All Things Iceland

A few days ago I posted on the All Things Iceland Instagram and Facebook pages that I do plan to give a rundown of how the Coronavirus is spreading in Iceland and what the government has been doing to control it. I do not plan to give updates every few days about the virus. I think it is important to talk about it. However, I mainly created All Things Iceland to share about Icelandic culture, history, language and nature. Not to just focus on one topic. Also, I think it is nice to be able to escape the news for a while and hear about Iceland. Like many others, I am closely monitoring what is going on with the virus where I live. I want to do as much as I can to stay safe.  I still do my weekly news round-up in my Instagram stories each Sunday. You can check that out if you want to hear about what happened in Iceland the week before. As I thought about how to format this particular episode, it dawned on me that it might be helpful to give you a bit of backstory regarding when Icelandic officials made it public that they were starting to prepare for the virus coming to the country. Also, I am going to speak a little about how deeply this affects the Icelandic economy, especially the tourism industry. When Did Iceland Start to Prepare for the Coronavirus? To start off, Iceland did take note when the World Health Organization’s (or the WHO) China office started sharing reports of the virus spreading in the Eastern Chinese city Wuhan in late December and into January. Of course no one knew it would spread so quickly around the world. In late January, Iceland started to prepare for it possibly coming our way. According to Iceland Monitor, on January 27th, Þórarinn Guðnason, the Chief Epidemiologist in Iceland, recommended that Icelanders should, Cancel any unnecessary trips to areas in China affected by the coronavirus, known to cause pneumonia, coughs, fever and breathing difficulties.  This applies in particular to the Hubei province. Þórarinn Guðnason, the Chief Epidemiologist in Iceland He was also said “health care officials in Iceland are preparing for the possible spread of the virus to Iceland. “That is our approach – that this will arrive in Iceland… We try to prepare as well as possible. We prepare for the worst, hoping it won’t happen. But we assume it will arrive here.” Chinese Tourism Was on the Rise in Iceland One thing many people who live outside of Iceland may not be aware of is that Chinese tourism in the country has been on the rise over the last couple of years. Some of the tourists are groups coming directly from China and others are people who were born in China but are studying or working abroad in different places, such as in Europe. I have worked in tourism Iceland for about four years, from 2016 to present day and it was clear that even though U.S. visitors were still the highest number of tourists that it was evident that numbers were declining fast. Chinese tourists were starting to increase rapidly, especially during the Chinese New Year. According to an article published in January of this year, Iceland was expecting no less than 130,000 Chinese tourists, which would have been more than the number of Germans expected to visit, and Germans are the third numerous group behind the United States and the United Kingdom. 130,000 might not seem like a lot when you think about the fact that almost two million people visited Iceland in 2019. However, the potential for more Chinese tourists was growing exponentially. I reported in my weekly news round-up on Instagram back in November that a Chinese airline Juneyao was going to start offering direct flight service from Shanghai to Keflavík airport in March. Of course that is not happening now but that should at least give you an idea that ties between Iceland and China were strengthening. The tourism industry in Iceland is very competitive and all of the companies are fighting for market share. Many of them have been trying to capture the Chinese market because they could all see the writing on the wall. Icelanders Expected Coronavirus Infections to Come Directly From China As a person that lives here and pays a decent amount of attention to the news as well as talks to natives and expats, I can tell you that most of us assumed that Iceland wouldn’t be hit hard by this virus. It felt a world away. Also, most people thought that since this virus originally popped up in China, that it will be either Chinese visitors or Icelanders that had been in China or an already labeled “high risk” area that would bring the virus to the island. Well, to many’s surprise that is not what happened. People on the Front Lines Started to Prepare Before any cases of the virus were confirmed in Iceland, a few interesting things happened. First, which was reported on January 31st, is that some employees at Keflavík airport started wearing face masks and gloves. Ísavia, the company that operates the airport, said that they provide the masks and gloves t

I had the pleasure of interviewing Gísli Pálsson for this episode of the podcast in his office at the University of Iceland. He recently retired, but he has served as a professor and Director of Institute of Anthropology at the university. He has written several books, including “The Man Who Stole Himself”, the story about Hans Jónatan, who was the first black citizen of Iceland. To get a good overview of that story you can check out the video below that I recently published about Hans Jónatan on YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40chlDBLKwU&t=1s To stay up to date on what I am sharing, like new podcast episodes, videos, articles and more, sign up for the All Things Iceland newsletter. During our chat, we talk about many different topics. It was fascinating to talk with him and below are some of the topics we discussed. The Questions I Asked Gísli Pálsson During The Interview 1. You were born in the Westman Islands. Were you there during the eruption of Eldfell in 1973? 2. What made you interested in studying anthropology? 3. When did you find out about he story of Hans Jonatan and why did you decided to write a book about him? 4. When you were researching for the book, did you find anything surprising or unusual? 5. Another one of your books, “Writing on Ice: The  Ethnographic Notebooks of Vilhjalmur Stefansson – an arctic explorer and pioneering anthropologist, is quite fascinating and a bit heartbreaking. How did you uncover  the story of about his secret family? 6. After the eruption of Eyjafjallajökull, you started a project called the Volcanologues. Can you explain a little bit about that project and why you did it? 7. Through you research and/collaboration with others, have you discovered other fascinating stories or information about Icelanders? 8. How do you choose what you want to research and write about? 9. What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Some of the Books Mentioned During the Episode The Man Who Stole Himself Travelling Passions: Stefansson, the Arctic Explorer Writing on Ice On Time & Water I hope you enjoyed listening to this episode of the All Things Iceland podcast. If you think someone else will find this episode interesting and/useful please share it. My newsletter is dedicated to sharing even more fascinating information about Iceland.  For your convenience and listening pleasure, this podcast is available on many platforms. You can listen on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Stitcher, and pretty much any platform that plays podcasts.  Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

