njála describes Icelandic society asit was approximately 1000 years ago;it offer magnificent characterizationof power struggles, torrid passions,strife, and skulduggery in a heathensociety that was about to becomeChristianized.Unforgettable ExperienceThe immediate surroundings ofthe Saga Centre are the actualhistorical setting of Njála itself. Thekey sites from the story are labeledwith the Saga Centre logo and inmany places there are informationsigns detailing how the site is relatedto the events and characters in Njála.All the sites are easily accessible toall visitors. The Saga Centre can beof assistance in hiring thoroughlyexperienced tour guides for largeand small groups alike, which is anexperience which will not easily beforgotten.Imagine standing on top of the samerock as the seemingly invincibleGunnar Hámundarson did whenhe fought off an ambush at the riverRangá. Gunnar had previously killeda man named Þorgeir Otkelsson anda nemesis of Gunnar had heard ofa prophecy saying Gunnar wouldmeet his demise if he were to slayanother member of Þorgeir’s family.So it was no coincidence that amongthe attackers was Þorgeir‘s son,which Gunnar of course killed.Fair is the bloomingmeadowA famous passage in the book iswhen Gunnar was being forced toexile from Iceland and took his lastlook over his homestead and spoke:„Fair is the blooming meadow.“ Afterviewing the meadow of HlíðarendiGunnar decided to stay in Iceland

Imagine standingon top of thesame rock asthe seeminglyinvincible GunnarHámundarson didwhen he fought offan ambush at theriver Rangá.Gunnarssteinn, where Gunnar and his brother Kolskeggur fought for their lives.and thus live the remainder ofhis days as an outlaw. That sameinfluential meadow is of course stillthere today and you can decide foryourself if it is beautiful enough tospend your life as an outlaw for.Bergþórshvoll was the home to Njáll,as well as the setting for his death.After a series of misfortunes, mostlycaused by his sons, Bergþórshvollwas ascended upon by an army of ahundred men who burned the hometo the ground with Njáll and elevenothers in it. This event of coursespawned the name of the story: TheStory of the Burning of Njáll.Insight Into the World ofVikingsThe Njála exhibition also offers aunique insight into the pre-Christianworld of Vikings, including theunique sailing techniques of theVikings and miniature modelsof Althing. Another part of theexhibition explains the uniqueIcelandic tradition of safeguardingits storytelling wealth by writing itdown on calf skin. And if you reallywant to submerge into the life of aViking, you can attend events in theSaga Hall, which is a reproductionof a typical Viking Age chieftain’shall, complete with benches clad inhorsehide.History of TradeThe Saga Centre also hosts anexhibition of Icelandic cooperativesociety, where guests can learn aboutthe history of trade, commerce andthe cooperative movement. Take aglance back in time and explore thelife and work of past generations.The exhibition is conceived as ajourney through time and enablesguests to walk through the past 100years of trade in Southern Iceland.Sögusetrið offers audio guides in Icelandic, English and German.Bergþórshvoll was ascended uponby an army of a hundred men whoburned the home to the groundwith Njáll and eleven others in it.In Keldur you can see how the development in housing has been since 1100.31

All of Iceland Excursion‘s vehicles are equipped with safety belts.Iceland’s Most Modern Car Fleet-Iceland Excursions puts safety firstIceland Excursions offers a wide variety of day tours and longer tours toall of Iceland‘s most exciting locations. The company takes great pridein offering its customers the most comfortable and safest experiencepossible by renewing their fleet regularly and now boasts of havingthe most modern fleet in Iceland. Iceland Excursions has a strongenvironmental policy, putting a strong emphasis on responsible drivingand using the most eco-friendly vehicles available. In 2004 IcelandExcursions was given the formal Gray Line Worldwide franchise in Iceland.Gray Line is the worlds leader in sightseeing, ground transportationservices and unique tours at over 150 destinations around the world.Iceland Excursions operates severaltours all year round to stapleattractions, including, Gullfoss &Geysir Express, the Golden CircleClassic, Greater Area ReykjavíkSightseeing and Blue Lagoon Direct.Many of the tours can be combinedto include two or more locationsin one day. Iceland Excursions alsooffers exciting activity tours such asthe cave exploring tour Iceland FromBelow, which takes you to Iceland’smost spectacular lava tube caves andcraters. There you will enter throughnarrow cave entrances and findthey reveal extraordinary scenery ofcolors and lava formations.Snorkeling, Horsebackriding and SnowmobilesFor those who want to try out theirriding skills on the unique IcelandicHorse try The Viking Horse tours,which can be combined with eitheran afternoon trip to Gullfoss andGeysir or to the Blue Lagoon. Alsoa great activity before visiting theBlue Lagoon is an ATV tour on theReykjanes peninsula on the ATVand Blue Lagoon Direct tour.As the landscapes of Iceland areoften ill traversed, Icelanders haveaccumulated years of experience injeep modifications and snowmobiledriving. The Golden Circle SuperJeep Tour offers you a chance tovisit some of Iceland‘s most famousand exciting natural phenomena in4x4 super-jeeps, which have been32

