All Things Iceland

The Northern Lights season in Iceland is almost upon us! I’ve packed this episode with loads of information to help you have the highest possible chance of seeing this spectacular natural phenomenon. While it is possible to take a tour to see them, I am a big fan of seeing them on my own. I’ll be sharing some awesome places that you can drive to in the country to view them. I decided to also share some background information about the northern lights, including why they appear, the best time of the year to see them, factors that impact you seeing the lights, how to know if the aurora borealis will appear, the best time of day to see them, and my recommendation when it comes to clothing, as well as tips on how to capture the Northern Lights with your phone or camera. Rent a Car in Iceland for your Northern Lights Hunting Adventure Before I jump in, I want to thank Go Car Rental Iceland for sponsoring this episode. They are a great local car rental company based in Reykjavík. As I mentioned earlier, I like to go on adventures at my own pace and having a car allows me and others to do that. Go Car Rental Iceland already has competitive rates but what‘s awesome is that renting a car during winter is way less money than in summer. On top of that, you can save 10% off your entire booking with them when you use my code Iceland10. Why do the Northern Lights Appear? When charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in the earth’s atmosphere, the electrons inside of atoms move to a higher energy state. When the electrons come down to a lower energy state, they release photons, which is light. That light is what we see as the Aurora borealis or Northern Lights. The strength of the Northern lights, or how strong the light show up, will depend on the solar activity and the speed at which these particles are coming toward the earth. This is one major factor as to why you may or may not see the Northern Lights during your trip. The color of the Northern Lights depends on the ionization of gases in the earth’s atmosphere when the charged particle (electrons) collides with them. The altitude at which the particles collide is a major factor as well. Because different gases are present at different altitudes and in varying concentrations, you might see only one color or many if the Northern Lights appear. Green is the most common color. You might also see blue, purple-ish, yellow, pink and even red. Red is normally associated with intense solar activity, which is rare, so you’ll be quite fortunate if you experience that. Best Time of Year to See the Northern Lights in Iceland Undoubtly, the best time of the year to see the Northern Lights in Iceland is during the winter. Northern Lights season officially kicks off in October and runs through March. During this time, we have long, dark nights and that provides ample opportunity to potentially see the lights. Please know that there is no guarantee you will see them, even during winter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TeWycMNVm3M Why You Can’t See the Northern Lights in Summer The reason you can’t see the Northern Lights in Iceland during summer (June, July and most of August) is because there is too much brightness. We experience 24-hour bright nights during the height of summer, and this makes it impossible to see Northern Lights in the sky. It isn’t that solar activity is necessarily any less or more during this time. One thing to note is that I have seen the Northern Lights in late August and September. However, because the days are still relatively long at that time, I normally just suggest visiting from October to March. Factors that Impact You Seeing the Northern Lights in Winter The factors that can impact you seeing the Northern Lights during the winter in Iceland are the weather, clouds, light pollution, and solar activity. Ideally, there are none or few clouds in the sky during the evening, relatively good weather, no or little light pollution, and decent solar activity. For those wondering what light pollution is, it is basically any light source that would make seeing the northern lights harder to view. For instance, city lights are a big source of light pollution, so getting away from the city to spots to view the lights is advised. If there is a full moon, that can also make the lights appear fainter. With that said, I have seen the Northern Lights a decent number of times while strolling the streets of downtown Reykjavik. How to Know if the Northern Lights Will Show Up Knowing when the Northern Lights will show up or how strong the lights will be is crucial. Thankfully, getting access to that information is simple. The Icelandic Meteorological Office has a webpage dedicated to showing the forecast. They have a number system from 0 to 9. Zero is no activity visible and 9 is insanely intense. I’ve yet to encounter a 9 but I hope that I do one day. They also have a map that shows the cloud coverage in different parts of the country. Here is the link

It seems that the eruption that started in early August in Meradalir valley on the Reykjanes Peninsula is already over! After about a month of volcanic activity and people flocking to the site to see an amazing display of molten hot lava spew from the earth, the show has coming to s screeching halt. It’s been a few weeks since there has been any detectable activity Meradalir Volcanic Eruption in Iceland was Short-Lived The eruption last year, which is pretty much right next to this one, lasted about six months. I know many people were hoping the eruption would last at least until the fall. The eruptions the last two years are considered “tourist eruptions” because they didn’t pose any threats to any towns and people could safely access them. Thousands of people visited the last two eruptions. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing and seeing people’s first reactions when they saw the lava spewing from the earth for the first time in lives. I remember the awe I felt the first time and I stopped in my tracks when I saw this one. If you can safely see an eruption in your lifetime, I highly recommend it. Meradalir Volcano Danger Alert Cancelled The Chief of State Police and the Chief of Suðurnes Police have decided to remove the danger alert connected to the Meradalir volcanic eruption due to no recorded unrest in the area. Visiting the Meradalir Volcano Site Since the Eruption Stopped Even though the eruption has stopped, authorities decided to finish paving the trail because the terrain was very rocky and long. While it is still long (about 14 km or 9 miles round trip), at least it so much easier to walk because it was a challenging terrain for many people. If you decide to still visit the eruption site to see the new earth that has formed, please DO NOT step on the new hardened lava. Authorities say that it’s still warm and that molten hot lava could still be underneath what looks like solid lava. It’s not Random Fact of the Episode People have been walking on the lava! It was shown on the news several times because people were shocked to see. Icelandic Word of the Episode Hraun – lava Share this Post Facebook Pinterest Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og lesa. Sjáumst fljótlega! Let’s Be Social Youtube Instagram Tiktok Facebook

I’m focusing on F-roads in this episode because they provide access to parts of the country that most visitors to Iceland never see. While that might sound appealing to most people listening, driving on these roads are often challenging and can even be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing.  I hit on this topic a little bit in my Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland episode. I recommend checking that episode out so you can be as prepared as possible when you go to book.  F-Road Table of Contents What are F-Roads? Is it worth it to drive on F-Roads in Iceland? When Can You Access F-Roads in Iceland? What cars are allowed to drive on F-Roads? Not All 4WD Cars are Created Equal What Type of 4×4 is Right for Your Adventure in the Highlands? Where to Rent a 4WD Car in Iceland What to Check Before Heading Out on F-Roads What to Keep in Mind While Driving on an F-road How to Cross a River in Iceland My Favorite Places to Visit in the Icelandic Highlands What are F-Roads? To start out, let’s talk about what F-roads are. The “F” stands for Fjallvegur in Icelandic, which translates to mountain road. The roads literally start with an F and are followed by a number. An example is F-910. These roads are not paved, are uneven, often have lots of potholes, and rocks (big and small). I’ve been on some F roads where it was not that challenging to drive on but later  I encountered very large rocks and an uneven surface, so it required me to go much slower and maneuver carefully. Many of these roads have rivers that you need to cross to get to your destination. I will share some tips on how to cross rivers safely in a little bit. Is it Worth It to Drive on F-Roads in Iceland? In my mind, it is so worth it, even if it is just a day trip into the Icelandic highlands. The raw beauty, varied landscape and lack of people make it so much fun to travel here. Of course, precaution and some planning is needed but such is life in Iceland. When Can You Access F-Roads in Iceland? F-roads provide access to different parts of the Icelandic highlands, a large area of Iceland that is uninhabitable and where you can find raw, untouched nature. However, the roads are only open during the warmer months. When they open and close depends on the weather and if the road is passable due to snow, ice and/or storms. The Icelandic Road and Coastal Administration determines each year when it is safe to open the roads. It is normally expected that the roads will open by late June. However, if we’ve had a particularly cold winter, it could be later. Therefore, most people who want to travel into the highlands are advised to come in July or August. While it’s not a guarantee that the roads will be open at the beginning of July, it is a much more likely than earlier. Here is a link to a page on road.is that shows the earliest, latest, and median for opening dates for F roads in the country. While it all depends on weather, the closing of F-roads can be in September or mid-October. What Cars are Allowed to Drive on F-Roads? 4WD vehicles are the only things you should drive on an F-road for two reasons. The first is that 4WD are the only cars that are insured for this type of road. If something were to happen to you in a 2WD on an F-road, you are responsible for the full cost of repairing or replacing the vehicle. The other reason is that the conditions of the road, including steep inclines, and crossing rivers require a car with 4WD. Not All 4WD Cars Are Created Equal Not all 4WD vehicles are created equal. First off, if you plan to cross rivers you need to a car with enough clearance underneath the car because we don’t flood the engine. Also, some 4WD cars have been modified for crossing very deep rivers like þjórsá, which you cross to get to Þórsmörk. Some modifications you will see on 4WD are snorkels for the engine, huge tires, and sometimes even tires that can be inflated and deflated. Deflated tires allows for car to drive more smoothly over really rough surfaces. Typically, you will find unmodified 4WD cars for rent in Iceland because modifying one is quite expensive and not necessary for everyone that wants to explore the highlands. What’s key is finding out the amount of rivers you need to cross, if any, to get to your destination, the conditions of the rivers (sometimes they can be higher or lower due to glacial melt), and if a similar vehicle like yours can do it safely. Your rental car company should be able to help you with any questions about that. Also, a google search of where you want to go can be great too because there are a decent number of blogs Where to Rent a 4WD Car in Iceland I have partnered with Go Car Rental Iceland for this episode. I wanted to partner with a local Icelandic car rental company for three reasons. One is I like to support local businesses whenever possible. The second is that I often get asked who I recommend as a rental company here. Because I have personally used them and continu

Like the south of the country, north Iceland has plenty of amazing natural sites to visit. All of the places I’m sharing are free of charge and will provide hours, if not days, of fun activities. If you’re not familiar with north Iceland, there is a route up there called the Diamond Circle. If you think that sounds familiar, then you might be thinking of the Golden Circle, which is in the south. The Golden Circle came first and I have a theory about why the north has called this route the Diamond Circle but I’ll share that in the random fact of the episode. Personally, I love going north. There is a lot of gorgeous nature and one of my favorite places in the country is there. Don’t worry, I will be sharing about what that place is in this episode. If you are planning to visit north Iceland, I recommend staying over at least one night. I was on a road trip from Reykjavík, and I stayed over two nights but that is because I arrived late in the evening the first day. You can stay as long or short as you like, but just know that there is so much to see in the north and this list is just the tip of the iceberg. Go Car Rental Iceland – My Preferred Rental Car Company in Iceland Before I get into the stunning places in North Iceland that are worth visiting, I would like to thank the sponsor of this episode. I partnered with Go Car Rental Iceland to make this road trip to the north possible. Go Car Rental Iceland is an awesome local car rental company that has transparent pricing, great rates, unlimited mileage on their rentals, and friendly staff. They are my go-to company when I need a car for my adventures, which are many. I was delighted when one of my listeners of the podcast reached out to me via email after listening to the Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland to say that she had saved $400 by switching her rental from a company that is a big brand name around the world but has a franchise in Iceland, to Go Car Rental Iceland. The most amazing part is that she was able to get more features, like an additional, and extra insurance while still saving! I highly recommend booking with them. You can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% on your entire rental cost, which is a good deal of savings. Must-See Places in North Iceland’s Diamond Circle 1. Akureyri Akureyri is the known as the capital of the north. This stop is about a 4 and a half hour drive from Reykjavík.It’s the second largest urban area in the country and it has a population of 19,642. That’s according to Statistics Iceland data from January 1st, 2022. To put that into perspective, the population of people in the Reykjavík area is 135,688 according to the same source. Akureyri is such a lovely place to walk around and explore. Some fun things to do right in the center is walk downtown, which is easily walkable. You can visit Akureyrarkirkja, which is the church at the top of the hill. There are a decent number of steps if you want to reach the top if you are walking from the main street downtown. For those in a wheelchair or that have a hard time with steps, there is wheelchair accessible parking lot and entrance. You can also visit the botanical garden, take a dip in their epic swimming pool (it has one of the best slides!), walk along the shore and admire the gorgeous view of the fjord, attend a cultural event at the Hof culture center. A Delicious Vegan Hot Dog in Akureyri If you are looking for some delicious food, I highly recommend Pylsuvagninn Akureyri and Brynjuís. Btw, I’m not sponsored by them or anything like that. I’m just going to both of these places. Pylsuvagninn Akureyri is a well-known hot dog stand in the center of town that sells delicious traditional and vegan Icelandic hot dogs! I was stunned to see that they have 8 vegan hot dog options on the menu. That is the most I’ve ever seen! One day, I plan to do a vegan Icelandic hot dog taste test showdown that includes all 8 because why not. LOL. It’s funny to me that I’ve yet to find a vegan hot dog at a regular hot dog stand in Reykjavík but I have the choice of 8 in the north. My Favorite Ice Cream in Akureyri Brynjuís or Brynja ice cream is an ice cream shop in the town. They have vegan and dairy based ice cream. Whenever I head north, I always make it a point to stop there because I like how creamy their vegan ice cream is. My go-to order is a bragðarefur or a tasty fox. It’s vegan coconut-based ice cream with peanut butter, blueberries, and oreos. It hits the spot every time. Just know that if you get a small, that it’s almost the equivalent of a pint of ice cream. When it comes to ice cream, Icelanders like to have big portions. These are just some things to check out in and around downtown. One important thing I have to point out is the traffic lights. If you look closely at the red light when you are driving or riding in a vehicle, you will see that there is a heart shape there. It’s adorable! Apparently, the hearts were placed there during the financial crisis t