Icelandic sheep are a mix of adorable and fascinating. During the summer, you can find them roaming freely around the country. For months they are on what seems like the ultimate Icelandic summer vacation – eating, sleeping, and walking wherever they please. Before winter sets in, they are rounded up by the farmers that own them so they can be sheltered from the harsh Icelandic weather. Regardless of the season, the Icelandic sheep farmer is always at work. If you are interested in hearing a first-hand account of what life on an Icelandic sheep farm is like, I recommend checking out my interview with Pálína Axelsdóttir Njarðvík, creator of the popular Instagram account (@farmlifeiceland). Her account showcases what life on an Icelandic sheep farm life is like from her perspective. Contents Quick facts about Sheep in Iceland Icelandic sheep history & heritage When is the lambing season in Iceland? What is Réttir? Sheep farms to visit or stay on in Iceland Meat Production of Icelandic sheep Wool Production from sheep in Iceland How to buy an authentic Icelandic sweater? Does Iceland have more sheep than people? Quick Facts About Sheep in Iceland There are more sheep in Iceland than the number of people that live here The color of their fleece can be white or a range of browns, grays, and blacks Multiple births, such as twins, triplets or more, are very common in this breed because of a gene called Þoka that many Icelandic ewes possess Norwegian Spelsau and Icelandic sheep descend from the same stock Sheep in Iceland have been bred in isolation for more than a thousand years Meat production is the main reason for raising sheep in Iceland Sheep milk was once more widely consumed than cow milk in Iceland Sheep in Iceland have played an important role in the way of life in the country since the first settlers came to Iceland back in the 9th and 10th centuries. I was surprised to learn so many fascinating facts about them after talking to Pálína and doing some research.  Icelandic Sheep History & Heritage They are classified as Northern short-tailed sheep and are the largest in their group, which includes Finn, Romanov, Shetland, Spelsau and Swedish Landrac. As mentioned in the quick facts above, the Icelandic sheep descends from the same breed as the Norwegian Spelsau. While it is the case that sheep in Iceland today are pure breeds, at one time farmers did try crossbreeding with foreign breeds. However, those experiments ended because the cross breeding brought on disease. Eventually, all of the sheep that the result of cross breeding were killed, or what is known as culled. Culling is defined as reducing the population of an animal by selective slaughter. Iceland is notorious for its harsh weather and over the centuries there have been many challenging times for livestock and their farmers. Due to being bred in isolation for more than a thousand years, the Icelandic sheep has been able to thrive in these conditions. Because of that, they are considered to be efficient herbivores.  While sheep are mostly bred for meat in Iceland now, they have contributed to Icelandic society in a variety of ways over the years. Up until the 1940’s, they were the predominant milk producing animal in the country. It was far more expensive to have a cow before that time, so people consumed sheep’s milk instead.  When is the Lambing Season in Iceland? Lambing season in Iceland starts in May and lasts for about five weeks. During this month, farmers are working around the clock to monitor and assist the ewes (female sheep) who are birthing the cute lambs. Due to a gene that is named Þoka, pregnant Icelandic female sheep often give birth to multiple lambs at once. They can give birth to twins, triplets, quadruplets, quintuplets, and even sextuplets! It is quite amazing to think of that many lambs being born at once. It isn’t always that the ewes need help with birthing their lambs but it happens often enough that farmers take turns throughout the day and night to check on how everything is going.  Normally, lambs are born with their head and front legs coming out first. However, that doesn’t always happen, and that is when a farmer steps in. Helping Sheep Give Birth is Serious Business Other times help is needed if the lamb is not breathing or if it is rejected by its mother. When a lamb enters the world, it is crucial that there is a bond between mother and child within the first few minutes. If an ewe is cleaning  and drying off their lamb there is a good chance that it has accepted it. Unfortunately, it does happen that an ewe rejects a lamb and starts to ram or kick it. Pálína talks about this happening to one of her favorite sheep during the interview I did with her. Luckily, she was able to save the lamb and keep it alive by nursing it. Sometimes farmers even find another mother for a rejected lamb. Although it is rare, sometimes an ewe or lamb do not live due to complications in the birth

To get a better understanding of the Icelandic education system, I sat down with Arnór Guðmundsson for this episode of the All Things Iceland podcast. In his role as the Director of the Directorate of Education, his agency focuses on testing and producing textbooks for schools in Iceland. We discussed many things. Some of them include the different levels of education in Iceland, how the Icelandic education system compares with other countries, and some challenges the Directorate is facing. The continued decrease in literacy among Icelandic teenage boys and how the survival of the Icelandic language is threatened by English are topics most people are not aware of who live outside of the country. Arnór was helpful in giving an overview of the system. I have also included answers to frequently asked questions regarding the Icelandic education system, which are not in the podcast interview. Photo by Evelyn Paris Contents Arnór’s interview questions What is the history of the education system in Iceland? What are the levels in the Icelandic education system? Do you need to know Icelandic to study in Iceland? How many universities does Iceland have? Are there private schools in Iceland? Is education free in Iceland for international students? Questions I asked Arnór during the interview: What made you interested in working in the Directorate of Education in Iceland? How is the education system in Iceland setup? What are the different levels? I assume that technology is used quite a bit in schools here. I am just wondering how it is used in the different education levels. Is it used early on or does the introduction of  technology start at a later education level? Is it important to promote and foster creativity in schools in Iceland?  