The Golden Circle Super Jeep Tour offersyou a chance to visit some of Iceland‘smost famous and exciting naturalphenomena in 4x4 super-jeeps, whichhave been specially modified to traversedifficult off-road tracks and mountainroads.specially modified to traverse difficultoff-road tracks and mountain roads.Included is a one hour snowmobileride on Iceland‘s second largestglacier, Langjökull glacier.For a truly unforgettable experiencebe sure not to miss diving orsnorkeling in Silfra at Þingvellir.Silfra is a fissure in the face of theearth with a constant temperature of1-3° all year round, so the weather isnot a factor. Diving requires a diver’scertification, although diving in Silfrais considered quite easy. Snorkelingis available for beginners and basictraining is included in the tour.Celebrate the New Year withthe LocalsIcelander‘s are renowned for theirexcess when it comes to ringingin the new year. The fireworksdisplay is completely unique, wherehundreds of tons of fireworks areshot up in the air in a matter ofhours. The Bonfire and Fireworkstour offers you the chance to viewthis extraordinary event from anadvantageous viewpoint, as wellas toasting in Champagne andcelebrating with the locals.If you are visiting Iceland duringwinter it would almost be a crimeto leave without at least tryingto see the Northern Lights. TheNorthern Lights Mystery tourgives you a unique chance to seethis often elusive phenomenon. Ona clear night Iceland Excursion’sexperienced guides will try to findthe best location to see them, whichwill of course vary from day to day.Safety FirstEach bus in Iceland Excursion’s fleetis equipped with a sophisticatedlocation device, which keepsa detailed track of the vehicle’sdriving record. This enables IcelandExcursions to monitor speed,turning, braking, acceleration andlength of stops. With this data IcelandExcursions is able to advocate bothsafer and more environmentallyfriendly driving.Iceland Excursions definitely putssafety first; every bus is equippedwith safety belts for all passengersand parents can get Children’sSafety Car Seats free of charge fortheir small children (up to 20 kg inweight).Iceland Excursions go to Geysir all year round.The Northern Lights Mystery Tour.33

The Essential Servant-The Icelandic Horse breed has survived a Thousand Yearsof Harsh Winters and Volcanic EruptionsThe Icelandic Horse is considered to rank among the finest breeds in theworld. It is highly sought after by international horse breeders for itsfine physique and two extra gaits. The Icelandic people hold these noblecreatures in high regard, as horseback riding is among the most popularsports and hobbies in the country.The Icelandic horse is a bit smallerthan most horses, in fact it is almost apony (but don‘t ever call it a pony toa native). They are especially strongdue to a natural selection of sorts, asthey are the survivors of hundredsof years of extreme winters andvolcanic eruptions. But perhapsdue to a lack of natural predatorsin Iceland they are especially docileand easy-tempered, which makesthem optimal for riding for those lessexperienced.Their colors and patterns are veryvariable and the Icelandic vocabularyhas over a hundred names for them,some of which are more obvious thanothers. For example if an Icelanderdescribes a horse as grey, you mightthink it is white and if he describes itas brown you might think it is black.While most horse breeds only havethree or four gaits, i.e. ways of walkingor running, the Icelandic breed hastwo unique additional gaits: tölt andskeið. The former is shared by allIcelandic horses and is considered a34The Icelandic horse is known for its mild temper. Photos: Ingóvery comfortable gait for riding; thelatter is rarer and usually reserved forhighly trained horses and riders.Founders of IcelandThe original settlers of Icelandbrought with them horses fromtheir home countries, which latermixed with breeds from the Englishislands. After early failed attempts atcrossbreeding a law was passed in982 which forbade the importation ofhorses to Iceland. The Icelandic breedis thus over one thousand years old.The horse was an extremelyimportant part of the daily life in theViking times and an important factorin making these harsh landscapeshabitable, which is why the horseis sometimes called the „essentialservant.“ Travelling long distances“Horses were highlyrevered by theNordic settlers andplayed a grand rolein Norse mythologyand were evenworshipped asdeities. The mostfamous horse ofall was Sleipnir,the eight leggedsteed of Óðinn,who reportedlyset down one ofhis hooves onetime in Northern-Iceland, creating themagnificent Ásbyrgicanyon.would have been impossible withoutthe horse, which made them essentialfor trade, commerce, politics,education and human interaction.All heavy manual labor was usuallycarried out by a horse, whether itwas carrying fish from the shore,carrying hay from the field or woodfor building.Horses were highly revered by theNordic settlers and played a grandrole in Norse mythology and wereeven worshipped as deities. Themost famous horse of all was Sleipnir,the eight legged steed of Óðinn,who reportedly set down one ofhis hooves one time in Northern-Iceland, creating the magnificentÁsbyrgi canyon.Horses were considered an indicatorof its owners wealth; the better thesteed – the richer the owner was.Some lords would even have theirmost prized steed buried with them.In order to decide who‘s breed wasthe best, horse fights were held,in which stallions would be pittedagainst each other.