As a native New Yorker that has traveled to a decent number of places in the United States before moving to Iceland in 2016, I’ve noticed some fascinating differences between the cultures. In this post, I’m pointing out 5 things about USA culture that confuses Icelanders. These are things I’ve specifically been asked by Icelanders about the US. Here are 5 Things that Confuse Icelanders About the USA 1. Only a Two-Party Political System in the USA Iceland and the USA have some similarities when it comes to government. For instance, both have split the government into three parts – legislative, judicial, and executive. However, it kind of ends there. On a federal level, the US is split into only two political parties, which is seen as very limiting by Icelanders. Icelandic Parliament is made up of 63 politicians but there are many different parties that make up the government. In fact, it is an important part of Icelandic Parliament for there to be multiple parties. Even as I have been living here, new parties have popped up and have been voted into Parliament. Currently, it seems almost impossible for new political parties to make it to the federal level of government in the US, which clearly confuses Icelanders. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8fO1O4a9LV4 2. Having different words for Niece, Nephew, Aunt, Uncle and Cousins This one has been funny to me because I never assumed that Icelanders wouldn’t have distinctive words to describe niece, nephew, aunt, cousins, and uncle. In Icelandic, these family members are grouped together by gender. For instance, the Icelandic word frændi is used to talk about an uncle, male cousins, or a nephew. The word frænka is used for aunt, female cousins, or a niece. When I speak to an Icelander in English and they are describing their mother’s brother, I will say “Oh, that’s your uncle” and they are like “Sure, or my frændi.” 3. Putting up signs and ropes where it is obviously dangerous Due to the variety of raw nature and intense weather conditions, Iceland can be a dangerous place. Icelanders grow up learning about respecting nature and to keep in mind that if you are not aware, that you can get yourself into a fatal situation. However, they expect people to use their common sense when it comes to exploring the country. For instance, not going too close to an edge of a cliff, or not stopping in the middle of the road to take photos. The explosion of tourism meant that Icelanders needed to start putting ropes and signs in places where it might seem like overkill. Because the USA is a litigious society, it has become a default to put up signs, ropes, and warnings even in places where it is obviously dangerous. While this does confuse Icelanders, they prefer for people to stay safe. 4. The Amount of Gun Violence in the USA But the Lack of Federal Gun Control Laws Surprisingly, there are a lot of guns in Iceland (about 70,000), which has a population of almost 370,000, but there is hardly any gun violence. One main reason for close to no gun violence in Iceland is that guns are seen as being used for hunting and sport, not for protecting yourself. The other main reason is that there are very strict gun laws here. To become a gun owner in Iceland, a person must take courses, pass a test, get a background check, and show that they know how to properly store the gun. There is not a federal law in the USA that controls who can and can’t be a gun owner. Not surprisingly, when Icelanders hear about the ongoing gun violence in the USA, they are confused why there are not stronger gun laws that govern the whole country. 5. Tipping in the USA In Iceland, people who work in the service industry are paid a living wage. It’s not encouraged to tip in Iceland, and it’s certainly not seen as a way to supplement a person’s wage so that an individual can pay their bills. Obviously, it is confusing to Icelanders that so many people in the US rely on tips to make ends meet. Also, the % of what is expected for people to pay wait staff at restaurants is confusing too. Share This Post Facebook Email Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega. Let’s Be Social Youtube Tiktok Instagram Facebook

Hveradalir is one of Iceland’s largest geothermal areas, but it’s tucked away in Iceland’s highlands. To access anywhere in the highlands of this country, you must drive on F-roads, which are unpaved, rough and often require you to cross rivers. I’m planning to do a whole episode on F-roads because it’s important to understand how to navigate them safely, but just know that some rivers that run across F-roads are so deep that they can drown the engine if you don’t have a snorkel and a modified vehicle to cross them. Thankfully, access to Hveradalir geothermal area does not require a large river crossing. I dare to say that it is more like a small stream that you need to drive over but it’s totally doable for a regular 4×4 vehicle. My preferred Local Icelandic Rental Car Company – Go Car Rental Iceland Before I get into why Hveradalir is more than worth a visit, I would like to thank the sponsor of this episode. I partnered with Go Car Rental Iceland to drive into the highlands so you can see an example of an F-road and to feature a drop-dead gorgeous place that is easy to access in this part of the country. Go Car Rental Iceland is an awesome local car rental company that has transparent pricing, great rates, unlimited mileage on their rentals, and friendly staff. They are my go-to company when I need a car for my adventures. You can use my code Iceland10 to save 10% on your entire rental cost with them, which is a good deal of savings. The Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland If you need a guide on what car to rent in Iceland and tips on what to know before, during, and after driving around the country, check out my Ultimate Guide to Renting a Car in Iceland. It’s a thorough guide that has already helped one of my listeners to save $400 on their rental. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBOWnle7PdU Why Hveradalir Geothermal Area in Iceland is Worth Visiting Hveradalir geothermal area is nestled in the Kerlingarfjöll mountain range in the central highlands of Iceland. I also created a YouTube video that has a lot of insanely beautiufl drone shots, so feel free to check that out too. The various colors of Hveradalir – yellow, green, orange, and red – make this place look like a painting. But what really brings it to life is the steam rising from the earth and the warm water flowing throughout the area. All of it combines in a magical way that makes you feel like you stepped onto another planet. How to Get to Hveradalir Geothermal Area The most important thing to know is that you must drive a 4×4 vehicle for this adventure. The only way you can visit Hveradalir in a vehicle is if it’s a 4×4 because you must drive on the roads F-35 and F-347. Only 4×4 cars are insured for driving on F-roads in Iceland. If you drive a 2WD car there and something happens to your car, you are fully responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing it. I highly discourage you from taking that chance. F-35 road runs from north to south in the highlands, so you can access this place regardless of you drive from either of those directions. I used a lovely blue Jeep from Go Car Rental Iceland to get there from Reykjavík. In addition to the cool features in the car, I love blue, so that was a cool cherry on top. From Reykjavík to Hveradalir It takes 3.5 hours to access Hveradalir if you drive from Reykjavík From Akureyri to Hveradalir It takes 4 hours from Akureyri, which is in north Iceland Spectacular Sites Along the Way to Hveradalir, If You Travel from Reykjavík If you are driving from Reykjavík, you take the same route for the Golden Circle, which includes Þingvellir National Park, Geysir hot spring, and Gullfoss waterfall. You can make a busy day out of it, if you have not been to the Golden Circle, and go to all these sites. Most people who drive this route stop at Gullfoss because they don’t have the appropriate car to keep going and/or they don’t know where the road that keeps going leads to. I feel like it makes Hveradalir a hidden gem. Once you have passed Gullfoss waterfall, you notice less and less cars. It probably feels like what Iceland used to be like before a lot of tourists. At some point, you will see a sign called Kerlingarfjöll F-35 pointing to the right. That is where you are going. Also, Google Maps is accurate, so you can just follow that. A Highlands Waterfall, Mountain Lodge & a Gorgeous Canyon, Oh, my! There are gorgeous mountains and at one point you can see Langjökull glacier in the distance. I stopped at Gýgjarfoss waterfall. It’s right next to the road and is a nice place to stretch your legs and enjoy the sounds of gushing water. You’ll see a bunch of huts and houses called the Kerlingarfjöll Resort. They were doing construction when I went but it looks like they will have a decent amount of accommodations available next summer for people who want to stay overnight. I didn‘t have time to do it on this trip, but just about a 1 mile walk from the lodge is a geothermal h

After thousands of earthquakes and lots of speculation, a new eruption has happened on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It’s in the same area as the eruption last year and it is not posing a threat to any people or towns. Well, that is the current situation. The authorities are constantly monitoring the site. People have been discouraged from going there because it’s not yet been deemed safe. However, people have shown up already. While there is no idea how long this eruption will last, it’s exciting that a new one has sprung up after this volcano had gone dormant. The eruption last year when on much longer than anyone expected. So, we shall see what happens. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HHkwYIbdDII Have Proper Clothing for Visiting the Volcanic Eruption in Iceland Knowing what to pack when visiting Iceland is crucial, regardless of the season. It can get very cold on the hike to the volcano, so please make sure you have proper clothing and hiking boots. My Ultimate Packing Checklist for Iceland provides all the essentials you need to keep warm and dry on your adventures here. Donate to the Icelandic Search & Rescue Teams Iceland’s Search & Rescue Teams are volunteer organizations that help people who find themselves in any type of danger here. They were at the eruption last year and are at the new eruption now to monitor the gas levels and see what routes are safe for people to take to view it. If you would like to contribute to their trainings and equipment, you can donate to them directly here. Share This Post Facebook Email Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for listening and see you soon.) Let’s Be Social Youtube Tiktok Instagram Facebook

I decided to focus on everything you need to know when renting a car in Iceland because I get a lot of questions about this from travelers. I did my best to be very thorough in this episode because there are so many things you need to keep in mind. For links or additional information, I recommend checking out the show notes of this episode below. Iceland Rental Car Guide Table of Contents Is it Worth it to Rent a Car in Iceland? Go Car Rental Iceland When to Book Your Rental Car Price comparison between seasons when renting a car in Iceland What is Needed to Rent a Car in Iceland Type of car that is right for your adventure Do you need extra insurance for your rental car in Iceland? Mileage limits Picking Up Your Rental Car Reykjavík or Keflavík? Inspecting the car before heading out Driving Around Iceland What to check before driving around the country Navigating Iceland by car Speed Limits in Iceland Speed Traps on the road What Happens When you Get a Speeding Ticket in Iceland Road Signs that are unique in Iceland Paying for Parking Tolls Roadside Assistance Fueling Up your rental car Summer vs Winter Driving Very Important to keep in Mind when driving in Iceland Returning Your Rental Car Ways to Save Money When Renting a Car in Iceland Is it worth it to rent a car in Iceland? As a person that loves to explore and do things at my own pace, renting a car is the best option for me. If that same feeling resonates with you, then you’ve come to the right post. I’ve broken this episode into different sections. First, I will go over when you should consider booking your car, then I talk about what to know when picking up your vehicle. Next, is what is important for you to keep in mind while driving in Iceland. After that is what to do when returning your car, and lastly is ways in which you can save money when renting a car in Iceland. Of course, I will also have my Icelandic word of the episode and random fact about Iceland sections at the very end. Go Car Rental Iceland – My Preferred Local Icelandic Rental Company Before I jump into the first section, I’d like to thank Go Car Rental Iceland for sponsoring this episode. They are a local car rental company based in the Reykjavík area. Some of my listeners who have been tuning into the show for a while know that I am picky about who I collaborate with because it‘s important that the company is reputable and will bring value to my audience. I‘ve personally used Go Car Rental Iceland and I highly recommend them. They have transparent pricing, a great selection of vehicles, and are friendly. Get 10% off Your Entire Car Rental If you plan to rent with them, you can get 10% off your entire rental, which will save you a lot of money, when you use my code Iceland10. I‘ll be getting into the cost of car rentals in Iceland in this episode, but be sure to keep in that code in mind. When to Book a Rental Car in Iceland When to book your rental car in Iceland will, of course, come down to when you plan to visit. If you haven’t already booked your trip, then here is what I advise for you to think about. The peak season in Iceland is the summer (June, July, and August). Because renting a vehicle allows you to have more freedom, many travelers choose this option, which means that the closer you get to the peak season, your choices of rental cars diminish quite a bit. Additionally, the cost of rental cars in Iceland is much higher during this time. This is not meant to discourage you from coming to Iceland during summer, but I think it’s important for you to know. From September to May, there are usually more rental cars available, and they are not as expensive. If you plan to rent a car during the summer here, I recommend booking your car as soon as you have that plane ticket. Some people get their tickets as early as six months ahead of time, but I find that most are booking withing a few months. Due to COVID, things have been a little different because people have needed to delay their trips for more than a year, but tourism has definitely picked up this summer. Price comparison between renting a car in Iceland the high season vs the low season To give you an idea of the difference in cost between summer and the off season, like fall /winter. I went to Go Car Rental Iceland’s website to see what it costs to rent a VW Polo Automatic From July 27th to July 30th, it’s $556 From October 11th-14th, it’s about $189 for three days. What is needed to rent a car in Iceland? Thankfully, it’s simple to rent a car here. You can easily do it online (put a link to Go Car Rental Iceland). You only need a valid driver’s license, a credit card or debit card and meet the age criteria. You must be at least 20 years to rent a car in Iceland. Well, to get any 2-wheel drive. If you want to rent a 4-wheel drive vehicle or a van, then you must be 23 years of age or older. What type of license is accepted in Iceland to rent a car? Many rental companies have a similar policy, but I’ll just reference