What is the difference in the standard of education between public schools vs private schools in Iceland? How does the education system in Iceland compare with other Nordic countries? When a child that doesn’t speak or understand Icelandic enters the education system, is there a process for helping them to learn the language? What are some challenges regarding the education system that the Directorate of Education is trying to tackle? I read a recent article about the reading comprehension being much poorer in Iceland than in other countries. Basically, the amount of students that did not achieve basic reading comprehension standards increased quite a bit. What do you think are some of the reasons why reading comprehensions skills among some students has deteriorated? Is there any concern about how much English is being used among teenagers in Iceland? You studied at the University of Minnesota back in the 90’s. Do you feel that your education in Iceland back then had prepared you for studying in the U.S.? Please share your impression of the education system in the United States on a university level What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? What is the history of the education system in Iceland? Photo by Zak Boca One of the oldest educational institutions in Iceland, Menntaskólin í Reykjavík, can be traced back to 1056! For centuries, education in Iceland has been of great importance.  However, the first national education law wasn’t passed until 1907. Later, the Compulsory Education Act of 1974 modernized the Icelandic education system. It included a mandate for providing special education services to all students with disabilities. Three former schools, Prestaskólinn, Læknaskólinn and Lagaskólinn, were combined to create the University of Iceland in 1911. The schools individually taught theology, medicine and law. Naturally, the professors in the early days of the university only taught those classes for those specific fields. Over time, the fields and expertise of the faculty have diversified. This university is the country’s oldest and largest institution for higher education. Governing Agency for Icelandic Education The Ministry of Education, Science and Culture was established in 1942 and has the jurisdiction of educational responsibility in the country. It issues the national curriculum guidelines for the educational institutions. Most schools in Iceland are public but there are a small number of private schools that have popped up. Interestingly, the Icelandic education system has been decentralized over the years. The local authorities are responsible for the primary and lower schools. While the Ministry is responsible for the upper secondary schools and higher education. About five years ago, the National Center for Educational Materials and The Education Testing Institute combined to become the Directorate of Education. As mentioned in the podcast interview above, Arnór leads that agency. What are the levels in the Icelandic education system? There are four levels of education in Iceland. They are playschool, primary school, upper secondary school, and higher education. These levels are split into compulsory and non-compulsory. Play school, up

When people think of Iceland, they have images of beautiful landscapes, sheep, the northern lights, and glaciers. Many are unaware of the scandals, corruption, and overall fascinating events show up in Iceland news stories throughout the year. If you have listened to previous episodes of this show, such as the interviews with Dóra, the former President of the City Council, Alda Sigmundsdóttir, Kári Stefánsson, Andie Fontaine, Jón Gnarr, and Andri Snær Magnasson, you will have heard about some of the corruption and drama in Iceland. I love that those episodes provide insight from the point of view of people who live in Iceland. This list is meant to be a round-up based on how Iceland news was reported by news outlets. Of course, I sprinkle in my opinion every so often. Some of the Iceland news stories on this top ten list have made international headlines. However, plenty of them only appeared in the domestic news headlines. Easily Keep Up with Iceland News Stories After I started doing a weekly news round-up in my Instagram stories (@allthingsiceland) each Sunday last year, I became even more intrigued with the news here. I feel that the news in any country gives you some insight into the culture and can help you to understand what that society considers important to talk about. Iceland is certainly no different. It became apparent to me that Iceland news stories have given me another great way to tap into what is trending here and to observe how the culture is changing. If you like hearing about Iceland news stories, I highly recommend checking out my weekly round-up on Instagram. Along with sharing the news, I give you a bit of my opinion on the story and try to make it interactive. Another option is to sign up for my free email newsletter. It features a mix of Iceland news stories, facts about the country, videos, upcoming events, tips for travelers, and other goodies. I recently decided to start this newsletter because there is so much awesome content out there. I think email is a great way of sharing it with my fellow Icelandophiles. To read more about each story that I talk about in this episode, I have included links to the original news articles. Feel free to check those out. Now, let’s jump into the 2019 Iceland news top ten list! 10. Ed Sheeran’s Concert Broke A Record in Iceland Icelanders like to play it cool if they see a celebrity walk down the street in Reykjavík. However, they seem to go bananas when a big named performer holds a concert. This is exactly what happened when it was announced that Ed Sheeran would be holding a concert during the summer of 2019. To my surprise, Icelanders were rushing to buy tickets. Like most people in the world, I know some Ed Sheeran songs, but I can’t say that I am very familiar with the majority of his music. I have a feeling that is the case for many Icelandic people. I guess the buzz around this concert was too enticing for many to pass up. Plus, Ed Sheeran is considered a “friend of Iceland ”. He has this honorary title because he wore an Icelandic