Inside the Volcano-Volcano Tours Offer you the Chance to Stand inside a Volcanoand Descend below the Surface into Ancient Lava CavesMuch has been said and writtenabout Iceland’s many uniquegeographical phenomena, butthere is nothing that beats theexperience of actually walkinginside a volcanic crater ordescending into mysteriouscaves under the surface of theearth.Tourist company VolcanoTours offers a variety of uniqueexcursions which explore themultitude of craters, caves,lava fields, hot springs andgeothermal areas found on theReykjanes peninsula.Jaw Dropping ExperienceThe staff of Volcano Tours haveyears of experience of cave exploringand touring the volcanic craters andcan thus give you the full details ofReykjanes’ unique landscape. ErlingEinarsson, owner of Volcano Tours,estimates that he has exploredover 200 caves on the Reykjanespeninsula, yet when he enters anew cave his jaw still drops to thefloor in awe. „It is truly a rewardingexperience to stand face to face tothe awesome powers of the earth.I often see it in the faces of thegroups I bring to the caves, peoplesometimes stand still in amazementand even forget to take photographs.That‘s when I know the trip has beena success,“ says Erling.Reykjanes‘ geographical history isas rich as it is long. Reykjanes is infact a part of the mid Atlantic ridge,which lies along the bottom of theAtlantic Ocean and is the longestmountain range in the world.Volcanic eruptions on the Reykjanespeninsula have been frequentthroughout the ages, the last majoreruption occuring in the 13thcentury. This high level of volcanicactivity has created a wide arrayof unique geological phenomena,many of which Volcanic Toursprovide a chance to explore up closeand personal.When some of the volcanoesbecame inactive hunders ofyears ago they suddenly emptiedthemselves and are now hollowedout. This gives us the chance toexplore them from the inside, whichErling says is an experience whichwill not be easily forgotten. „It is anamazing experience to stand insidea volcano and see how the lavaonce oozed down the crater wallslike melted chocolate when the lavastopped spurting up from beneaththe surface,“ says Erling.Volcano Tours offer many varietiesof excursions which frequentlyinclude around 20-25 stops atvarious geological and historicallocations, depending on thecustomers field of interest. Toursinclude an experienced guideand protective clothes as well as afull cave exploring kit, includinghelmets, headlamps, overalls andmittens. Tours can include hikingVolcano Tours offers you a chance to step inside volcanoes.and/or short walks, all dependingon the wishes of the customer. Allof Volcano Tours’ excursions areon 4x4 jeeps, with six passengers ineach vehicle.A magical world underneath the surface.Dance of the SpiritsDuring the wintertime Volcano Toursalso gives you the unique opportunityto catch the northern lights in all theirglory. The Aurora Borealis Tour istailor made so that you can experiencethis marvelous phenomenon in all itsglory. Volcanic Tours will help findthe perfect spots for you to view andphotograph the “dance of the spirits”in the comfort of a luxurious jeep andwarm overalls.For further information and bookingvisit www.volcanotours.is35

Cursing the GodsWhile most people are familiar with the red-haired god of thunderThor who smote his opponents with his mighty hammer Mjölnir, notas many would agree that he actually resides in Valhalla drinking withhis buddies Odin and Loki. Ásatrúarfélagið, the largest non-Christianreligious organization in Iceland, does however hold the Old Norsegods in high regard and follow their ways in modern day Iceland.Ásatrúarfélagið says it is open forthose who believe in the Nordic andIcelandic folklore, the spirits andentities the folklore represents inaddition to gods and other beingsfrom the Nordic pantheism. Thepurpose of the organization is keepingalive the old traditions, beliefs andways and restores the Ancient Wayto its former glory, reclaim Iceland‘scultural heritage and honor the waysof the old Nordic Gods.As a fully licensed religion Ásatrúarfélagiðperforms various ceremoniessuch as naming rituals, marriage andfunerals. One of the biggest eventsfor Ásatrúarfélagið is the „blót,“ inwhich members gather for a feast andcelebrate the gods by cursing them. In2008 Ásatrúarfélagið had over 1.200registered members.Unique scholarly traditionThe Norse Mythology flourishedduring the Viking Age in theScandinavian countries, butit was primarily in Iceland thatthe mythology was documented.Snorra Edda and Eddukvæðin,written during the 13th century, arethe primary source of informationon the religion and its traditionsfrom that time. These uniquescholarly feats have fuelledgreat respect and pridefor the old traditions inIceland, made evidentby the practice ofÁsatrúarfélagið.A Long TimeComingCelebrating the OldNorse gods publiclywas outlawedin Iceland inthe year 1000,although heathenrituals continued in secrecy.Not until 1874 was the banlifted with a new constitution.Ásatrúarfélagið was foundedin the year 1972. There was aperceived need of a methodologicalpreservation of the old traditions andthe founders were adamantthat an official religionshould be founded.Having been dormantfor hundreds ofyears, the OldNorse gods had losttheir credibilityand it is said thatthe ministerof justice andecclesiasticalaffairs, of thattime, perceivedÁsatrúarfélagið’sapplication as a joke.Ásatrúarfélagið howevergained the status of anofficial religion thefollowing year and hasbeen growing eversince; it even hada representative incongress at one pointin time.WelcomingreligionEven though Odin, Thorand their cohorts can seemunwelcoming charactersand even openly hostile attimes, Ásatrú is a religionbased on tolerance,honor, honesty andrespect for nature andall life, with each personresponsible for his or herown actions.Photo: Thor's battle against the giants (1872) byMårten Eskil Winge36

More Iceland For Less MoneyExplore the unique volcanicand arctic nature of IcelandGOLDEN CIRCLE DAY TOURDaily departures: 08:30Duration: 8 hours.Price: 8.000 ISKProfessional Guidance.THE BLUELAGOON BUSPlease book in AdvancePrice: 6.500 ISKIncludes Blue LagoonAdmissionCall: +354 511 2600 • Mail: bustravel@bustravel.is • www.bustravel.is