Iceland, the land of fire and ice, is full of fascinating and sometimes strange facts. In this podcast episode, I’m sharing 15 surprising facts about this country that you probably have never heard about. I know that I was surprised by many of them when I first heard them, and I hope that you enjoy learning something new about the country. 15 Strange Facts About Iceland Most of Iceland is uninhabited Beer was illegal in the country for 74 years During the month of Þorri, many Icelanders come together to eat the food of their ancestors, including fermented shark, ram’s testicles, sheepshead 24-hour bright days during the summer in Iceland. Here is a great graph of daylight hours in Reykjavik depending on what time of year you plan to visit. Long winter nights and hardly any daylight The first day of summer is in April and it is a national holiday If it weren’t for constant volcanic activity under Iceland that creates new land, the country would split in half There are over 130 words in Icelandic just to describe the wind No passenger train in Iceland but there was a train line once for a construction project No Uber or Lyft type of services in Iceland No McDonald’s Iceland won 3 wars against the British called The Cod Wars. You can listen to my episode about the Cod Wars here. The eruption of Laki in the 1700s resulted in a ton of ash was in the air and spread to many parts of Europe and even Africa! This ash cloud caused the global temperature to drop. Some think that this drop in temperature caused food shortages in France, which helped to ignite the French Revolution. At the sorcery and witchcraft museum, there is a replica of human skin pants that were said to have been made by sorcerers who wanted to be wealthy. Only about 10% of the country is covered in Iceland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E_DTHHz9GcI Icelandic Word of the Episode Skrítinn – weird or strange Share This Post Facebook Email Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for listening and see you later) Let’s Be Social Instagram Tiktok Youtube Facebook

Karítas Hrundar Pálsdóttir is the author of Ástiðir and Dagatal, two books about short stories in Icelandic. In this interview we talk about how short stories in various levels of Icelandic help learners of the language to learn faster and easier. Karítas is currently pursuing her Ph.D in Creative Writing in the U.K. and was a teacher of Icelandic. She has learned Japanese, so she has an idea about the trials and tribulations that language learning students go through. In fact, her idea for publishing these books came when she was teaching Icelandic. She even tested out many of the stories on her students to see how impactful they were as the students studied the language Questions I asked Karítas Hrundar Pálsdóttir What inspired you to write Ástiðir and Dagatal? What was it like studying Japanese? What challenges did you notice your students faced while learning Icelandic? What advice do you have for people learning Icelandic? What is your favorite Icelandic Word or Phrase? Connect With Karítas You can connect with Karítas on Instagram. Here is where you can purchase Ástiðir. Here is where you can purchase Dagatal Share This Post Facebook Email Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you for listening and see you later) Let’s Be Social Instagram Youtube Tumblr Facebook

The south coast of Iceland is, hands down, one of the most popular areas of the country for visitors. However, there are a group of islands off the mainland of the country that most people that go to the south coast never visit. The Westman Islands is a 45–50-minute ferry ride away and it’s a fantastic place to explore. The nature, history, landscape, and stories about the locals almost make it feel like you are not even in Iceland anymore. KuKu Campers Provided My Transportation & Accommodations I was fortunate to partner with Kuku Campers for this episode. Kuku Campers is a campervan company that provides campers of various sizes. I specifically used the AA Campervan because it is large enough for two adults but the width is small enough to fit in the ferry to the Westman Islands along with regular cars. It was great to have my accommodations and transport all in one place because it gave me flexibility regarding when I decided to sleep, eat and so on. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ekv4ulYRI4I The Campsite on Heimaey on the Westman Islands The campsite on Heimaey (home island), is lovely and it was so easy/affordable to stay there. It was 1700 ISK per person. You have access to several bathrooms, showers, and a communal kitchen. I was pleasantly surprised at how clean everything was and the camping area itself is gorgeous. It looks like a naturally made amphitheater. That isn’t surprising considering the fact that the biggest Icelandic festival of the year, Þjóðhátíð, happens here over the Verslunarmannahelgi (merchant weekend). This year the holiday falls on Monday, August 1st, so it is the last weekend of July. 7 Reasons to Visit the Westman Islands As the title of this podcast episode explains, there are at least seven reasons to visit. Granted, there are more but here are the ones that come to mind for me. The Ferry ride over to Heimaey is so much fun. After you park your car in the bottom of the ferry, you can go upstairs and outside to wave goodbye to mainland Iceland. As the ferry gets closer to Heimaey, you can see the other islands that make up the Westman Islands. There are 15 islands surrounding the home island but only Heimaey (home island) is actually inhabited. It is hard to explain just how gorgeous this ferry ride is and I hope you get a chance to experience it. Eldefell Volcano erupted in 1973 and caused a lot of destruction on the island. It also change the landscape of Heimaey. You can hike up this volcano, which still has heat coming up through the ground. The color duing the summer is a gorgeous red and is surrounded by a vibrant green color of moss and grass. Eldheimar Museum is absolutely fascinating. It was built around a house that was excavated after it was buried in ash during the eruption. You get to see that people on the island had no time to prepare for this eruption. It happened during the night, and people had to literally jump out of bed, put on shoes, and their coats and run out to get on boats so they could get off the island. The museum is eerie and hauntingly beautiful. Thankfully, no one died during the eruption, and many people who were originally living there came back to clean up and live on Heimaey. Gaujalundur is an elf garden on Heimaey that was fun to walk around. It was created by a woman named Gauja, who was said to be able to communicate with elves. She created the this garden to protect their homes, which are large rocks that have been roped off. It was fun to walk around this nicely manicured garden. In the Skansinn area, there is an an all black church called Stafkirkjan or Stave Church. It was an gift from the Norwegians to Iceland in the year 2000 to celebrate 1000 years of Christianity. I highly recommend walking around the church and checking it out. In this same area, you can see a water tower that was mostly destroyed during the eruption but one part of the wall is still standing. It‘s cool and bizarre to see. The Rainbow stairs take you ontop of the lava on the island from the eruption. You will see little stone monuments as you walk around. These are plaques letting you know that below your feet are buildings and streets that were buried during the eruption. Puffins are abundant in the Westman Islands. There is an observation house you can go to so you can see them chilling out on the hill. A bonus reason to go to the Westman Islands is if you want to experience the music festival Þjóðhátíð. Icelandic Word of the Episode Vestmannaeyjar – Westman Islands If you listen to the episode, you can hear how to pronounce this word. Random Fact of the Episode There is a beluga whale sanctuary in the Westman Islands. Keiko, the whale in the movie Free Willy, was taken to this sanctuary to live out the rest of its life. Thanks again to Kuku Campers for sponsoring this episode. I highly recommend checking them out if you want to rent a camper van in Iceland. Camper vans in Iceland get booked up pretty quickly in the summer, so keep that mind. However, y

From personal experience, I know that having the right clothing and other essentials, regardless of the season here, is crucial when it comes to staying warm, dry, and comfortable. While I am sharing 11 summer essentials to pack for Iceland in this episode, you can find all of the essentials and some non-essentials that might be worth packing, if you have the space, in my free download called the Ultimate Packing Checklist for Iceland. The way I have structured this episode is that I will share about the weather here during the summer, because that is a major factor when it comes to what you should pack. Then I will go into the essentials. Lastly, I will share an Icelandic phrase and a random fact of the episode. Shout Out To A Reviewer of the Podcast Listened to this podcast throughout my entire trip to Iceland. So helpful! I wouldn’t have gone to the Blue Lagoon if I hadn’t listened to this- and I loved it!! Informative and helpful! Miajmu Summer weather in Iceland – What to Expect The summer season means long, bright days and warmer weather. You can experience the midnight sun (24-hour brightness) in June, July and part of August. Even if you don’t visit during those months, the country enjoys considerably longer days from early April to early September. The average temperature in southern Iceland during the summer ranges from 10-13 ̊ Celsius (50-55 ̊ Fahrenheit). Some days the temperature might even go up to 25 ̊ Celsius (77 ̊ Fahrenheit) but that is considered a very warm day in Iceland and is quite rare. To be safe, it is better to plan for the average temperature or a little lower, and be pleasantly surprised if better weather occurs. Intense wind and rainstorms can happen during summer, so a water- proof outer layer is a must on your checklist. This time of the year is my favorite because the bright days allow for you to go on so many adventures out in nature. *Please not that there are some affiliate links in this post. If you choose to buy any items after clicking a link, I make a small commission that is at not cost to you. Essentials to Pack for Summer in Iceland Layers Base – top layer to wick away moisture and hiking pants mid – Icelandic Lopapeysa outer layers – Rain/wind Protection Swimwear Hiking boots Sleep Mask Reusable water bottle Sunscreen Sun glasses Day Pack Lip balm with spf Travel outlet adapter Fly net Icelandic word of the episode Ævintýri – adventure Random Fact of the Episode According to the Icelandic Meteorological Office the highest temperature ever recorded in Iceland was 36°C (96.8°C) at Teigarhorn farm in Berufjörður fjord in East Iceland on September 24 1940. This measurement, however, has been disputed and the highest undisputed measurement took place at Teigarhorn on June 22 1939: A balmy 30.5°C (86.9°F).  I find this information in an article by Iceland Mag, which was published back in 2017. Because I have been living in Iceland since 2016, I am aware that this record has not been broken yet. Ásgarður tier shout out from My Patreon Jocelyn Jessica Mel Kim Melton Danielle Patrons in the Áasgarður tier on my Patreon get a shoutout from me on the podcast, among other awesome perks, like a 30-minute live video group chat with me each month. If you would like to support All Things Iceland by becoming a Patreon member, check out the link in my show notes. Just a reminder that if you are planning a trip to Iceland, I highly recommend grabbing my free Iceland Ultimate Packing Checklist. I have split it into two lists, one for winter and one for summer, so you are covered regardless of when you plan to visit. Let’s Be Social Instagram Youtube Tumblr Facebook Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you for listening and see you soon. Share This Post Facebook Email Twitter

June marks my 6th year of living in Iceland and it has certainly been a whirlwind of a year. Every year I try to reflect on what has happened and share what might be relevant or interesting for my audience. Interestingly, six seems to be a significant number in my life. For instance, my birthday is 160686, my phone number has a lot of sixes in it and even my new apartment block has the number 6. It‘s possible that these have nothing to do with each other but it is still fun to point that out while I am celebrating six years of being here. How My Work /Career in Iceland Has Changed All Things Iceland is my full-time job and it has been so fun and challenging to navigate this country as an entrepreneur. The tax situation was a shock at first but I think I have a handle on it now. Well, at least my accountant does! As I build relationships with individuals and companies, I find my connection to this country deepening. As I have grown on platforms, I find it amazing how awesome my community is. All of you are such supportive, fun people that engage in respectful ways and I’m so grateful for that. TikTok is new for me but that is now where most Icelanders recognize me, which is kind of bizarre but I embrace it. I have a lot of things I’m developing that will be helpful resources for travelers and I look forward to sharing those soon While it can be easy to only talk about the positive aspects, I do have to say there are cons too, such as getting overwhelmed, working non-stop, hardly ever taking a vacation, and trying to balance having a life with work. I’m still adjusting to all of this but I know it takes time to find what works best for me. Photo by Art Bicnick My Progress Learning Icelandic This topic has been one that I have talked about on and off over the years. While my understanding, speaking and writing continue to improve and evolve, I still do not consider myself to be fluent. One reason for the stall in progress there is that I’ve been so focused on All Things Iceland. In addition, I’ve stopped being so hard on myself when it comes to learning. Part of what makes learning Icelandic interesting to me is that I allow for it to be fun and casual. I also have enough knowledge to use it in conversations. I will admit that I do feel it is necessary for me to keep learning and I plan to get to a level of fluency that satisfies me. What I mean by that is that I can have complex conversations in Icelandic easily. Some years ago it would have been difficult for me to admit this to people but now I embrace the fact that my language journey is not linear. There is no shame in not being perfect at it, and I think it is so important to be open and honest about what the process can be like for some people. Adapting to Icelandic Society Luckily, I’ve always felt like it was the right decision for me to move to Iceland. It definitely feels like home and I am well aware of most of the traditions. The fun thing now is that I get to dive deeper. For instance, I was in the Westman Islands recently, and I had such an amazing time getting shown around by some locals. This island off the coast of mainland Iceland has a lot going on, just like the different regions of the country. It’s funny how highlighting a specific place allows me to expand my knowledge about Iceland in profound ways. One of the things I plan to dive into, especially regarding the Westman Islands, is talking to locals there that had to flee the island during the 1973 volcanic eruption of Eldfell. I love that part of this work and I can’t wait to share those stories in the future. Photo by Tida Svy What’s Next for My Journey in Iceland Summer has just begun and I have already traveled a decent amount, but that is just the beginning for me. I have so many episode ideas and trip planning tips to share, so keep a lookout for that. Over on Instagram, I share a lot of short videos (reels) about Iceland, so feel free to follow me over there or on YouTube. I’m even on TikTok now, which is a lot of fun. Links to all of my social media accounts will be available in the show notes of this episode over on allthingsicelamd.comn, so feel free to check them out. You can also just look up All Things Iceland and you should easily find me. As I mentioned earlier, I have some awesome resources in the works, including an app I am developing and a content hub that I have been wanting to get out for a long time but as John Lennon said, “Life Is what happens while you’re busy making plans.” Icelandic word of the episode Kemst þó hægt fari Random Fact of the Episode I’m not sure if I ever said this on the podcast but one of the reasons I started the All Things Iceland podcast is that it has helped me to adapt to the culture. It, in essence, has become my way of learning about Iceland. The amazing upside is that I get to share what I learn with all of you. Where to Follow Me on Social Media Instagram Youtube Tumblr Facebook As always, thank you so much for listening and fo