national football shirt when Iceland played against Croatia in the 2018 World Cup. Some of my Icelandic friends admitted that they were only going to the concert because so many others in the country will be there. Photo by Icelandair A New Icelandic Record for Concert Attendance The concert ended up breaking a record, which made Iceland news headlines. The first concert date, Saturday August 10th, sold out almost instantly. Sena Live, the event management company putting on the concert, added a second concert day, August 11th, because of the demand. In total, about 50,000 people in Iceland attended an Ed Sheeran concert. That is about 14% of the population. On the first night alone, 30,000 people attended. This is the first time in the recorded history of Iceland that 30,0000 attended a concert in the country. Granted, not everyone that attended was Icelandic, but the majority were. I didn’t attend but I did hear that it was a good time. According to the article in the Reykjavík Grapevine, “…Ed started off with a bang. The crowd cheered. He was completely alone on stage, yet easily captivated the 30,000-strong crowd like it was an intimate bar setting.” Reykjavík Grapevine The opening acts for Ed Sheeran included Zara Larsson, James Bay and Glowie, an Icelandic artist. 9. Iceland has over 50,000 immigrants living in the country Number nine on this list of Iceland news stories, came to light in December when it was announced that Iceland now has over 50,000 people of foreign origin living in the country. As I mentioned in the previous story, that is about 14% of the population. Over the last 8 years, there has been a dramatic increase in immigrants. In 2010, the amount of immigrants was around 8% of the population. That number stayed the same through 2012. When you jump from 2012 to 2018, there is a 50% increase in the number of immigrants. In 2019, the amount was recorded at about 14%. Below is a bar gr

The Icelandic sheep farm is pretty much as old as the country because the first settlers from Norway in the 9th and 10 centuries brought sheep with them. As a native New Yorker that was completely disconnected from raw nature, such as the kind found in Iceland, I find it fascinating and difficult to imagine what it would be like to grow up and work on a farm. When I came across Pálína’s Instagram account (@farmlifeiceland), I just knew that I had to interview her for the All Things Iceland podcast. We talked about a variety of things regarding this way of life. Her perspective on life on a sheep farm in Iceland is what is most intriguing. What I especially love is that she has a unique bond with some of the sheep on the farm. On her account, she documents her relationship with them. It is touching and delightful to see her interact with them so closely. If you have ever tried to interact with an Icelandic sheep, you are probably aware that they normally keep their distance from humans. Along with showing the fun side of working and living on a sheep farm, Pálina also shows the challenging parts. Her feelings about the lamb slaughtering season is one that really stuck out to me. It was interesting to hear her talk about that in the interview. I hope you enjoy listening to this interview just as much as I enjoyed conducting it. If you are on Instagram, I recommend checking out @FarmLifeIceland.  Questions I Asked Pálína About Life on an Icelandic Sheep Farm What was it like growing up on an Icelandic sheep farm? Why did you decide to start an Instagram account about life on a sheep farm? During a previous episode, the lambing season was brought up, what’s it like during that time of the year? What is something about farm life in Iceland that would shock people who are unfamiliar with that lifetstyle? You show a lot of pictures of Sunna and Brynja, two sheep on the farm. What is your relationship with them? Have you observed any strange habits of sheep on your family’s farm? I emotionally connected to one of your Instagram posts, which talks about the most horrible time of the year for you. It happens right after Réttir. What happens during that time and why do you dislike it? Have you encountered any challenges navigating between city and farm life? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

I had the pleasure of chatting with Eunsan Huh, the awesome creator of the popular Instagram account, @EverySingleWordinIcelandic. On her account, you will find Icelandic words that she has illustrated as icons, which is helping her and others to learn the language. She has also created a book called “Iceland in Icons: a Pictographic Travel Guide“, which I will have a link to in the show notes of this episode.  It was so much fun to chat with her about how she fell in love with Iceland, why she started to learn the language and some of the adventures she has been on around the country. The Questions I Asked Eunsan During the Interview You have a very interesting background. You were born in Korea, raised in Australia and Canada and now you have been living in NYC for more than a decade. After being exposed to so many different cultures, what made you gravitate toward Iceland? When did you decide to start learning Icelandic?  What resources are you using to learn Icelandic and what has your experience been like? What inspired you to start creating icons for Icelandic words? You have a book called “Iceland in Icons: A Pictographic Travel Guide”. Obviously, the use of icons to represent places and words in Icelandic make it unique, but what else makes your book different than other travel guides?   How many times have you visited Iceland?  Do you see yourself living here? I saw on your Instagram that you have stayed and worked on a farm while in Iceland. What was that experience like? Do you recommend that to others? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? You will be speaking at Tedx Reykjavík tomorrow (October 13), which is awesome! If people want to keep up with what you are doing, where should they follow you? Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