The Icelandic sheep is considered strong willed and stubborn. Photos: IngóLand of sheep-The Icelandic sheep plays an important role in IcelandThe Icelandic sheep has been closely intertwined with the Icelandicpsyche throughout the centuries, which does not come as a surprise assheep were one of the fundamental factors in getting Icelanders throughthe harsh winters since the late 800’s. Even though central heating andcontinental food were introduced late last century, most Icelanders stillhold the Icelandic sheep in high reverence. The Icelandic sheep is stillthe staple food of Icelanders, it supplies materials for the ever popularIcelandic wool sweater, it the subject of academic research and it evenhas its own Facebook fan page.The Icelandic sheep is consideredby many to be among the oldest andpurest stock of sheep in the world, asearly attempts of breeding with otherLand of sheepIn 2008 there were over 360thousand sheep in Iceland,compared to a population of315 thousand, which meansthere are 1.15 sheep for eachperson.In 1980 there were 685thousand sheep in Iceland,compared to a population of226 thousand, which meansthere were over three sheep forevery person.38stocks proved unsuccessful and asa result the import of foreign stockwas prohibited. Many believe thatthe Icelandic sheep possess a veryunique character, strong willed andindependent, which is made evidentby their almost supernatural andextremely frustrating ability to evadeany fencing attempts to contain withina given field. So don’t be surprised tosee sheep standing on the side of theroad, nonchalantly chewing cud andignoring all boundaries set by theirmasters.The Icelandic people are among thebiggest lamb consumers on the globe.In comparison the Finnish populationconsumes less than half a kilo per year,Denmark and Sweden around oneand a half kilos, Norwegians over 6kilos, but Iceland takes the prize withover twenty kilos. Around 8500 tonsof mutton are produced in Icelandeach year, most of which is consumeddomestically.Icelanders have not only relied on theIcelandic sheep solely for sustenance,but also for warmth. The wool isconsidered quite unique as it hastwo layers, one being long and rough,while the other being short and fluffy.As a result the Icelandic knitted woolsweaters are highly sought afterfor their insulation and durability.In addition to its more practicalqualities the Icelandic wool sweateris considered quite stylistic and itssignature pattern is used as a base bymany young fashion designers.

The Icelandic FilmSchool is currentlyin the process ofcompleting animmense studiospace, which isof a much largerscale than anythingpreviously heard ofin Iceland.The Icelandic people are among the most avid cinema enthusiasts in the world.Icelandic CinemaDespite it‘s relatively short lifetimethe Icelandic cinema traditionis particularly strong. Iceland‘scinema attendance per capitaranks up with the highest and themovie production rate especiallyformidable for a nation of lessthan 350 thousand. The IcelandicFilm School plays an importantrole in Iceland’s cinema landscapeand indeed has plans to changeIceland into a bona fide cinemaheavyweight.Looking for leadersThe school recently relocated to anew 37.000 square feet building andis now undergoing a change whichwould allow it to graduate students ata university level. The Icelandic FilmSchool is in the process of expandingit capacity up to 400 students andplans to open a department forinternational students in 2010. Theschool currently graduates studentsfrom four departments; directorialand production department,technology department, scriptwriting and directorial departmentand acting department. „First andforemost we are looking for leaders,talented people who will drive thisindustry forward. It really doesn’tmake that much of a difference fromwhich department students graduate,our goal is to produce individuals whocan take on almost any role withinthe film industry, “says Böðvar BjarkiPétursson, Director of Icelandic FilmSchool.Cinema IcelandBöðvar says that he wanted to see if itwere possible to take it to the next stepand create 3000 new jobs by turningIceland‘s cinema industry into asizeable portion of the country‘s grossdomestic product. „After extensiveresearch we concluded that thiswould indeed be possible, but in orderto that to happen we need to breakthrough a certain growth ceiling. Weneed coordinated actions from thegovernment, increased support fortelevision production, we need tocontinue to attract foreign cinemainvestments and in due time establishan investment fund, „says Böðvar.Böðvar says that the government hasbeen quite supportive of the industryso far and Iceland has attracted severalnoted projects to its shores, includinga Clint Eastwood directed war filmand a recent James Bond film.Blend of business and artBöðvar claims that the cinema suitsIcelanders especially well because it isa blend of arts and business. „Icelandhas a rich history of storytellingand Icelanders are known for theirbusiness enthusiasm, which are keyelements in the cinema industry. Inaddition we are a very technologicallyadvanced nation and quick to adapt tonew trends, “says Böðvar.The Icelandic Film School is currentlyin the process of completing animmense studio space, which is ofa much larger scale than anythingpreviously heard of in Iceland. Thefacilities will be equipped with allthe latest technology required andsupported by an audio recordingstudio next door.39

The concept of the building is tocreate a crystalline form with avariety of colors dependent onthe surrounding nature.Iceland’s most ambitious buildingThe Icelandic National Concert and Conference Centre will open in 2011One of the most ambitious buildings to rise in Iceland would certainlyhave to be the Icelandic National Concert and Conference Centre, whichwill open in the old harbour in Reykjavík early 2011. The building hasa unique design with a glass facade covering the entire building. It isover 258.000 square feet in size, which will easily accommodate largerinternational conferences, conventions with accompanying trade showsand promotions, or for any large group meetings for that matter.Unique designundoubtedly stand out as a uniqueSituated in the old harbour between landmark in continuous interplayReykjavík city centre and the North with its surroundings. The designAtlantic, the new Icelandic National is influenced by Iceland‘s uniqueConcert and Conference Centre will landscapes and places the building onthe boundary between land and sea,where, according to its builders, it ismeant to reflect both sky and harbour“The glass facadespace as well as the vibrant life of thewas designed bycity. “The concept of the building isto create a crystalline form with arenowned visualvariety of colours dependent on thesurrounding nature, giving the viewerartist Ólafur Elíasson. a continuous feeling of sensuouschange. The building stands alone asThe architects of thea monolith, reflecting the varying skybuilding are Henning both in intensity and colour dependingon the time of day, the weather andLarsen Architectsthe season. The sun will accentuatethe details in light and shadow, andin Copenhagen,the building will allude to the warmgolden colours of glowing lava or toDenmark.”the ice blue glaciers of winter.“40The glass facade was designedby renowned visual artist ÓlafurElíasson. The architects of the buildingare Henning Larsen Architects inCopenhagen, Denmark.Simultaneous EventsThe Icelandic National Concertand Conference Centre will havefour halls, the largest of which canaccommodate up to 1.800 seatedpersons. In addition there will bevarious smaller meeting rooms spreadaround the building and a spaciousexhibition area, all equipped withthe latest technology. This makes itpossible to host events simultaneouslywithout one interfering with another.In addition the building will serve asa centre for live musical performanceof all types and genres, be it classical,opera, jazz, blues, rock or pop. TheIceland Symphony Orchestra willhave its base there, as well as theIcelandic Opera.