Moving to Iceland is already quite a tedious process for most people but coming with pets is an extra layer of paperwork and other potential difficulties. Sharyn Chesna was born and raised in the US but she also has German citizenship (you’ll learn the fascinating story behind her finding that out when you listen to episode). When she decided to move to Iceland it was a no-brainer that her two dogs and cat would come too. Sharyn was willing to do whatever it took to make that happen and she did have to do a lot just so her fur babies could safely enter the country without any hiccups. Why it is Hard to Move Pets to Iceland? During this episode, Sharyn shares every step of the process and even reveals that she almost didn’t get to bring her pets because of a mistake in the paperwork by her Vet in the US. The extra layer on top was that she did this during COVID, which undoubtedly added to the stress. For those wondering, it is not feasible or advised to bring your pets on vacation with you to Iceland because the process is quite a lot and the pets have to be in quarantine for at least two weeks. Click here to read what MAST (The Icelandic Food & Veterinary Authority) has to say about importing animals. Thank you so much to Sharyn for sharing her experience about what it is like to move pets to Iceland. I hope this helps people that are planning to move or who have been wondering what it would take to do the same. If you want to connect with Sharyn, you can follow/contact her on Instagram @mutts_on_a_mission Share this Awesome Content Think that someone would beneift from seeing this content? Share it with them. 🙂 Facebook Email Twitter

In partnership with the Icelandic Bathing Culture Exhibit hosted at Hönnurnarsafn, the Icelandic Museum for Design and Applied Arts, I’m sharing how Iceland’s beloved bathing culture evolved. Sund, which is the name of the Icelandic Bathing Exhibit, shares fascinating facts. One of my favorites is that a failed gold rush in Iceland is what led to geothermal energy being pumped to communal swimming pools and people’s homes in the early 1900s. What to Expect at The Icelandic Bathing Culture Exhibit The combination of history and interactive stations provides a fun and insightful experience into how Icelanders built pools for survival and hygiene but later evolved the use of them into foster community and well-being. The bathing culture exhibition is available to check out until October 23rd, 2022, so I highly recommend putting it on your list of places to visit. https://youtu.be/O_Dp_jgIWHI Interviewing the Director of Hönnunarsafn During my interview for this podcast episode with Sigríður Sigurjónsdóttir, Director of Hönnunarsafn, we talk about why it was important to have this exhibition and other topics relating to Icelandic bathing culture. Here are some of the questions I asked Sigríður about the Iceland Bathing Culture Exhibition: Why was it important to create an exhibition about Icelandic bathing culture? Did anything surprise you while helping to curate the exhibition? What impact has Icelandic swimming pools had on you personally? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Share this episode If you enjoyed this episode, share it with someone you think would be interested in hearing it too. Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Easter in Iceland is a time that many Icelanders look forward to because they get a long holiday, and they get to indulge in even more chocolate, sugary drinks, and delicious food. Here is what you should know before visiting during this holiday. Religion in Iceland For most people around the world that celebrate Easter, this holiday is very religious. While more than 260,000 Icelanders are registered as Lutheran, most of them are not religious nor is Easter in Iceland centered around religious activities. Keep in mind that there are about 377,000 people that live in the country. One of the reasons many Icelanders are registered as Lutheran, is that it used to be that as soon as a person was born in the country, they were automatically registered to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Iceland. Weather to Expect & Clothes to Pack It’s important to understand that Spring in Iceland is about the days getting longer and not about blooming flowers or even the weather being that much warmer. I suggest packing clothing that is appropriate for winter. If you need help with what to pack, you can download my free Ultimate Packing Checklist. It has individual lists for summer and winter. Seeing the Northern Lights Around Easter in Iceland It is possible to see the Northern Lights during March and April. However, as the days continue to get longer and brighter, the possibility of seeing them diminishes greatly. It helps to check the Icelandic Meteorological Office’s page about the level of Aurora activity here. Even during the darkest days of winter, it’s not guaranteed that you will see them. It helps to keep that in mind, so you can manage your expectations Easter Traditions in Iceland There is a 5-day weekend, which is quite nice. We get off on Maundy Thursday until Easter Monday. Most Icelanders take this time to go north for as nice skiing holiday or even go abroad. One of the biggest parts of Easter here is buying giant Icelandic chocolate eggs that are hollow on the inside so they can be stuffed with candy and an Icelandic proverb. Páskaöl or Easter drink is essentially malt and orange soda (appelsín) mixed. Icelanders consume a lot of this over the holiday. It’s non-alcoholic but filled with a lot of sugar. Easter dinner is normally lamb, green peas, picked red cabbage, caramelized sugar potatoes, corn, salad, and mushroom gravy. Some people add or take away some things but what I mentioned is pretty much what most Icelanders eat. Of course, there is some type of dessert. Because I‘m plant-based, I eat a vegan wellington in place of the lamb and a vegan chocolate egg The growth of microbreweries in Iceland continues to expand. Páskabjór (Easter beer) is very popular for this holiday, so I highly recommend trying a variety of beers, if you drink alcohol. Please note that you have to go to the government owned alcohol stores to buy alcohol in Iceland, if you are not getting it at a bar or restaurant. These stores are closed every weekend and every national holiday. So, they are closed on the Thursday and Friday before Easter, as well as the Monday after Easter. You can purchase the food I mentioned and chocolate eggs in Iceland in any of the major grocery stores, such as Krónan, Bónus, Hagkaup, and Nettó, but alcohol has to be purchased at a vínbúðin. Important things to keep in mind as a visitor Due to the long holiday, many stores are either closed or have limited hours. I highly recommend checking websites of places to see what their hours will be during Easter. Easter mug on the All Things Iceland merch shop If you would like an adorable Icelandic Easter themed gift for you or a loved on this season, check out the Easter mug on the All Things Iceland Merch shop. Festivals Happening during Easter in Iceland Aldrei fór ég suður – This annual festival is held in Ísafjörður in the Westfjords during Easter weekend. The Icelandic artist Mugison, who I interviewed years ago, is the one that founded this music festival. It is helpful to keep in mind that winter in the Westfjords can be intense. Flights might get cancelled and/or the weather might not be the greatest for driving. Reykjavík Blues Festival Icelandic word of the episode Gleðilega Páska – Happy Easter Föstudagurinn langi – The Long Friday Random fact of the episode In the podcast episode, I share how having fun on Long Friday in Iceland was pretty much illegal. A law was changed in 2019, so that is not the case any longer but it’s fascinating to know that people were not allowed to sing, dance, drink or doing anything fun on that day. Share This Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Kyana Sue Powers is an American content creator that lives in Iceland. She’s inspired many people to visit Iceland and has even inspired some to move. Due to strict Icelandic laws regarding specialty work visas, Kyana is potentially facing deportation. In this interview, Kyana shares how to she ended up in Iceland and the situation she is currently in. Questions I Asked Kyana During the Interview: What inspired you to move to Iceland? What has the process been like for you to live here? What visas have you needed to stay in the country? How long did it take you to feel like you adjusted to living here? Can you give some insight into why the immigration office says that you need to leave Iceland? How can people help to keep you in the country? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9o5T_wIxg2U How You Can Help Kyana If you want to support Kyana by helping her stay in the country, here is a petition. Also, here is the documentary that she mentioned in the interview. Her Instagram and Tiktok handles are @kyanasue Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Contrary to what most people believe, Iceland has a lot of options for people who identify as vegan or plant-based eaters. I remember being astonished at the options in the grocery stores during my first visit back in 2013. Funny enough, that was the first time I’d heard about Veganuary (vegan January). Icelanders who normally eat meat were excited to take on the challenge of only eating vegan food for the whole month of January. This meant that grocery stores in the country had ordered vegan friendly foods to meet the demand. In this podcast episode, I share an astonishing fact about the vegan only grocery store in Reykjavík and list out places for people to eat. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzZFTPEsM_I Vegan Only Restaurants in Reykjavík Vegan World Peace Junkyard Loving Hut Mama Reykjavík Mr. Joy Cat Cafe (Kattakaffíhús) Granólabarinn Jömm (they are looking for a new location for their restaurant) Restaurants that cater to vegan and non-vegan people in groups This is not an exhaustive list. Rather, it is a list of places I like a lot. Duck and Rose Punk Monkeys Kól Flóran Bistro Spíran Laundromat Cafe Sumac Share this post I hope you enjoyed this episode. If so, please share it with someone you think would also enjoy it. Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

April Anderson is the Director, editor, and cinematographer of the documentary “Fire & Iceland”, a beautiful collection of the eruption and insight from locals about the impact of the eruption and living on an island with so much volcanic activity. April and her husband are the creators of www.artasair.com, which showcases various artists and aspect of culture. I recommend checking out their site to see other documentaries and work they have done over the years. See the “Fire and Iceland” Documentary for Free on March 20th, 2022 To cap off “Eruption Week”, I’m hosting a free watch party of the “Fire & Iceland: Art, Culture & Chasing Lava” documentary on Sunday, March 20th, 2022 on my YouTube channel. This is a one-time free showing on my channel because I will delete it afterwards. If you want to watch along with me, you must be at the premiere of it. Normally, you must pay for the documentary, and you can watch it at any time by purchasing it on Vimeo or Prime Video. To be notified of the time and to get the link, sign up for my newsletter. I will send out the time and link on Friday evening. Donate to the Icelandic Search & Rescue Team Since viewing the documentary is being made available for free, if you feel inclined to, you can donate directly to the Icelandic Search and Rescue team. They are a 100% volunteer-led non-profit, non-commercial organization in the country that works tirelessly to help save lives and keep all of us safe. The reason so many of us were able to safely see the eruption is because of them. If you can donate to their organization, it would be greatly appreciated. The link to donate is to their Paypal account, so they will get the money directly.  The link is also here – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=EKX6MUYPP7AGA&source=url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8lY7C3_p454 Questions I asked April During the Interview Before we jump into the documentary, it is part of the Art as Air project. Can explain a little bit about the Art as Air project? What inspired you to make the Fire & Iceland documentary about the Geldingadalur eruption that started on March 19th 2021? There is a guy in the documentary that went to the eruption 67 times. How many times did you go? Instead of basing the documentary around the volcano itself, there is a much wider focus on Icelandic people and the “volcanic culture”. Different perspectives, like from members of the Icelandic Search & Rescue teams, geologists, artists, even Valur – who is editor in Chief at the Reykjavik Grapevine, is in it, as well as local people. Why was it important to capture that culture here? What impact did the eruption have on you as a creator and person? Was there anything in the documentary that surprised as you looked back over footage or while you filmed the interviews? Do you have any favorite behind the scenes moments while shooting? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Share this episode If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or rating on whichever platform you are on. Also, please share this with someone that you think would enjoy it what is coming up for eruption week. Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove is an award-winning photographer and author of the book “New Earth: A Photographic Journey of the Geldingadalur Eruption.” He is a Belgian nature photographer, who specializes in photographing wildlife and landscapes with great passion. He has been living in Reykjavik, Iceland since 2016 and uses it as his base to explore and capture the raw beauty of the land of fire and ice and the Arctic region in its entirety. Why did Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove Move to Iceland? In Jeroen’s own words “Why not move to Iceland?” Of course, an interview of a foreign national is not complete without asking what led that person to move to Iceland. Jeroen talks about how he followed a feeling inside of him. It’s amazing how some people move to this country solo and just figure it out. As you will hear in the interview, he just knew that this was the right decision for him. Why Jeroen visited the Geldingadalir Volcanic Eruption 44 Times It boggled my mind when I found out that Jeroen visited the volcanic eruption close to 50 times! What is even more remarkable is that he hiked for 46 out of the 47 times that he went. During the podcast episode he talks about why he chose to hike the majority of the time, the intensely challenging conditions he faced, the epic shots he was able to capture and the impact the eruption had on him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=drYevt9UlfA A Lifelong Dream Fulfilled That Turned into a Book Since the time he could remember, Jeroen has wanted to see a volcanic eruption up close. He was unable to see the huge Holuhraun eruption back in 2014 due to unfavorable weather conditions. When the eruption happened on the Reykjanes Peninsula he just knew that this was his chance. It was fascinating to hear him talk about the excitement he felt when he saw the eruption for the first time, and how he worked to make capturing it interesting for himself every time he went. Most people that decide to write a book take a year or more. You will be astonished to hear the short amount of time it took Jeroen to put together and publish his photographic journey of capturing this insanely beautiful natural phenomenon. Where to Connect with & Buy Jeroen’s Book If you want to follow, connect with and/or buy Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove’s book, use the links below: Jeroen’s website: https://jvn.photo Jeroen’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jvn.photo/ Jeroen’s Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jvnphotographer Jeroen’s book: https://jvn.photo/newearth Jeroen’s book on the RVK Grapevine: https://shop.grapevine.is/collections/photography-books/products/new-earth-a-photographic-journey-of-the-geldingadalir-eruption See the “Fire and Iceland” Documentary for Free on March 20th, 2022 To cap off “Eruption Week”, I’m hosting a free watch party of the “Fire & Iceland: Art, Culture & Chasing Lava” documentary on Sunday, March 20th, 2022 on my YouTube channel. This is a one-time free showing on my channel because I will delete it afterwards. If you want to watch along with me, you must be at the premiere of it. Normally, you must pay for the documentary, and you can watch it at any time by purchasing it on Vimeo or Prime Video To be notified of the time and to get the link, sign up for my newsletter. I will send out the time and link on Friday evening. Donate to the Icelandic Search & Rescue Team Since viewing the documentary is being made available for free, if you feel inclined to, you can donate directly to the Icelandic Search and Rescue team. They are a 100% volunteer-led non-profit, non-commercial organization in the country that works tirelessly to help save lives and keep all of us safe. The reason so many of us were able to safely see the eruption is because of them. If you can donate to their organization, it would be greatly appreciated. The link to donate is to their Paypal account, so they will get the money directly.  The link is also here – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=EKX6MUYPP7AGA&source=url Questions I asked Jeroen During the Podcast Episode What inspired you to move to Iceland? How long have you been photographing nature? The images in your book are incredibly beautiful and the story you weave together was captivating. Can you explain how you felt the first time you saw the eruption? You have been to the eruption site 44 times! Do you have specific moments that stick out for you? At one point of you hiking to and photographing the eruption, did you know you wanted to share this experience in the form of a book? What advice for you have for people who want to visit a volcano site? How did your family feel about you going to the eruption so many times? Were they concerned for your safety? It must have been quite exhausting going to the volcano so many times. What was the most challenging thing you encountered throughout this experience? Do you have a favorite image or vantage point of the eruption? Were