For episode fifty of the All Things Iceland podcast, I interviewed Kári Stefánsson, an Icelandic neurologist who is also the founder and CEO of deCode genetics. deCode is a biopharmaceutical company based in Reykjavík. Kári pioneered the use of, “population scale genetics to understand variation in the sequence of the human genome.” WIkipedia The discoveries from using this approach have helped with developing new drugs. Additionally, the discoveries have helped scientists to better understand cardiovascular disease, cancer, and schizophrenia, just to name a few. Additionally, the population scale approach has served as a model for other national genome projects around the world.  Kári’s Background Before founding  deCode, Kári Stefánsson served as a professor of Neurology at the University of Chicago. Later, he became the Chief of the neuropathology division at Harvard University. Since the founding of deCode, Kári has received many accolades. While I was curious to hear about his work, we spoke about his views on certain topics in Icelandic society. We also spoke about what he thought of Americans after living in the U.S. for more than 20 years, and, of course, his favorite Icelandic word or phrase. Kári shared his views on climate change, Donald Trump, and many other topics. The Video of Kári Receiving the William Allan Award in 2017 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EayPjFhNnw4 The Questions I Asked Kári Stefánsson What sparked your interest in studying genetics? Why did you start deCode Genetics and why did you choose to do it in Iceland? Throughout all of the years that you have been working on decoding human genetics, what finding(s) are you most proud of? Can you share why you chose to recreate the genome of the first Black man in Iceland. First, were some of the Icelanders surprised to find out that they are descendants of a black man? Second, can you provide some insight into why Iceland provides a unique environment to do this type of genome sequencing? Over the years you have been very vocal in the news about different issues  in Iceland. Do you think that because of your status as a highly respected scientist, that it is your responsibility to share your views on these matters or is it mostly from the point of view of a concerned citizen? In 2016, you announced that you could identify everyone in Iceland that had a high risk of getting cancer. You wanted to work with healthcare specialists to reach out to those people to alert them of the potential danger. However, there was push back. Even though, people had consented to having their genes analyzed, they had not consented to being alerted about possible health risks found in their genes. Has this situation changed at all? Meaning, have any laws changed to make this possible and/or has your opinion changed about contacting people? You mentioned to me that you live in the United States for over 20 years studying its natives. Did you find out anything fascinating and/or strange about us? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? I hope you enjoyed this interview with Kári Stefánsson. Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

Today is a very special episode because in June of 2018, I launched the All Things Iceland podcast. A full year later, there are 47 episodes (48 if you include this one) and more than 60,000 downloads. I am incredibly grateful for all of the people that have listened to this podcast and for those who do so in the future. I thought it would be fun to do something a little different for this special occasion. Send In Your Questions For The Podcast I plan to publish an episode that is dedicated to answering your questions about Iceland. I will do my best to answer as many as I can. Send in your questions to [email protected] Why, How, and When I Started the Podcast To celebrate the one year anniversary of the All Things Iceland podcast, I dive into what sparked my interest in starting the show and how I went about launching it. This has certainly been an adventure figuring out the world of podcasting and I look forward to continuously evolving. All Things Iceland Podcast Announcements The publication schedule is changing. I will release two episodes a month rather than four a month. I am working on launching a new website and rolling out a new url. Random fact of the episode Some of you that follow my on Instagram might know where I record my episodes when I am doing them alone. For all of you that don’t, you might find kind of amusing that I record in my closet in my bedroom. Currently, the microphone that I use for when I am alone and when I interview people is the same. However, the location makes a huge difference in the sound quality. Because sound waves from my recordings are absorbed by my clothes, I end up with a cleaner sound. One day it would be awesome to build a home studio or at least have a space other than my closet to record. Until then, I am happy with the closet. Icelandic Word of the Day Til hamingju – congratulations Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Instagram Facebook YouTube Twitter Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Andri Snær Magnason, an award winning writer of novels, poetry, plays and films. He is also a very active environmental activist. We chatted about his fascinating literary career, how he chooses topics to write about, and so much more. Because we talked for about one hour and forty five minutes, I decided to break up the episode into two parts. You’ll hear me say in the beginning that I want to speak with Andri about Reykjavík being a UNESCO City of Literature. However, we don’t get to that until the second part because he had so many interesting stories to tell. Some of them include J.R.R. Tolkein, J. Robert Oppenheimer, and the Codex Regius, just to name a few. Also, I am excited to announce that Andri’s latest book, The Casket of Time has been published in English and is now available for your reading pleasure. It is a young adult Sci-fi novel that weaves together time travel and an environmental crisis for what looks like a captivating read. I’ve been reading The Story of the Blue Planet, another one of his books. When I am finished with that one I’m looking forward to diving into the one above and his other books. Below is a picture of the Bónus supermarket pig that Andri and I talk about during the interview. The Questions I Asked Andri During This Interview 1. You come from a family of doctors and nurses. What made you become interested in literature and in becoming a writer? 2. What inspires you to write your poetry and books? 3. The Icelandic Sagas and many other literary works from various authors, including yourself, have intrigued people all over the world. Why do you think people find Icelandic literature to be so fascinating? Connect with Andri Snær Facebook Twitter Instagram Email – [email protected] Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Facebook YouTube Instagram Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. 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 part of the interview, Andri provides some great insight into the current literature landscape in Iceland and the impact of literature from this country on the world. We start off this interview talking about Reykjavík being a UNESCO City of Literature. Andri is a great person to talk about this because he is the chairman of the board for the Reykjavík UNESCO City of Literature. Andri also shares he favorite pieces of Icelandic literature, his environmental advocacy work, his run for Presidency and, of course, his favorite Icelandic word or phrase. If you have not listened to part one, I highly recommend that you do so that you learn more about Andri. Some of the people the Icelandic authors that Andri recommend are Halldór Laxness, Auður Ava Ólafsdóttir, Sjón, Krístin Omarsdóttir and Neil Gaiman. He also recommended reading Njáls Saga and the Poetic Edda. The Questions I Asked Andri During This Episode 1. Reykjavík has been designated as a UNESCO City of Literature, and it is the first non-native English-speaking city to receive this title. Why is it that Reykjavík received this prestigious title? 