Photos: IngóIceland in figuresThe land andits inhabitantsIceland is the second largest island in Europe and it is locatedin the North Atlantic Ocean.The island is 103,000 square kilometers and it embracesapproximately 200 volcanoes.Approximately 75% of the land is in more than 200 metersover sea level and a large part is a plateau devoid of vegetationwith odd mountains and mountain ranges.All in all, glaziers in Iceland cover approximately 11,900square kilometers compared to 1,400 square kilometers offarming land.On January 1st 2008 the population in Iceland was 313,000and 63% of the population lived in the capital area in the southof Iceland.In the beginning of the 17th century 50,000 individualsinhabited the island and the population was much morescattered around the country than it is to day.In the beginning of 2008 the number of immigrants as aproportion of the total population was 6.8% which makesfor 21,400 individuals with foreign citizenship residing inIceland.In the year 1950, 2,700 foreign citizens resided in Iceland,which makes for 2% of the total population of 141,000 people.The weatherThe sea temperature in the south and south west of Iceland isca 10°C during summertime and 5°C during the winter. In thenorth and east of Iceland the sea temperature is 5°C duringsummertime and ca 1-2°C during the winter. Because of arelatively stable sea temperature the air temperature does notdiffer much between seasons.The average air temperature in Reykjavík is ca 5°C. In Januarythe average air temperature is ca 0.4°C but 11.2°C in July.The lowest air temperature in Iceland was recorded inGrímsstaðir in January 1918 when the temperature wentbelow -37°C.The highest air temperature recorded was ca 30°C in 1939.It rains often in Iceland and mostly so in the south but not fora long period at a time.The predominant characteristic of the weather in Iceland ishow changeful it is.This information and other statistical information can befound on the Statistics Iceland’s web site: www.statice.is

Sigur Rós are known for their introvert nature in interviews, but not in their live shows. Photos:: IngóThe Music of Iceland Inspired by elves?The multitude of bands and musicians constantly emerging fromIceland has led to many speculations about possible reasons behindthis creativity. Most analysts make a connection between Iceland’s oftendynamic landscapes and some kids getting together and making music.Other reasons often cited have got something to do with elves, trolls,government subsidies or something in the water. Whatever the reasonis, there are indeed many musicians working in Iceland today and someof them are quite gifted.Most people with a passingknowledge of Iceland’s music sceneusually ask: “Why is it that such a smallcountry produces so many talentedmusicians?” The answer to thatquestion is elusive and has spawnedsome very interesting theories andmisconceptions. The most commonbeing: Icelanders believe in elves,Icelanders are inspired by theirmajestic landscapes, Icelanders arebored in the darkness of winter or that42Icelandic bands receive governmentsupport.Some of these misconceptionsabout Iceland and Icelandic musiclikely come from the most famousIcelanders, through no fault of theirown. The most recognized Icelanderof all time would have to be Björk.Since her first album in 1994 she hasappeared in countless interviewsand news articles, which in somecases provide the only knowledgepeople have about Iceland. Sigur Rósis probably the most famous band toemerge from the shores of Iceland,having sold millions of CD’s, touredextensively all over the world withsome of today’s most acclaimed artistsand gathered universal acclaim fromcritics and music enthusiasts from allover the world. In their appearance inthe media Sigur Rós and Björk haveperhaps helped support the stereotypeof the Icelandic people and music. Ifthe only Icelanders you’d ever meetwere Björk and members of SigurRós it would be quite understandableto perceive all Icelanders as shy, elflike,introvert characters with a greatconnection with the forces of nature.Other musicians from Iceland do notnecessarily share their views on life.Looking for a common theme or stylewould prove a fruitless task as Iceland’smodern music is as diverse as it isplentiful. Elves hold little significanceto most and most musicians areborn and raised in the capital area,not between an active volcano anda gargantuan glacier. The only reallyunifying theme is the sense of freedom;the fact that artists are free to exploretheir creativity without necessarilyshedding their audience. Market lawsdo of course apply as everywhere else,but record sales do not seem to bethe driving force for most artists. Thiscan be seen by the seemingly endlessflow of artists performing in tinycoffee shops, playing music that willalmost certainly never reach a wideaudience.