March 19th, 2022 marks the one year anniversary of the start of the Geldingadalir eruption on the Reykjanes Peninsula. The eruption lasted six months and, according to scientists, is the longest eruption of this century in Iceland! To commemorate this momentous occasion, I am hosting “Eruption Week” on the All Things Iceland YouTube channel and here on the podcast. The Eruption Week Schedule https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1gujgzJRf0U Throughout this week, I will feature interviews that I did with two creators who documented the beauty, power, and impact of the Geldingadalir volcanic eruption. The first interview to be published is with Jeroen Van Nieuwenhove. He is a professional photographer from Belgium that has resided in Iceland since 2016. He recently published a book called “New Earth: A Photographic Journey of the Geldingadalir Eruption.” Not surprisingly, the images in it are stunning. While there is not a lot of text, what he does write is captivating and takes you along on the journey he embarked on to document the volcano during the forty-four visits that he made. The second interview is with April Anderson. She is the cinematographer, editor, and director of the documentary “Fire & Iceland: Art, Culture & Chasing Lava.” This documentary is visually stunning and gives amazing insight into Icelandic culture and mindset about living on an island with such volatile nature. See the “Fire and Iceland” Documentary for Free on March 20th, 2022 To cap off “Eruption Week”, I’m hosting a free watch party of the “Fire & Iceland: Art, Culture & Chasing Lava” documentary on Sunday, March 20th, 2022 on my YouTube channel. This is a one-time free showing on my channel because I will delete it afterwards. If you want to watch along with me, you must be at the premiere of it. Normally, you must pay for the documentary, and you can watch it at any time by purchasing it on Vimeo or Prime Video To be notified of the time and to get the link, sign up for my newsletter. I will send out the time and link on Friday evening. Donate to the Icelandic Search & Rescue Team Since viewing the documentary is being made available for free, if you feel inclined to, you can donate directly to the Icelandic Search and Rescue team. They are a 100% volunteer-led non-profit, non-commercial organization in the country that works tirelessly to help save lives and keep all of us safe. The reason so many of us were able to safely see the eruption is because of them. If you can donate to their organization, it would be greatly appreciated. The link to donate is to their Paypal account, so they will get the money directly. The link is also here – https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=EKX6MUYPP7AGA&source=url Share this episode If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or rating on whichever platform you are on. Also, please share this with someone that you think would enjoy it what is coming up for eruption week. Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Gerog Leite is Afro-Brazilian and came to Iceland way back when he was 16 years old. I witnessed first-hand his gregarious nature during my first visit to Kaldi Bar, a place he owns and manages, many years ago. It’s funny how I wondered about his story as I watched him from afar chatting with people at the bar. Little did I know that one day I would have the pleasure of interviewing him for the All Things Iceland podcast. Georg’s Transition From Brazil to Iceland During the conversation, Georg describes what led him to choose Iceland as a teenager and what it was like for him to adjust to a place that is pretty much the exact opposite of where he grew up in Brazil. Along with adjusting to life here, we discuss how his family back in Brazil reacted to him choosing to live in the land of fire and ice. Georg’s journey learning the Icelandic language One of my absolute favorite parts of this interview is hearing about his journey learning Icelandic. It always delights me when people just allow themselves to jump headfirst into challenging situations. Iceland was a very different place when he moved back in 2002, but the fact remains the same – Icelandic can be hard to learn but it is doable. This is something I often remind myself of because somedays it feels rough. A Multi-talented Creator & Entrepreneur On top of owning Kaldi Bar, my favorite bar in downtown Reykjavík, Georg is a talented photographer that published the gorgeous book called “New Faces of Iceland”, which features portraits of Icelanders with mixed heritage. It shows the amazing and diverse cultures that have merged into Icelandic society. He is also an actor, and model. Seriously, he is majorly talented and treats everyone like a close friend. If you enjoyed this interview with Georg, I encourage you to follow him on Instagram and share this interview with someone you think would enjoy it. Share This Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Even though the Health Minister had hinted at removing all restrictions, I honestly didn‘t think it would happen now because of the continued high rate of infections in the country. In the last couple of weeks, the number of new COVID cases has broken records. We have seen numbers way higher than when the pandemic started. Yet, Icelandic Parliament, along with the Chief Epidemiologist, have decided to lift all restrictions. Reactions to Lifting of COVID Restrictions in Iceland In this episode, I go over how people are feeling in Iceland about this decision. There are some who are rejoicing, while there are some that are nervous. The most vocal people that are rejoicing are those in the hospitality and travel sector. It has been a rough two years for them, and they are hoping that going back to pre-pandemic life will mean a revival of their businesses. What the Lifting of Restrictions Means for Travelers to the Country As of now, there is no obligation to take a test when you land in the country, no quarantine or isolation is required as well. Regardless of your vaccination status, you can enter Iceland without issue. PCR tests are no longer readily available. If you need to take a COVID test, you still have the rapid test (antigen) one available. You are also not obligated to wear masks or keep your distance from people. If you do feel sick and test positive for COVID, it is recommended that you isolate but that is not being enforced. Basically, you can enter and travel around freely in the country. Additionally, you do not have to pre-register on covid.is nor do you need to present a vaccination certificate at the border. Why Has Iceland Lifted All Restrictions When the Virus is still widespread? Below is a quote from this article on RÚV English regarding Iceland has concluded lifting all restrictions: The memo to the minister from chief epidemiologist Þórólfur Guðnason states that the rate of serious illness has not risen in line with the wide spread of the virus in society. Þórólfur believes that 80 percent of the population will have had the virus by around mid-March, and that this will be the likely threshold for good herd immunity. The massive spike in new infections has nevertheless cause significant problems for the health service; with more people being admitted to hospital, and a very large number of health workers off with the virus—thereby threatening basic services.” Tweet Depending on how the next couple of weeks turn out, it could be that the decision to lift all restrictions still stands or that the government takes different action. We shall see. If you found this episode helpful and/or informative, please share it with someone that you think would find it interesting. Share this Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tryggvi Rúnar jr is named after his grandfather, who is one of the wrongly accused and convicted individuals in Iceland’s most infamous criminal investigation. In 1974, two men, on separate occasions, went missing and their bodies were never found. The police scrambled to figure out what happened to Guðmundur Einarsson and Geirfinnur Einarsson (not related). I watched the Netflix series Out of Thin Air, which gives more background about what Tryggvi talks about during this interview. Coercion & Intense Interrogation to Get Confessions After intense interrogations and mistreatment, including being put in solitary confinement for years, six people confessed and were convicted for kidnapping, killing, and disposing of the bodies of these two men. This was without any forensic evidence or the bodies of these two men. Finally, in 2018 five out of the six falsely convicted people were exonerated. In this episode, you will hear how Tryggvi Rúnar Jr grew up around his grandfather but was completely unaware of his past as a petty criminal and wrongly convicted person. His experience of his grandfather was only one of a caring, gentle, and giving older man that loved him. Tryggvi, his family, the others convicted and their families, have been fighting the Icelandic justice system for years. As I mentioned earlier, five out of the six were exonerated. While that is great, it took over 40 years for justice, and Erla’s name has still not been cleared. I think a story like this sheds light on the fact that someone’s past doesn’t have to define how they act in the future. Also, “once a criminal, always a criminal” is a harsh and unfair label that can lock people into a vicious cycle of criminal behavior because they haven’t been able to reintegrate back into society. The Icelandic Government’s Involvement The other aspect to this interview that intrigued me to no end is the involvement of the Icelandic government. The current Prime Minister, Katrín Jakóbsdóttir acknowledged there was wrongdoing regarding the case and investigation. However, she has never directly apologized to the families on behalf of the Icelandic government. Tryggvi Rúnar explains this in detail during the interview. Admittingly, I was shocked to hear that because this seems like such a cut and dry thing to do. If you enjoyed this podcast episode, please share it with someone that you think would also enjoy it. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