2. What makes the literary culture in Iceland is so strong? 3. Can you provide some insight on the current literature landscape in Iceland? Are Icelanders still eager to publish and read Icelandic literature, especially in this age of social media and other technological distractions? 4. What are some places in the city that you recommend for people to check out if they are visiting, or live here, and want to learn more about Iceland’s rich literary history? 5. If a person wants to dive into Icelandic literature, where do you recommend that they start? 6. What are your favorite pieces of Icelandic literature? 7. Your book Dreamland: A Self-Help Manual for a Frightened Nation was the best-selling book in Iceland in 2006 and won numerous awards. It helped to raise Icelander’s interest in environmentalism in the country, specifically about the impact foreign aluminum smelting plants would have on Icelandic nature. Do you think that Icelandic writers today still have the ability to influence the nation in a way that you did with this book? 8. This is slightly off topic, but I think is a fascinating bit of information for the listeners of this podcast to know. You ran for Presidential office in Iceland in 2016. What motivated you to do that and what were the key issues you ran your campaign on? 10. What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Connect with Andri Facebook Twitter Instagram Email – [email protected] Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Facebook YouTube Instagram Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The history of the Icelandic government, also known as Alþingi (pronounced “Althingi”), dates back to the 900s. This episode breaks down the evolution of the government in this country from the very beginning to present day. The World’s Oldest Surviving Parliament In previous episodes, I have mentioned the Alþingi, which is the the Icelandic parliament. It was founded in 930 at Þingvellir, which is now part of the Golden Circle and is one of the most historically important sites in the country. Iceland claims that the Althingi is the oldest surviving parliament in the world. Because of the history and unique geology in the area, Þingvellir became a National Park on the 1000th year anniversary of the Althingi in 1930. In 2004, the site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Because most of the settlers in Iceland during the 900s were Norwegian, their heritage greatly influenced the creation of their government. It seems that their main goal was to avoid a centralized authority or King, especially since that is what some of them had fled. Additionally, they wanted to integrate the Norwegian tradition of laws and legal assemblies (aka Þing). This resulted in Iceland forming a unique government. Þingvellir – Once The Gathering Place of the Alþingi The gathering of Parliament members in Iceland from 930 to 1800 was an open air assembly on the plains of Þingvellir. While all free men could attend the assemblies, it was Iceland’s most powerful leaders, known as goðar or chieftains, that decided on legislation and providing justice for any law related claims brought before them. While legislation was top of mind during these assemblies, they were also the main social event of the year. Farmers, craftsmen, travelers, storytellers, traders, and the families of many of these people attended. Temporary camps, called búðir, were set up in Þingvellir for these assembly events. The Icelandic Law Rock & Law Speaker Lögberg, which translates to Law Rock, was the center of the assembly gatherings. An interesting fact is that the exact location of the lögberg is unknown today. You might be thinking, how is that possible? It is not as if this huge rock just moved. But in reality, that might have happened. Some of you that have visited Þingvellir or have heard about it on this show, are aware that this is one of the areas in Iceland where the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates are slowly shifting a part by 2cm each year. This area is known as a rift valley. Over the more than 1000 years of shifts in the geography have made it difficult to pinpoint exactly where the Lögberg was located. There are two possible locations but this will remain a mystery until someone is able to prove it. The lögsögumaður or lawspeaker had a seat on the Law Rock and this person was the official of the assembly. The assemblies were called to order and dissolved at the Law Rock. The lawspeaker, 39 Cheiftains that had their own districts and nine other members made up the Lögrétta, which was the legislative part of the assembly. Not surprisingly, this section of the Althingi was very powerful. They adopted new laws, dealt with legal conflicts, and granted exemptions to existing laws. The Althingi of the past also had a judicial function that listened to legal disputes. As the parliament evolved, judges were appointed by the chieftains in the Lögrétta (Court of Legislature). From Commonwealth to Being Ruled by A Monarch When the Althingi was formed, Iceland was set up as a commonwealth or a free state. In 1262, that came to an end because Icelanders submitted to the authority of Haakon IV, King of Norway. This happened under the terms of the gamli sáttmáli or Old Covenant. Like you, I wondered why would Icelanders give up their free state to be ruled by a monarch, so I dug a little deeper to find out. Before the signing of the covenant, there were civil disputes happening in the country. For about 44 years in the 13th century a family called the Sturlungs were one of the powerful families causing wars and violent conflicts among Chieftains. The main reason this was happening was because behind the scenes, the Norwegian King was trying to exert his influence through Icelandic family clans. The Sturlungs and Gissur Þorvaldsson were essentially agents of the Norwegian monarch and they were wreaking havoc on Icelandic society. This time period came to be known as the Age of the Sturlungs. The tales are so epic that a saga called the Sturlunga Saga was written. The end of this treacherous age happened when the Old Covenant was signed. Iceland thus became unified with Norway. Under the Old Covenant, goðars no longer ruled the country and all of the executive power was shifted over to the Monarch. However, the Lögrétta, or Court of Legislature, continued to function and it shared legislature power with the king. Any laws that were adopted had to be approved by the Monarch. If the Monarch decided to initiate legis