Curious heritageIceland’s musical heritage is a curiousone, driven by strong rhythms,intricate rhyming and storytelling.Early on instruments were scarce dueto harsh conditions, but rudimentarystringed instruments were available,in particular the “Langspil,” whichis a 2-3 string instrument native toIceland. The most common traditionis the so-called “Rímur” or rhymes,which are sort of epic vocal poems,with fixed diatonic melodies. Rímurhave had an upheaval of sorts withthe recent collaboration of SteindórAndersen and Sigur Rós whoperformed and recorded Rímur a fewyears back. For those interested inmodern interpretations of Icelandicfolk be sure to check out HinnÍslenski Þursaflokkur where youcan hear progressive 70’s sounds,unconventional time signatures andIcelandic folk traditions all in the samemix. A duet of two of Iceland’s mosttalented guitarists, Guitar Iclancio,has been playing jazzed up versionsof Icelandic folk songs for almost adecade to great acclaim.Meet the BeatlesRock and roll hit Iceland big andsome of the early Beatles rockers arestill creating music today. One of themost successful early rockers wasHljómar, which even made it as faras cutting an EP for Parlaphone. SaidEP apparently is an extremely valuablecollector’s item today. With the adventof psychadelica and progressiverock Hljómar united with anotherpopular group of the time, Flowers, toform the super group Trúbrot, whichrecorded one of the more acclaimedalbums in Icelandic rock history.Iceland’s DylanOne of the more acclaimed andinfamous musicians is Megas, whohas been called the Icelandic Dylan.Since his first album came out in 1972the Icelandic people have learned tolove and hate him simultaneously. Hispeculiar voice, his choice of lifestyleand controversial lyrical topics havemade sure that every Icelander has anopinion on Megas.Another controversial figure and afriend of Megas is Bubbi Morthens,one of the biggest selling recordingartists in Iceland. An early punk rockicon and working class spokesman,he is responsible for some of themost important music in Iceland’srock history. Bubbi is known forspeaking his mind on whatever topicsare at hand, be it drugs, politics, hisown dyslexia or his recent financialtroubles.Rock in ReykjavíkThe most famous Icelander outsideof Iceland is most certainly BjörkGuðmundsdóttir. While her solooutput is her most recognized work,she was an active participant in theIcelandic punk rock scene in herearly years. Björk was a member ofbands such as K.U.K.L. and TappiTíkarass, while eventually having herbreakthrough with the Sugarcubes.The Icelandic punk scene was aglorious melting pot of adolescentrebellion and exciting music. Of themore renowned punk artists were:Utangarðsmenn, which played angryblues inspired punk, Þeyr whichdelved into the cold world of postpunk(notice future Sugarcubesdrummer, Sigtryggur Baldursson),Purrkur Pilnikk were the youngestof the bunch and included futureSugarcubes vocalist Einar ÖrnBenediktsson, who is now frontingIt is however inrecent years thatthe music scenebegan to expand toits current size, nowboasting successfulartists in almost allgenres, includingrock, pop, jazz, blues,classical, opera,ambient, rap, punk,progressive metaland even a reggaeband.an experimental noise band calledGhostdigital. The Icelandic punk rockscene was documented brilliantly inRokk í Reykjavík (both DVD and CD)where you can witness enlighteneddiscussions about glue sniffing andother punk rock shenanigans.PopIt is however in recent years that themusic scene began to expand to itscurrent size, now boasting successfulartists in almost all genres, includingrock, pop, jazz, blues, classical, opera,ambient, rap, punk, progressive metaland even a reggae band.Icelandic female singer-songwritershave been especially prominent inrecent times. In addition to Björk,chanteuses such as Emilíana Torrini,Hafdís Huld and most recently LayLow have been singing their wayinto the hearts of the internationalcommunity. Although each of themhas their own style they all share acertain cutesy sincerity. Torrini hasbeen putting out albums for sometime and has been reigning over theEuropean charts this summer withher hit single “Jungle Drum.” HafdísHuld was originally a member ofthe GusGus collective, but is now anestablished solo artist. With her blendof country, blues and indie music LayLow is one of the best selling artistsin Iceland and surely on her way tointernational acclaim.One of the more exciting acts toemerge from Iceland today callshimself Mugison. Mugison startedas a solo performer with a laptopand gained a large following as such.Always looking for a new soundand vision, he now performs witha full rock and roll band which ablyplays almost all possible genres,often within the same song. Don’t besurprised to hear soft acoustic songs,heavy blues rock and death metal inthe same sitting.Bang Gang has been around forawhile, yet their music has onlyrecently reached international shores.Bang Gang is really a one man band,whose leader Bardi Johannsson alsoperforms under his own name andwith Lady & Bird.ClassicalThe Iceland Symphony Orchestrais considered one of the leadingNordic orchestras and has in recenttimes been active in collaboratingwith contemporary artists andputting up memorable concerts.The orchestra is in fact one of thefew musical endevours subsidizedby the government (through thenational radio.) Classical music inIceland is certainly not exclusive tothe Icelandic Symphony Orchestra.Jóhann Jóhannsson is a renownedcomposer of modern classical musicand has released several albums towide critical acclaim. Another youngprodigy, Ólafur Arnalds, has beencausing a stir within the classicalcommunity with his electronic/ambient influenced compositions.Already he has performed to a fullaudience at the Barbican Hall andtoured with Sigur Rós.43