As I approach my sixth year of living in Iceland, it is fascinating to take a trip down memory lane and talk about what has happened leading up to me living here. Because some people have asked how my family felt about me moving to Iceland, I decided to let them tell you. During this episode, I conducted a virtual interview with my sister and mother. They both get a chance to share with you what their feelings from the beginning of me meeting Gunnar up until now. Some of the things they shared gave me better insight into how they felt back then. Plus, it was so much fun to have them as guests on the show. Over the years, I think we have all adjusted to live many thousands of miles away from each other. Technology has been such a gift for our family because we can easily stay in touch. My Mom Endured Empty Nest Syndrome When I Moved to Iceland While I am not yet a parent, I have a greater appreciation for my mom expressing her empty bird nest syndrome that happened when I moved. We were so close (still are), so moving was an adjustment that both of us had to mentally prepare for. I distinctly remember crying at the airport on the day when I was finally moving. I wasn’t expecting to burst into tears but when I saw my mom crying, I couldn’t help it. As you might have heard in previous episodes, I’ve never felt home sick for the US, but I always look forward to when my family comes to visit or when I go to them. How We Coped with Such a Big Change My sister, who now lives in Texas, has always been quite the jokester and you will hear that in this episode. I think all of us use laughter and comedy when discussing difficult topics because it helps us to ease the pain. Change can be difficult, and me moving to Iceland was certainly a major adjustment for everyone. On top of that, I created All Things Iceland, which is a topic we discuss too. I’m proud that as a family we have weathered many storms, supported each other in our individual endeavors, and continue to stay connected. I hope you this bit of insight into my family’s feelings about me living in Iceland. Feel free to share your comments or stories about you moving abroad in the comments. Share This Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Today is the last day of the All Things Iceland 15-day Christmas series. To hear about the Icelandic Yule Lads that have arrived during this time period, and an overview of this series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13 and Day 14. This episode dives into what happens to the Icelandic Yule Lads after Christmas. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the last part of the poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic poem about the Yule Lads Á sjálfa jólanóttina,  -sagan hermir frá,-  á strák sínum þeir sátu  og störðu ljósin á.  Svo tíndust þeir í burtu,  -það tók þá frost og snjór.  Á Þrettándanum síðasti  sveinstaulinn fór.  Fyrir löngu á fjöllunum  er fennt í þeirra slóð.  -En minningarnar breytast,  í myndir og ljóð. English poem about the Yule Lads On Christmas night itself – so a wise man writes – the lads were all restraint and just stared at the lights. Then one by one they trotted off into the frost and snow. On Twelfth Night the last of the lads used to go. Their footprints in the highlands are effaced now for long, the memories have all turned to image and song. Icelandic Christmas tradition On this day, which is Christmas eve for many in the US, Icelanders have the tradition of getting dressed up and sitting down for dinner at 6 PM. The main staples of the meal are usually boiled and sugared potatoes, green peas from a can, pickled red cabbage that also might be from a can, corn, laufabrauð, and some type of meat dish. My mother in law always has ptarmigan or rjúpa (which is a type of bird), but others might have beef, lamb, glazed ham or turkey. It really depends on the family. After dinner, there is of course dessert. Later on you open gifts. Most people get a book for Christmas, so they usually go off and read their book at the end of the night.  Starting on December 25th, the Yule Lads start to make their way back to the mountains one by one each day. The last official day of Christmas in Iceland is January 6th. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Kertasníkir, the 13th and final Yule Lad, comes to town – the favorite among Icelanders. To hear about the other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12 and Day 13. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Kertasníkir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Kertasníkir Þrettándi var Kertasníkir,  -þá var tíðin köld,  ef ekki kom hann síðastur  á aðfangadagskvöld.  Hann elti litlu börnin,  sem brostu glöð og fín,  og trítluðu um bæinn  með tólgarkertin sín. English version of the poem about Kertasníkir The thirteenth was Candle Beggar – ​​´twas cold, I believe, if he was not the last of the lot on Christmas Eve. He trailed after the little ones who, like happy sprites, ran about the farm with their fine tallow lights. Icelandic Christmas tradition The 23rd of December in Iceland is Saint Þorlákur’s Day in Iceland,  Thorlak Thorhallsson is the patron saint of Iceland. He was bishop of Skálholt from 1178 until his death on December 23rd, 1193.  The holiday calls for a special meal which many eat only once a year: fermented or putrefied skate (a type of ray). Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Ketkrókur, the 12th Yule Lad, comes to town. To hear about the other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11 and Day 12. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Ketkrókur by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Ketkrókur Ketkrókur, sá tólfti,  kunni á ýmsu lag.-  Hann þrammaði í sveitina  á Þorláksmessudag.  Hann krækti sér í tutlu,  þegar kostur var á.  En stundum reyndist stuttur  stauturinn hans þá. English version of the poem about Ketkrókur Meat Hook, the twelfth one his talent would display as soon as he arrived on Saint Thorlak´s Day. He snagged himself a morsel of meet of any sort, although his hook at times was a tiny bit short. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Christmas candies! I feel like a holiday in Iceland is not complete without some kind of candy that is made especially for this time of the year. The big candy producers like Nóí Sírius, Apollo and Góa all have some type of candy during this time. I especially love Jóladýr, which is a vegan candy from Freyja. It is dark chocolate with creamy mint filling. So tasty and way too easy to eat the whole bag. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight  Gáttaþefur, the 11th Yule Lad, comes to town. To hear about the other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10 and Day 11. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Gáttaþefur by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Gáttaþefur Ellefti var Gáttaþefur  -aldrei fékk sá kvef,  og hafði þó svo hlálegt  og heljarstórt nef.  Hann ilm af laufabrauði  upp á heiðar fann,  og léttur, eins og reykur,  á lyktina rann. English version of the poem about Gáttaþefur Eleventh was Door Sniffer, a doltish lad and gross. He never got a cold, yet had a huge, sensitive nose. He caught the scent of leaf bread while leagues away still and ran toward it weightless as wind over dale and hill. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Bake saras or sörur – Chocolate glazed buttercream macaroons ​​Sarah Bernhardt cakes originates back to 1911, where a Copenhagen pastry chef (Johannes Steen) created this cake as a tribute to the world-famous french actress, Sarah Bernhardt, when she came to Copenhagen to mark the publication of her memoirs in Danish Piparkökur – pepper cookies but really gingerbread. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Gluggagægir, the 10th Yule Lad comes to town. To hear about the other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, and Day 10. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Gluggagægir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Gluggagægir Tíundi var Gluggagægir, grályndur mann, sem laumaðist á skjáinn og leit inn um hann. Ef eitthvað var þar inni álitlegt að sjá, hann oftast nær seinna í það reyndi að ná. English version of the poem about Gluggagægir The tenth was Window Peeper, a weird little twit, who stepped up to the window and stole a peek through it. And whatever was inside to which his eye was drawn, he most likely attempted to take later on. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Jólaterta – Christmas cake that is layered with jam and cream. You can find them in every supermarket wrapped up in plastic Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Bjúgnakrækir, the 9th Yule Lad comes to town This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, and Day 9. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Bjúgnakrækir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Bjúgnakrækir Níundi var Bjúgnakrækir,  brögðóttur og snar.  Hann hentist upp í rjáfrin  og hnuplaði þar.  Á eldhúsbita sat hann  í sóti og reyk  og át þar hangið bjúga,  sem engan sveik. English version of the poem about Bjúgnakrækir The ninth was Sausage Swiper, a shifty pilferer. He climbed up to the rafters and raided food from there. Sitting on a crossbeam in soot and in smoke, he fed himself on sausage fit for gentlefolk. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Menorah looking electric candle decorations. I was so confused when I saw these in the window of many Icelanders when I visited for the first time in December 2013 because I didn´t know so many Jewish people lived here. However, when I looked closer and inquired about it, these candles are not a menorah but closely resemble them.  According to the website Stuck in Iceland, these lights were apparently brought to Iceland by an illustrious businessman from Sweden in the sixties. The story goes that he bought a few handmade lights for his aunts but pretty soon everybody had to have one. Needless to say, he made a fortune on this rather lucky break. If something catches on in homogenous Iceland, well it takes off big time! Confusingly, Icelanders also prepare wreaths with four candles. The candles are lit on every Sunday on the advent. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Skyrjarmur,, the 8th Yule Lad comes to town This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6, Day 7 and Day 8. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Skyrjarmur by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Skyrjarmur Skyrjarmur, sá áttundi,  var skelfilegt naut.  Hann hlemminn o’n af sánum  með hnefanum braut.  Svo hámaði hann í sig  og yfir matnum gein,  uns stóð hann á blístri  og stundi og hrein. English version of the poem about Skyrjarmur Skyr Gobbler, the eighth, was an awful stupid bloke. He lambasted the skyr tub till the lid on it broke. Then he stood there gobbling – his greed was well known – until, about to burst, he would bleat, howl and groan. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Lighting of the Oslo tree in Austurvöllur square in downtown Reykjavík is not as grand as the Rockefeller Christmas tree lighting but it is still fun. Songs are sung and it is an all around good time. This normally happens in early December and that is when you know that the Christmas season is going into hyperdrive here. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Hurðaskellir, the 7th Yule Lad comes to town This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5, Day 6 and Day 7. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Hurðaskellir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the poem about Hurðaskellir Sjöundi var Hurðaskellir,  -sá var nokkuð klúr,  ef fólkið vildi í rökkrinu  fá sér vænan dúr.  Hann var ekki sérlega  hnugginn yfir því,  þó harkalega marraði  hjörunum í. English version of the poem about Hurðaskellir The seventh was Door Slammer, a sorry, vulgar chap: When people in the twilight would take a little nap, he was happy as a lark with the havoc he could wreak, slamming doors and hearing the hinges on them squeak. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Christmas Markets. I talked about this in the episode about Icelandic themed Christmas Gifts but I am briefly bringing it up again because it is such a staple here regarding this holiday. Here is a link to check out the Christmas markets for 2021 in or near Reykjavík. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Askasleikir, the 6th Yule Lad comes to town This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5 and Day 6. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Askasleikir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the Poem about Askasleikir Sá sjötti Askasleikir,  var alveg dæmalaus.-  Hann fram undan rúmunum  rak sinn ljóta haus.  Þegar fólkið setti askana  fyrir kött og hund,  hann slunginn var að ná þeim  og sleikja á ýmsa lund. English version of the Poem about Askasleikir Bowl Licker, the sixth one, was shockingly ill bred. From underneath the bedsteads he stuck his ugly head. And when the bowls were left to be licked by dog or cat, he snatched them for himself – he was sure good at that! Icelandic Christmas Tradition Laufabrauð – leaf bread Laufabrauð is a traditional Icelandic bread that is eaten in the Christmas season. Even though it is said to have originated in the north of Iceland, it is now eaten all around the country. The look of it is a very thin flat cake with a diameter of about 15 to 20 cm (6 to 8 inches), and is decorated with leaf-like, geometric patterns. It is fried to a crispy texture in hot fat or oil. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on email Email Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Pottaskefill, the 5th Yule Lad comes to town This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4 and Day 5. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Pottaskefill by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the Poem about Pottaskefill Sá fimmti Pottaskefill, var skrítið kuldastrá. -Þegar börnin fengu skófir hann barði dyrnar á. Þau ruku’upp, til að gá að hvort gestur væri á ferð. Þá flýtti’ ann sér að pottinum og fékk sér góðan verð. English version of the Poem about Pottaskefill Pot Scraper, the fifth one, was a funny sort of chap. When kids were given scrapings, he’d come to the door and tap. And they would rush to see if there really was a guest. Then he hurried to the pot and had a scraping fest. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Special Christmas beers from breweries in the country. You are only allowed to buy them starting in November and the sale stops when the holiday season is over or if the batch sells out. This year there is a beer being made with the taste of red pickled cabbage and green peas, two staple dishes for Icelandic Christmas dinner. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Þvörusleikir, the 4th Yule Lad comes to town. This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and Day 4.  Just a reminder that on December 16th, 2021 at 8:00 PM in Iceland, I am giving a live talk about traveling around Iceland throughout the seasons on The Wisdom App. It’s a totally free app that you download on your phone. You can ask me questions about traveling in Iceland and interact with me live. I look forward to interacting with you on December 16th. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Þvörusleikir by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the Poem about Þvörusleikir Sá fjórði, Þvörusleikir,  var fjarskalega mjór.  Og ósköp varð hann glaður,  þegar eldabuskan fór.  Þá þaut hann eins og elding  og þvöruna greip,  og hélt með báðum höndum,  því hún var stundum sleip. English version of the Poem about Þvörusleikir The fourth was Spoon Licker; like spindle he was thin. He felt himself in clover when the cook wasn’t in. Then stepping up, he grappled the stirring spoon with glee, holding it with both hands for it was slippery. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Malt og appelsín – Holiday drink in Iceland that is very popular. It is incredibly sugary and many people love the combination. However, I am not one of them. I like to stick to drinking malt. Regardless, I do recommend trying it, if you haven’t already. Share this Icelandic Christmas Story Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Stúfur, the 3rd Yule Lad comes to town. This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the  other Yule Lads that have already arrived and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Stúfur by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the Poem about Stúfur Stúfur hét sá þriðji,  stubburinn sá.  Hann krækti sér í pönnu,  þegar kostur var á.  Hann hljóp með hana í burtu  og hirti agnirnar,  sem brunnu stundum fastar  við barminn hér og þar. English version of the Poem about Stúfur Stubby was the third called, a stunted little man, who watched for every chance to whisk off a pan. And scurrying away with it, he scraped off the bits that stuck to the bottom and brims – his favorites. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Buying and eating clementines during the Christms season. Not very long ago, it was considered fairly rare to have a decent variety of fruits available in Iceland. I have friends who are in their mid 40s and up, who say they grew up looking forward to Christmas because that was the only  time in the year when they go clementines. Even though Icelanders can probably get them shipped in anytime now, they pretty much pop up in abundance during this season. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Tonight Giljagaur, the 2nd Yule Lad, comes to town. This is a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series. To hear about the first Yule Lad and an overview of this Icelandic Christmas series, check out Day 1 and Day 2. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem about Giljagaur by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic version of the Poem about Giljagaur Giljagaur var annar,  með gráa hausinn sinn.  -Hann skreið ofan úr gili  og skaust í fjósið inn.  Hann faldi sig í básunum  og froðunni stal,  meðan fjósakonan átti  við fjósamanninn tal. English version of the Poem about Giljagaur The second was Gully Gawk, gray his head and mien. He snuck into the cow barn from his craggy ravine. Hiding in the stalls, he would steal the milk, while the milkmaid gave the cowherd a meaningful smile. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Jólabókaflóðið – Icelandic book flood This is according to jolabokafloð.org “This tradition began during World War II once Iceland had gained its independence for Denmark in 1944. Paper was one of the few commodities not rationed during the war, so Icelanders shared their love of books even more as other types of gifts were short supply. This increase in giving books as presents reinforced Iceland’s culture as a nation of bookaholics – a study conducted by Bifröst University in 2013 found that half the country’s population read at least eight books a year. Every year since 1944, the Icelandic book trade has published a catalogue – called Bókatíðindi (‘Book Bulletin’, in English) – that is sent to every household in the country in mid-November during the Reykjavik Book Fair. People use the catalogue to order books to give friends and family for Christmas. During the festive season, gifts are opened on 24 December and, by tradition, everyone reads the books they have been given straight away, often while drinking hot chocolate or alcohol-free Christmas ale called jólabland.” Share this Icelandic Christmas Story Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

The kick off to this series was yesterday, so check out that if you want a primer on who the Yules Lads are and a bit about their family. One thing to keep in mind is that the Yule Lads travel in the evening/early morning, so they can get into town before children wake up. Tonight, the first Yule Lad, Stekkjastaur, is making his way to town. Below is the Icelandic and English version of the poem by Jóhannes úr Kötlum. Icelandic Version of the Poem about Stekkjastaur Stekkjastaur kom fyrstur,  stinnur eins og tré.  Hann laumaðist í fjárhúsin  og lék á bóndans fé.  Hann vildi sjúga ærnar,  -þá varð þeim ekki um sel,  því greyið hafði staurfætur,  -það gekk nú ekki vel. English Version of the Poem about Stekkjastaur The first of them was Sheep-Cote Clod. He came stiff as wood, to pray upon the farmer’s sheep as far as he could. He wished to suck the ewes, but it was no accident he couldn’t; he had stiff knees – not too convenient. Icelandic Christmas Tradition Kids put a shoe in the window in Iceland. Back in the day, Icelandic Yule Lads were not bearers of gifts but the image of them has softened over time. This has resulted in them being associated with bringing either a gift that they left in your shoe if you were good or a potato, if you were bad. Share this Icelandic Christmas Story Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

While I have talked about the Icelandic Yule Lads on the podcast in the past, I decided to change it up a bit this year by kicking off a 15-day Icelandic Christmas series.This series will include me reading a poem in Icelandic and English about the Yule Lads. This poem was originally written in Icelandic by Jóhannes úr Kötlum and is called “Jólasveinarnir” in Icelandic. The poem was translatedCopyright © into English by Hallberg Hallmundsson. How the 15-Day Icelandic Christmas Series is Structured Today, I am explaining where the Yule Lads come from, sharing some information about their mother Grýla, their father Leppaluði and their vicious Black Cat. Starting tomorrow evening, the Yule Lads come to town one by one each day until the 24th. In accordance with that, I will read the poem about them for that corresponding day. In addition to reading the poem in Icelandic and English, I will also share an Icelandic Christmas tradition to end off the episode.  I feel like this is a fun way to mix up my content and I hope you enjoy it. If you do, it would be greatly appreciated if you left a review of the podcast wherever you listen to podcasts and share this series with anyone that you think would enjoy it. Join Me for a Live Talk About Iceland on the Wisdom App I want to thank the Wisdom App for sponsoring this episode of the podcast. The Wisdom App is often thought of as “Clubhouse meets Masterclass”. You can connect with experts in their respective fields to hear them speak live about topics they are well versed in. I’ll be giving a Wisdom App live talk on December 16th, 2021 at 8:00 PM GMT (time in Iceland) about traveling around Iceland during the different seasons. If you tune in live, you can ask me questions and interact with me. Make sure to mark your calendars, so you don’t miss out on this talk about Iceland. “Jólasveinarnir” in Icelandic – First Part Segja vil ég sögu  af sveinunum þeim,  sem brugðu sér hér forðum  á bæina heim Þeir uppi á fjöllum sáust,  -eins og margur veit,-  í langri halarófu  á leið niður í sveit.  Grýla var þeirra móðir  og gaf þeim tröllamjólk,  en pabbinn Leppalúði,  -það var leiðindafólk.  Þeir jólasveinar nefndust,  -um jólin birtust þeir,  og einn og einn þeir komu,  en aldrei tveir og tveir.  Þeir voru þrettán  þessir heiðursmenn,  sem ekki vildu ónáða  allir í senn  Að dyrunum þeir læddust  og drógu lokuna úr.  Og einna helst þeir leituðu  í eldhús og búr.  Lævísir á svipinn  þeir leyndust hér og þar,  til óknyttanna vísir,  ef enginn nærri var.  Og eins, þó einhver sæi,  var ekki hikað við  að hrekkja fólk – og trufla  þess heimilisfrið. The English Translation of the first part Let me tell the story of the lads of few charms, who once upon a time used to visit our farms. Thirteen altogether, these gents in their prime didn’t want to irk people all at one time. They came from the mountains, as many of you know, in a long single file to the farmsteads below. Creeping up, all stealth, they unlocked the door. The kitchen and the pantry they came looking for. Grýla was their mother – she gave them ogre milk – and the father Leppalúdi; a loathsome ilk. They hid where they could, with a cunning look or sneer, ready with their pranks when people weren’t near. They were called the Yuletide lads – at Yuletide they were due – and always came one by one, not ever two by two And even when they were seen, they weren’t loath to roam  and play their tricks – Disturbing  the peace of the home. Icelandic Christmas tradition  Advent calendars are very popular in Iceland. This year, advent started on Sunday November 28th and will end on December 24th. Most kids get an advent calendar with a chocolate or some sort of candy for each day of advent. Some companies have gotten creative here regarding these calendars. One has created a beer advent calendar, I saw another for perfume, and nail polish. So, this tradition is definitely evolving to cater to people of all ages. Share This Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Because Christmas is right around the corner, I decided to dedicate this episode to giving you ideas for Iceland-themed gifts you can get for yourself or a loved one this year. Below are all of the places I recommend getting a gift that was either made or designed in Iceland. Iceland Themed Gift Ideas Talked About in the Podcast 1.) The Handknitting Association of Iceland is where I get my Icelandic lopapeysas (sweaters). They are handmade in Iceland from 100% Icelandic wool. https://bit.ly/handknitted_iceland https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjBepJiZm94&t=0s 2.) Shop at the All Things Iceland Merch shop for awesome Iceland themed goodies (https://shop.allthingsiceland.com/) Get a 10% discount on your first purchase when you use the code Iceland10 at checkout. 3) Anna Rósa Skincare – https://www.annarosaskincare.com/ In  the video below, I talk about how the Bliss Healing Balm from Anna Rósa skincare has been a game changer for my skin during the winter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nh5Xp7w0QNc&t=197s 4.) Icelandic Food & Sweets  – On this site (https://bit.ly/nammi_christmas), you can find an assortment of foods that Icelanders eat during the Christmas season. I recommend ordering some and trying them out.  5.) Infused Salts from Saltverk are sustainably harvested in Iceland. They have a lovely selection of flavors that are so fun to try. (https://saltverk.com/) 6) Books By Icelandic Authors The Little Book of the Icelanders at Christmas by Alda Sigmundsdóttir – https://amzn.to/3dgzwGK Independent People by Halldór Laxness – https://amzn.to/3EiyaXz   Magma by Þóra Hjörleiðsdóttir – https://amzn.to/3luxh7g  Jar City by Arnaldur Indriðason – https://amzn.to/3pkUwBM  Crime Books by Yrsa Sigurðardóttir – https://amzn.to/3oeRfoc  Here is a link to more Iceland – https://www.icelandtravel.is/blog/icelandic-authors-books/ 7) Icelandic Alcohol Icelandic Christmas Beers, which are so fun to taste during this time of year. https://bit.ly/christmas_beers_iceland Reykjavík Distillery has some delicious liquers that I highly recommend trying, such as the Rhubarb and blueberry flavored ones. https://bit.ly/nammi_reyk_dist Here is the episode about Icelandic beer history that I did with Óli the Brewmaster  Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Visiting Iceland for the first time is such an amazing adventure, but it also comes with some surprising experiences. In this podcast episode, I point out 12 things that shock first timer visitors to the country. While this will help to manage your expectations, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have some type of reaction to one or more of these things when you encounter them. Shop at the All Things Iceland Merch Shop Great Holiday Themed Gifts Iceland for First-Timers Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2SzkaekT0w The 12 Things That Surprise First Timers Discussed in the Podcast Episode The money in Iceland Cost of alcohol and food Icelander’s ability to speak English Trees in Iceland exist! Roundabouts are different here Smell of rotten eggs coming from the hot water Fly net for summer One lane bridges One lane tunnels Using cards primarily for payment everywhere you go Showering naked at the local swimming pools Feels like you are on another planet Icelandic word of the episode Koma á óvart – surprise Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

While there are certainly more than five trailblazing women in Iceland’s history, I thought it would be helpful to start off with these women first because they have made a significant impact on Iceland and the progression of the society for everyone. You might have heard of some of the women I’m featuring but there are others that you have probably never learned about. Before I jump into speaking about each woman, I will first give a bit of history about Iceland regarding suffrage and the significant impact that Icelandic women’s organizations had in the country. These organizations were formed before women had the right to vote. After going over each of the phenomenal women’s backgrounds, I share a little timeline of significant moments in Icelandic history that are related to women rights and equal rights. Next is the random fact of the episode and I will end off with the Icelandic word of the day. I found a lot of information on the Women’s history Archives website. The Archives was founded in January of 1975 by Anna Sigurðardóttir, Else Mia Einarsdóttir and Svanlaug Baldursdóttir. Since 1996 it has been a special entity within the National Library of Iceland. There is so much information there and I will have links to the website in the show notes if you want to check it out. A Short History of Voting Rights in Iceland I think it is important and super fascinating to share some history about Iceland and how the country being governed by Denmark played a significant role in the rights of women in the country. At the beginning of the 19th century Iceland did not have many people residing in the country. The ones that did live here were farmers, their wives and kids, people who worked as laborers and maids. There was not a middle class until later into the 20th century. That is significant because it is often thought that the middle class are the backbone of social movements. In fact from 1845, the right to vote for men in Iceland was limited to those of a certain age that paid taxes and had property. That changed in 1903 but still that means that more than 50 years went by where only men with certain status in society had the right to vote. What is so interesting to me is that the Icelandic parliament discussed women’s suffrage more than once in the 19th century and most parliamentarians supported it. However, all bills that contained women’s suffrage were vetoed by Danish authorities. Those bills also proposed changes in the relationship between countries as well. I’m sure that had a lot to do with the bills being vetoed. I was surprised at how progressive parliament was back about this topic. And for those who are not aware, Iceland didn’t become a sovereign state until 1918 and declared independence in 1944. The role of Women’s Organizations in Icelandic history Iceland’s first women’s organization was founded in the countryside in 1869. It’s focus was to foster more unity and cooperation among women in the region. They also collected money to buy a knitting machine that all members could use. Most women’s organizations at the time were focused on helping the sick and the poor. Iceland didn’t have a national healthcare system then and municipalities were barely providing any social help. By stepping in to help, these women organizations played a significant role in shaping the welfare state of the country. These organizations provided home care for the sick and created a healthcare center in Reykjavik. Because women were only allowed to get the most elementary education from the established institutions at the time, Icelandic women decided to create their own private schools between 1874 and 1879. Icelandic women gained the parliamentary vote in 1915, but the right was, however, blemished by the fact that only women over 40 years of age got the vote. Nowhere else in the world was women’s suffrage restricted in this particular way. Certain circumstances in Iceland contributed to this unique decision, and we shall take a closer look at them here. (In 1920 the franchise limits on women were lifted in accordance with the agreement in 1918 between Denmark and Iceland when the latter became a sovereign state). 1. Bríet Bjarnhéðinsdóttir (1856-1940) She was born in 1856 and lived until 1940 Early advocate for women’s liberation and suffrage in Iceland Was an educated school teacher, graduated from a women’s school in 1880 Bríet began working in Reykjavík from 1887. Starting in 1885, she wrote various articles for women’s rights under the signature AESA When she moved to the capital she held speeches for women’s rights. In 1888, she married the liberal editor Valdimar Ásmundsson. She founded a women’s society (1894), Managed a women’s magazine, Kvennablaðið (1895–1926), Co-founded a journalist’s society (1897) Managed a children’s magazine (1898–1903). 2. Ingibjörg H. Bjarnason (1867-1941) As a teenager, she moved to Reykjavík after her father died and attended

Ragna Kjartansdóttir (Cell7) and Hildur Kristín Stefánsdóttir are the dynamic duo that makes up the band Red Riot in Iceland. During this interview, they share the ups and downs of being an artist (solo and in a band) in Iceland. In particular, they provide insight as females in the Icelandic music industry and some of the challenges they have faced just due to their gender. Use my special link below to get a discounted rate of the live stream of the “Live from Reykjavík” concert happening on November 6th, 2021. This hybrid event has limited in-person seats and will be live-streamed from four iconic venues in Reykjavík. Amazing Icelandic artists like Ásgeir, Bríet, Aron Can, Daughters of Reykjavík, Red Riot, and more will perform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0xPoY_aXbhU Topics I Talked About With Red Riot During the Interview When did you burst onto the music scene in Iceland? Was there any pressure to look or be a certain way as a female artist? Which music artists have inspired you? Trailblazing as songwriters in Iceland Challenges they have faced in the music industry What advice do you have for young artists? What made you form Red Riot? How have you adapted during COVID? Cell7’s experience in a recent Inspired by Iceland campaign What music projects are you working on now that we can look out for? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Red Riot’s Spotify playlist Red Riot’s Instagram Cell7’s Spotify Playlist Cell7’s Instagram Hildur’s Spotify Playlist Hildur’s Instagram Share This Post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