The Þingvellir area is part of a fissure zone running through Iceland. Photos: IngóAlthingi at ThingvellirÞingvellir National Park is perhaps the most important historical site inIceland. From 930 to 1798 Þingvellir hosted „Alþingi, “a general assemblywhere many of the major events in Icelandic history took place. It isincluded on the list of UNESCO‘s world heritage sites as it is consideredgiving „a unique reflection of mediaeval Norse/Germanic culture andone that persisted in essence from its foundation in 980 AD until the18th century.“Alþingi initially was a general assemblyof the nation, where the country‘smost eminent leaders gathered toset laws and settle disputes. Alþingiwas considered the most importantsocial gathering of the year and lastedtwo weeks each time. All free menwere allowed to attend and the eventfrequently drew a large crowd offarmers, traders, storytellers, travelersand of course those who had disputesto settle. These guests would each setup their own camps during Alþingiand fragments of around 50 boothsbuilt from turf and stone can still befound there today. At the center of theassembly stands Lögberg, or Rock ofLaw, on top of which an appointedofficial would direct the events andrecite the laws of the land.Many important decisions were takenat Þingvellir and perhaps the mostimportant one was the adoption ofChristianity in the year 1000. At thattime Iceland was divided into twofactions; heathens and Christians.Each faction had its own lawmakerand refused to acknowledge the othergroup’s legislation, thus threatening todissolve Alþingi. Famously, the two44lawmakers decided that the heathenlawmaker would decide which faithshould prevail. The heathen lawmaker,named Þorgeir Ljónsvetningagoði,went to rest under a fur blanket,under which he stayed the wholenight, before he gave his verdict:Iceland would adopt Christianity,although heathens could practicetheir religion secretly. This coineda common saying in Iceland, “to liedown underneath the fur,” which issaid whenever a matter needs to begiven serious thought.Upplausn var yfirvofandi í hinuunga samfélagi þar sem þingheimurhafði skipst í tvær fylkingar heiðinnamanna og kristinna. Fylkingarnarhöfðu hvor sinn lögsögumann ogsögðu sig úr lögum hvor við aðra.Lögsögumennirnir tveir sammæltustum að Þorgeir ljósvetningagoðilögsögumaður heiðinna skyldi ákveðahvaða trú Íslendingar allir skyldu taka.Þorgeir lagðist undir feld og hafðistþar við nóttina og næsta dag. Eftir þaðgekk hann að Lögbergi og kvað uppþann úrskurð að Íslendingar skyldutaka kristna trú en heiðnir fengjuáfram að stunda sína trú þótt leyntskyldi fara.Alþingi took on a different role in thelater part of the 12th century, when theexecutive power was transferred tothe King of Norway with the adoptionof the new legal corpora of the codexJárnsíða in 1271 and Jónsbók in 1281.Now Alþingi shared formal legislativepower with the king and both the kingand Alþingi had to give its consent forlaws to be passed. Toward the end ofthe 14th century Norway and Icelandwere brought under the controlof the Danish monarchy throughroyal succession. In 1662 Alþingirelinquished its autonomy to theDanish Crown, including legislativerights. Alþingi continued to be held atÞingvellir until 1798.Today Þingvellir is a protected nationalshrine. According to the law, passed in1928, the protected area shall alwaysbe the property of the Icelandic nation,under the preservation of Alþingi.Þingvellir National Park is notonly impressive for it‘s historicalimportance, it also boastsIn the last few decades, research hasmade it clear that Þingvellir is a naturalwonder on a international scale, withthe geologic history and the biosystemof Lake Þingvallavatn forming aunique entity, a magnificent showcase.Being able to witness the evolutionand formation of new species in aplace like Lake Þingvallavatn is ofimmense value. The Þingvellir area ispart of a fissure zone running throughIceland, being situated on the tectonicplate boundaries of the Mid-AtlanticRidge. The faults and fissures of thearea make evident the rifting of theearth’s crust.Preservation measures at Þingvellirwere modelled on the national parksthat had been established somewhatearlier in the United States to stemchanges to the natural environmentthere resulting from encroachmentby settlers. National parks conservedlarge uninhabited areas, which peoplecould visit and enjoy - but not settleor develop.Iceland identified a similar need topreserve certain natural and historicalsites for future generations to enjoythem in their original state. Today,Þingvellir is one of the most frequentlyvisited tourist sites in the country.Each year, thousands of visitors gothere to become better acquaintedwith Iceland’s greatest historical siteand jewel of nature.

Around 82% of Iceland‘s energyconsumption is generateddomestically through renewablesources. Photos: IngóGeothermal NationIn recent years Iceland has rapidly been positioning itself as a leadingforce in harnessing geothermal energy for the purposes of producingelectricity. Around 82% of the energy consumption in Iceland isgenerated domestically with renewable energy sources, 67% of whichcome from geothermal sources. Despite that it is estimated that around20-25% of Iceland’s renewable energy sources have been harnessed.That fact is reaffirming to most Icelanders as the nation is the worldleader in energy consumption per capita.Heat from the earth’s core is harnessedby drilling for hot steam surging upthrough the earth at great speed. Thesteam is then used put turbines intomotion, which power a generatorwhich ultimately produces electricity.This is however only possible wherethere is volcanic activity. Whathappens is that water will seepdown the soil where it comes intocontact with extremely hot surfaceswhich then send the water back tothe surface, either naturally throughgeysers or man-made boreholes.Geothermal areas are divided intohigh and low heat areas, in low heatareas the temperature is usually underboiling, but high heat areas can reachover 200°.Iceland’s scientists and specialistshave been working adamantly indeveloping way in how to harness theearth’s heat and now rank among thetop experts in the field. An ambitious“deep drilling” project is nowunderway, which would drasticallyincrease the production of geothermalboreholes. The theory is that bydrilling 4-5 kilometers (2.5-3 miles)into the extreme temperature of 400-600° (750-1100 F) the efficiency ofboreholes could be increased tenfold.This expertise is highly sought afterby the international community.Icelandic Energy Companies havebeen involved in projects all over theworld; Asia, Africa and the Americas.The president of Iceland, ÓlafurRagnar Grímsson, is an adamantsupporter of the use of renewableenergy and has actively encouragedthat the nations of the world makeuse of the experience Iceland hasgathered.The theory is that bydrilling 4-5 kilometers(2.5-3 miles) into theextreme temperatureof 400-600° (750-1100F) the efficiency ofboreholes could beincreased tenfold.45