So many people around the world have fallen in love with Icelandic music because of the amazing artists from this tiny country in the North Atlantic ocean. Like many industries, the Icelandic music scene has had to pivot during tough times in order for artists to continue working/creating and for the industry itself to keep alive. To get a better insight into how the Icelandic music scene has adapted during this time, I hosted a panel of experts in the industry. These amazing people include María Rut Reynisdóttir is the Head of Cultural Office for the City of Reykjavik and the Project Manager for Reykjavík Music City; Sigtryggur “Siggi” Baldursson is the Managing Director for Iceland Music, whose mission is to help tell the story of Icelandic music around the world, and he was the drummer in the band “The Sugarcubes”; Will Larnach Jones is the Managing Director and Head of Bookings for Iceland Airwaves, one of Iceland’s biggest music festivals. Listen to Live Icelandic Music During “Live from Reykajvík” Use my special link below to get a discounted rate of the live stream of the “Live from Reykjavík” concert happening on November 6th, 2021. This hybrid event has limited in-person seats and will be live-streamed from four iconic venues in Reykjavík. Amazing Icelandic artists like Ásgeir, Bríet, Aron Can, Daughters of Reykjavík, and more will perform. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OA7bwomj45A&list=RDCMUCacXXvaNHJQhMYU7f77OrBA&start_radio=1 Full Biographies of the Speakers on the Panel Sigtryggur Baldursson – MD of Iceland Music Siggi heads up a great time at Iceland Music, whose mission it is to help tell the story of Icelandic music around the world. Iceland Music is the music export office of Iceland. We facilitate the growth and development of the Icelandic music sector through building relationships between musicians and the various services that support their careers, such as festivals, PR and labels, and transnational promotion. Iceland Music also administers a number of export grants to Icelandic musicians which help them perform internationally. He is also a kind, warm and funny man! And in a former life he was the drummer for The Sugarcubes, who were the first Icelandic band to make big waves overseas, and as such played a huge part in the music / tourism conversation around Iceland, and with the label Bad Taste (Smekkleysa) María Rut Reynisdóttir – Head of the Culture Office in the City of Reykjavík María Rut studied Creative Project and Process Management at the KaosPilot school in Denmark and started her career in Iceland as the Executive Assistant to Magnus Scheving, creator and CEO of the LazyTown children’s TV series. María first got involved in the music industry when she joined the social music platform Gogoyoko.com back in 2008 as Head of Charity (and later COO) and took on the management of Iceland’s biggest reggae band, hjálmar. She was the Program Manager of Iceland Airwaves in 2010, the Manager of the You Are In Control conference on creative industries in the digital age in 2011 and the General Manager of the Icelandic Music Awards 2012 – 2015. María has taught Project Management at the Icelandic Academy of the Arts and sat on the board of Gogoyoko.com and Music Express travel fund. María has been the manager of internationally acclaimed artist Ásgeir from the start of his career in spring 2012 as well as managing dj. flugvél og geimskip. María became the Project Manager for the Music City of Reykjavík where her responsibilities will be to ensure and support a thriving music community in the city through various activities and projects. She is now the Head of Cultural Office for the City of Reykjavik. Will Larnach -Jones, Managing Director and Head of Boookings for Iceland Airwaves Will Larnach-Jones has worked in music for 20 years – wearing many hats throughout that time – manager, publicist, agent, A&R, music programmer, marketing ‘guru’ and erstwhile (rubbish) DJ. Along the way, he’s worked with many bands from every corner of the world. Originally from Australia, he now lives in London and he works as managing director and head of bookings for Iceland Airwaves – having had a connection with the county for almost 20 years. Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter

Icelandic ghost stories have been told over the centuries and there is one in particular that I am sharing in this episode. “Deacon of Dark River” or Djákninn á Myrká is a spooky story that involves love, Christmas and the undead. Over the last couple of years, Halloween has become more popular in Iceland, even though there is another holiday (Öskudagur), where kids dress up and sing for candy. However, that holiday happens on Ash Wednesday and not much happens during this time of the year, so it makes sense that Icelanders are gravitating towards celebrating Halloween. Random Fact of the Episode “Trolls in the Knolls: 35 Icelandic Folk & Fairy Tales ” is the book I referenced in the episode. It has some fun stories that are a mix of bizarre, fascinating and a little scary. Icelandic Phrase of the Episode Gleðilega Hrekkjavöku – Happy Halloween Subscribe to the All Things Iceland Newsletter Don’t miss out on announcements of special content for those planning a trip to Iceland. Click Here Join the All Things Iceland Community on Patreon Some of you might be aware that one of my goals for the podcast is to travel around Iceland more to interview different people in each region. In July, I set up the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. It’s a membership platform that was founded in 2013. It allows for creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you in exchange for a monthly subscription. Each month I am doing Ask Me Anything videos, Live Chats, and Folklore Friday each week. Sometimes I do updates about my life in Iceland. I do not share this content on any other channel. The support from my patrons on the All Things Iceland community on Patreon will help to evolve All Things Iceland. There are several membership tiers to choose from and each tier has a variety of benefits. If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og Gleðilega Hrekkjavöku! Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and Happy Halloween! Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter Let’s Be Social. Here is where we can connect. Instagram Facebook Youtube

Immigrant life in Iceland has surprisingly been a smooth transition for me. I think part of that has to do with the fact that there are certain things in the country that have made living here easy. Of course it is important to mention that what I point out in this episode are based on my own experience and will vary from person to person. In this podcast episode, I go over 5 specific things that come to mind when I think about what has made immigrant life in Iceland easier as I continue to learn and adjust to the country. Taxes for Expats Thank you to Taxes for Expats for sponsoring this podcast episode. I’m incredibly grateful for this awesome tax service because they make my life a million times easier when it comes time to file in the US. Their online platform is intuitive, and you get matched up with a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) that thoroughly works on your taxes to make sure you are fully compliant regarding filing your taxes. Every year, it is a headache for me to get it done but not anymore because I know I can rely on Taxes for Expats to handle the paperwork for me. Here is the list of the 5 things that make immigrant life easier that I talk about in the episode: Getting my taxes down by Taxes for Expats – crucial for immigrant life if you want to stay compliant with the tax laws in your home country Having community (in-person and online) Seeing familiar products from the US in stores in Iceland English is widely spoken here Being able to get shipments for a good price via iHerb.com I often get asked by people from around the world how they can move to Iceland. It varies for everyone, but I recommend checking out this video to get an idea of what visas are available to you and much more. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJJZdsXsFus Random Fact of the Episode One of the funny things to me is that I have totally taken on the habit of Icelanders where they bring an empty suitcase with them when they go on vacation. It is often so expensive to buy clothes and certain products here, that it can be less expensive to buy a plane ticket and bulk shop for things out of the country. Icelandic Word of the Episode Innflytjandi – immigrant Share this post Share on facebook Facebook Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on twitter Twitter Let’s Be Social. Here is where we can connect. Instagram Youtube Facebook Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega. Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

2021 has been such an interesting year for me and I was just as shocked as anyone that I was able to interview the President of Iceland, Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. I talk about how the opportunity to interview Guðni during the podcast episode because it is quite unusual. The President was very kind to answer all of my questions, including the questions that the members of the All Things Iceland Patreon submitted. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTJo-K3_PV8&t=1s Here are the questions I asked the President of Iceland during the interview: What motivated you to run for President of Iceland in 2016?  Can you explain a bit about what your duties are, and what kind of power you do have in the Icelandic government? –  What have you learned from previous Icelandic Presidents What is most challenging about being President of Iceland? How has COVID impacted your Presidency? What He likes about being President of Iceland The myths about Iceland he wants to debunk The President’s favorite history about Bessastaðir (The Icelandic President’s Residence) Has there been anything interesting and/or strange that have you experienced since leaving behind your life as an ordinary citizen and becoming the head of the Icelandic state? One of the most surprising things I read about you is you’re a very distant cousin of Barack Obama. Was it shocking to you when you found that out? Also, have you met the Obamas? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Questions From my patrons on Patreon Before assuming the office of the president you had an academic background in Icelandic history. When you leave office what do you think you will focus on studying or writing about? As an individual who has translated the works of Stephen King into Icelandic what is your favorite work by the Author? Is there any literature you would love to see translated that has not been? Join the All Things Iceland Patreon Community Some of you might be aware that one of my goals for the podcast is to travel around Iceland more to interview different people in each region. In July 2020, I set up the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. It’s a membership platform that was founded in 2013. It allows or creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you in exchange for a monthly subscription. Each month I am doing Ask Me Anything videos, Live Chats, and Folklore Friday each week. Sometimes I do updates about my life in Iceland. I do not share this content on any other channel. The support from my patrons on the All Things Iceland community on Patreon will help to evolve All Things Iceland. There are several membership tiers to choose from and each tier has a variety of benefits. If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join. Share this post Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Let’s Be Social. Here is where we can connect. Instagram Youtube Facebook Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega. Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

During this sit down with Sæþór Randalsson about the recent election in Iceland and his involvement with socialism in Iceland was quite insightful. More than a year ago, I interviewed Sæþór about his move from the United States many years ago and you check it out here. The beginning of this episode focuses on Sæþór sharing about how the Icelandic Parliament is set up. After all the ballots from the election are counted, coalitions of the parties that have seats in Parliament are formed. Well, the goal is that coalitions are formed but that can sometimes take more than one go for that to happen. After that breakdown, Sæþór talks about Socialism and why he is running for a Parliamentary position with the Socialis party. Many people who are not familiar with how Iceland is governed often assume that there is socialism is widely practised in Icelandic society instead understanding there is a mix of socialism and capitalism here. Join the All Things Iceland Community on Patreon Some of you might be aware that one of my goals for the podcast is to travel around Iceland more to interview different people in each region. In July, I set up the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. It’s a membership platform that was founded in 2013. It allows for creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you in exchange for a monthly subscription. Each month I am doing Ask Me Anything videos, Live Chats, and Folklore Friday each week. Sometimes I do updates about my life in Iceland. I do not share this content on any other channel. The support from my patrons on the All Things Iceland community on Patreon will help to evolve All Things Iceland. There are several membership tiers to choose from and each tier has a variety of benefits. If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega. Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

Iceland’s Blue Lagoon was established in the 1990s, but it’s a much different experience now than its humble beginnings. Over the decades the Blue Lagoon went from being a bathing facility whose water run off from a nearby power plant soothed the skin of patients with psoriasis to being one of the most well known spas in the world. When travelers to Iceland are planning their trips, I often get asked if the Blue Lagoon is worth visiting. I totally understand that some “must see” places can be overhyped, so I dedicated this short podcast episode to giving you my opinion on if it is worth it to visit this famous spa. Different Passes for the Blue Lagoon + In-water Massage During the episode I go over the different passes available, the cost of each pass (comfort and premium) and what they include. I also include my experience with the in-water massage that is available as an add-on to any pass that you buy, if you decide to visit. I do not include an opinion about the Blue Lagoon’s Retreat Spa, a newer and much more expensive option than the other passes, because I’ve not experienced it. When I do try out the Retreat Spa, I will definitely share my thoughts in a separate episode. I think the most important things for anyone to keep in mind when making decisions about activities in Iceland are their budget and what kind of experiences they feel are worth splurging on. For many, visiting the Blue Lagoon is an essential part of experiencing Iceland and I think that is a fair view point. I hope this podcast episode has helped to give you some insight on whether the Blue Lagoon is worth it for you when you visit the country. If you have already visited this spa in Iceland, I’d love to hear what your experience was like in the comments. Subscribe the All Things Iceland Newsletter Don’t miss out on announcements of special content for those planning a trip to Iceland. Click Here Random Fact of the Episode Before the most recent renovations at the Blue Lagoon, you used to be able to hand scoop your own silica masks from buckets placed in areas around the lagoon. With the new upgrades, you get your mask from an attendant, plus other available masks based on your skin’s sensitivities. The nice thing about having an attendant give you the mask is that you know no one else has been putting their hands in it. Icelandic Word of the Episode Bláa lónið – Blue Lagoon Share This Post Share on pinterest Pinterest Share on facebook Facebook Share on twitter Twitter Let’s Be Social. Here is where we can connect. Instagram Youtube Facebook Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega. Thank you for kindly for listening and reading, and see you soon!