Iceland symbolized in clothesThe Icelandic National Costumeholds great significance in theminds of most Icelanders. Everyindependence day (June 17 th )an Icelandic actress is chosento represent the Fjallkona (thelady of the mountains) whosymbolizes Iceland as a whole.The Fjallkona appears in fulltraditional garb; the splendidSkautbúningur, complete withelaborate embroidery, belt oflinked silver, silver brooch anda high white headdress.Independence garbThe origin of the Icelandic costumeis unclear as historical evidence isscarce before the 16 th century. Butfrom the 16 th and 17 th centuryevidence is more readily availablefrom paintings and manuscripts.Interest in the traditional costumegrew considerably in the 19 thcentury when Iceland’s campaignfor independence from Danishrule gained momentum. Thecostume proved a useful tool fora nation with a growing sense ofnational identity and became asymbolic icon for Iceland’s spirit.History preservedIn order to preserve knowledge ofthe Icelandic traditional costumeand the making of such a costumeIcelandic Costume. 1811 G.S.Mackenzie.the Ministry of Education andCulture established a NationalCostume Board in 2001. Saidboard has since collected andsupported extensive research onthe Icelandic traditional costume.Throughout its history thenational costume has developedand adjusted to different fashionlandscapes and now has severalvariations, including: Peysuföt,Upphlutur, Kyrtill, Skautbúningurand Faldbúningur.You can catch a glimpse of theIcelandic National Costume atÁrbæjarsafn . Further informationat www.buningurinn.is46

The Vikingsare ComingIceland’s rise and fall in the international economic environment hascatapulted the tiny nation into the headlines of renowned internationalnewspapers, usually reserved for much larger economic heavyweights.Browsing through articles and columns written about Iceland threespecific words seem to reoccur frequently; “raid”, ”invasion” and“Vikings.”“The Vikings are Coming”, “NextgenerationViking Invasion” and“Viking raids” on various companiesare all actual headlines frominternational newspapers, printedduring the economic boom in Iceland.These headlines have unfortunatelybeen replaced by headlines such as“Iceland’s Vikings face a Long Winter.”But even though most Icelanders takesuch comparisons to the Viking agelightheartedly and are actually proudof their Viking heritage, they beg thequestion of where do similaritiesbetween modern day Icelanders andthe Vikings of old start, and where dothey end.The perception many non-historianshave of Vikings is that of barbaric,ruthless murderers and pillagers,perhaps not unjustly given that severalVikings did in fact murder and pillagequite extensively. But this is far frombeing their sole legacy; Vikings werein fact master seafarers, explorers,craftsmen and traders which leftbehind a rich cultural legacy.The term Viking is used collectively forpeople of the Scandinavian countries;Denmark, Norway and Swedenwho made numerous ambitiousexpeditions from the late 8th centuryuntil the second half of the 11thcentury. With expert shipbuildingskills and an uncanny sense fornavigation these explorers traversedas far West as Newfoundland and asfar East as Constantinople.It is not fully known why theVikings set sail for these dangerousexpeditions, some say the there wasland shortage in the Scandinaviancountries, while others say that theVikings were fleeing persecutionfrom the ruling class. In the beginningthese expeditions were primarily ofthe pillaging and murderous nature,which perhaps tainted their reputationfor all time. But gradually the nature ofthese expeditions changed into tradeand commerce, and soon goods weremoving from east to west and back atWhile the modernday Icelandicinvestors obviouslydid not sail over toEngland armed tothe teeth, wearinghorned helmets,the comparison bythe English media isunderstandable.a greater pace than ever before, whichresulted in the massive expansion oftrade.While the modern day Icelandicinvestors obviously did not sail over toEngland armed to the teeth, wearinghorned helmets, the comparison bythe English media is understandable.During the height of the Viking age,ca. 1000, Danish and Norse VikingsThe Vikings possessed qualitieswhich many Icelanders admire;bravery, entrepreneurship,daring and pride Photos: Ingócontrolled large areas of Britain andScotland. The Danes ruled primarilyin the east of England (Danelaw),while Norwegians occupied Scotlandand its islands. The Viking age thencame to an end in 1066 by theNorman conquest of England whenWilliam the Conqueror defeatedthe English army at Hastings, butthe Viking influence does not stopthere however, as Normans weredescendants of Viking conquerors inNorthern France.When Icelandic investors startedbuying up renowned EnglishBusinessman or barbarian?companies, the comparison wasperhaps too obvious. The connotationwith violence and bloodshed mightbe considered unfortunate, but thenagain it might not be that easy to finda clever historical comparison withoutbloodshed in European history.The Vikings possessed qualities whichmany Icelanders admire; bravery,entrepreneurship, daring and prideand even though the latest “Vikinginvasion” turned out to be a disaster,these values will still be printed firmlyin the Icelandic psyche for years tocome.47

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