Akureyri, also known as the capital of the north in Iceland, is the fourth largest municipality in Iceland. Reykjavík, Hafnarfjörður and Kopavogur are larger. This town of about 18,500 people is small in comparison to Reykjavík, but it is bustling with life. Akureyri’s History This area that Akureyri is located was originally settled in the 9th century by a Norse Viking named Helgi magri (the slim) Eyvindarson. However, you don’t see the name Akureyri mentioned in any court records until 1562. That year a woman was sentenced there for committing adultery. During the 17th century, Danish merchants set up their trading operations in the town  during summer because the town has an amazing natural harbor and the surrounding area is quite fertile. Even though, this area was being used by merchants and people were living there, it wasn’t granted its municipal charter by the Danish king until 1786. This act by the king was intended to help the town grow into an urban area. However, it was deemed unsuccessful because the population didn’t grow beyond the 12 people that lived there. In 1836, Akureyri lost its municipal status, but did get it back in 1862. The town’s great port conditions and agricultural region helped it to grow its population. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=080yUIby1_4 Geography and Climate Most people assume that the farther north you go in Iceland, the colder the weather. That is not necessarily the case for Akureryi. It is located at 65 degrees North and 18 degrees West. Even though, the Arctic Circle is only about 60 kilometers north of the town, the climate there is still quite mild and is classified as subarctic.  Surprisingly, the temperatures in the summer can reach up to 25 degrees Celsius or 77 degrees Fahrenheit. The average temperature in the winter is 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The relatively warm climate, at this latitude, allows for the botanical gardens to flourish without greenhouses. It is in one of the longest fjords in the country and is surrounded by beautiful mountains that reach between 1000 – 1500 meters high. The high mountains shield the town from strong winds. Akureyri is quite a cloudy place and it barely sees any sunshine between November and February. However, it has much lower precipitation than in the south of Iceland. On average, it gets about ⅕ the amount of rain that Vík in Mýrdál, the popular town in the south, gets throughout the year. World War II Akureyri was one of the three air bases used by the Norwegian-British squadron that flew Northrop N-3PB bombers during World War II. The other two air bases were in Reykjavík and Budareyri. The squadron flew from Akureyri from April 25th, 1941 until April 5th, 1943. They also operated Catalina flying boats from the town. These boast protected convoys between the U.S., the U.K., and Murmansk in northern Russia from attack by German submarines. Commercial Business in Akureyri As I mentioned in the All Things Iceland podcast episode about Halldór Laxness, many Icelandic people started moving from the countryside in Iceland to urban areas. While commerce and service industries were the most popular employers in the Akureyri in the 20th century, the fishing industry started to dominate in the early 21st century. As I had mentioned earlier in this episode, Akureryi has amazing port conditions. What I mean by that is that their harbour remains ice free all year long, which is incredible and convenient for fishing merchants. This town is home to two out of the five largest fishing companies in Iceland. The ice free port certainly has played a role in that. Additionally, the largest brewery in Iceland Vílfilfell and Sjúkrahús Akureyrar, one of the two major hospitals in Iceland, are in Akureyri. How To Get to Akureyri If you are planning to visit Akureyri, I highly recommend it. I had the pleasure of going there in December and it was absolutely lovely.  You might be wondering what is the best way to get there, and the good news is that you have a few options. If you own or rent a car in Iceland, you can easily drive there on route 1, the main road that goes around the country. It takes about five hours to get there by car from Reykjavík. However, you can take a flight, a bus or get there by boat. The town is home to one of the four international airports in the country. Air Iceland Connect has several flights per day from Reykjavík to Akureyri, and it only takes about 30 minutes. During the summer, you will see cruise ships docked there and a decent amount of tourists roaming around. Bus number 57 operated by Strætó goes from Reykjavík to Akureyri. SBA Norðurleið also has buses between these two places in the summer. What To See & Do in Akureyri Whether you go in the summer or winter,  there are plenty of things for you to do. I have split up my lists of what to do into summer, winter and all year, because I think it is the best way to help you plan your visit. During summer you

To kick off my comeback to podcasting, I am sharing an awesome interview I did with Andie Fontaine, the News Editor of The Reykjavík Grapevine. Andie is originally from Baltimore. They have been living in Iceland since 1999 and has Icelandic citizenship. We dive into what it has been like for Andie to learn Icelandic, their views on immigration, coming out as transgender and many other fascinating topics. By the way, we did this interview at the office of the Reykjavík Grapevine, so there is some background noise at times. The Questions I Asked Andie Fontaine During the Interview When did you move to Iceland and what motivated you to come here? Did anything about Icelandic culture, the people or the landscape surprise you? What was it like learning Icelandic? What was the biggest challenge you faced with adjusting to life here? You are currently the news editor for the Reykjavík Grapevine, a popular publication here that is in English. What made you want to join the Reykjavík Grapevine team? After the many years that you have lived here, do you feel like you are Icelandic? What is something about Iceland that people in other countries, the U.S. or wherever would be surprised to know or learn about? Recently, you announced on Facebook that you have been officially registered in the Trans Team Process in Iceland. What has coming out as trans in Iceland been like for you? Do you feel that Iceland has a supportive and positive attitude toward people who identify as trans? What advice do you have for people who are interested in moving to Iceland? Is there anything that you miss about the United States? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Facebook Instagram Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. 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 week’s episode, I give an overview of the rich history of Icelandic literature and  culture. Before I jump in, I have two announcements. Two Important Announcements The first is that today, February 20th, 2019, is the last day for you to enter the All Things Iceland podcast giveaway.  If you haven’t entered already, you can do so by clicking on the image that says the All Things Iceland podcast giveaway below. I will pick the winners at random tomorrow and contact them The second announcement is that I am taking a little break from podcasting, but only for a little while. I get so much joy from doing this and I definitely plan on continuing to do it. One of the main reasons is that I am taking a pause is because I will be traveling for about 2 months. It will be difficult to find the space and time to record, edit and publish weekly episodes. During that time, I will have some vacation time, my mother will have surgery, and I will start a new job. The show will restart again on April 24th, 2019. I know it sounds like a long time away but time passes by so quickly. It is hard to believe that I have been doing this podcast weekly for the past 8 months! Also, I have been reading your survey results and I am so excited to create shows and conduct interviews based off of your suggestions. Ok, now let’s jump back into to the topic of Iceland’s literary culture. Icelandic Sagas – The Beginning of Icelandic Literature History Icelandic literature is just as unique as its language, which I talked about in episode two of this show. I’ll start out with lcelandic literature from Medieval times and end with the modern day literary environment in the country. As I have mentioned in previous episodes, the sagas, which were written between the 9th and 13th centuries, are the most revered pieces of Icelandic literature. They were written in Old Norse tell tales of the people that migrated to Iceland, Viking voyages to unknown lands and the history of settlers. The sagas have withstood the test of time. They have been inspirational sources for shows, movies, plays and books that depict life in Scandinavia during those times. Njáls Saga For instance, Njáls Saga, which takes places between 960 and 1020, is full of drama. There is betrayal, murder, ongoing feuds, omens and prophetic dreams. It is teeming with excitement. It also gives insight into the culture during that time. While all of the sagas are fascinating, I specifically point out this one because its Iceland’s longest and most developed saga. If you want to check it out, I have a link to the  saga database that has free versions of the popular sages in Icelandic and English. https://www.amazon.com/Njals-Saga-Penguin-Classics/dp/0140447695/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr= While it hasn’t been confirmed, there is a theory that the sagas served as a way of hiding and preserving the view of pagans, which was threatened by the onslaught of Christianity in the country Most of the authors of the sagas are unknown, but they are thought to be somewhat true accounts that were passed on orally until they were written down. Some people theorize that women might have been some of the authors. However, there is no evidence to support that. Plus, all of the known saga writers are male. However, many poetry verse stanzas are attributed to Icelandic and Norwegian women, such as Gunnhildr konungamóðir, and Þórhildr skáldkona. Icelandic Eddaic & Skaldic Poetry Eddaic and skaldic poetry were also written during medieval times.  These types of Icelandic literature helped to influence the country’s appreciation of poetry. The main difference between the two types of poetry is that skaldic refers to poetry written by Norwegian and Icelandic poets, who known as skalds. While the Eddas mentioned mythical events or told stories, skaldic poetry was used to honor nobles or kings, as well as to commemorate or satirize important events. It is helpful to know that there are two types of Edda poems. The Elder or Poetic Edda are Old Norse poems and stories that originated in the 10th century. They were first written down in Iceland in the 13th century. The Younger Edda, or the Prose Edda (Snorri’s Edda), was written by Snorri Sturluson in the early 13th century. Stories about the Norse Gods and other mythical creatures are featured in these poems. Religious Icelandic Literature While the sagas hold a special place in Icelander’s hearts, and for many around the world, poetry started to dominant just a few centuries later. One famous poet during this time was Hallgrímur Pétursson. He was a priest and poet that wrote the Passion Hymns during the 1600s. The hymns are 50 poetic texts that follow Christ entering the Garden Gethsemane to his death and end with his burial. Because Christianity was quite popular in Iceland during this time, the hymns became an important part of Icelandic religious expression. The famous church Hallgrim

This episode might be short but it gives you a good overview of Icelandic foods to try while in Iceland. Before I jump into this list, I have to inform you that I have been a plant based eater, usually referred to as vegan, for the last five years. However, I did taste all of these foods before I made the transition. The foods on this list are very much a part of the Icelandic food culture and it would be difficult to talk about Iceland without mentioning them. I just want all of my vegetarian and vegan listeners to know that there are a lot options for you in Iceland and I am working on putting together a video and podcast episode about those options. Icelandic Hot Dog Iceland’s hot dog has become a must have food while visiting. Most tasters of it agree that is deserving of its reputation.  Its mix of lamb, beef and other sustainably raised meat has become a crowd pleaser. You can top them with fried onions, raw onions, and condiments, such as tomatsosa (ketchup), plysusinnep (a sweet hot dog mustard) and remolaði, which mixes mayo, capers, mustard, and herbs. It is served on a warm bun.  You can buy a quality hot dog in any gas station, but the most popular place to get one is at the famous hot dog stand downtown called Bæjarins Bestu Pylsur. Skyr The next on the list is skyr, which is a cultured dairy product made in Iceland that has the consistency of strained yogurt. Surprisingly, it is classified as cheese but I consider it yogurt. It is packed with protein, vitamins and minerals, and is naturally fat free. Its texture, taste and diet friendly nutrition have made it popular around the world. There is a good chance that Siggi’s skyr or some other Icelandic foods brand is available in your grocery store right now.  When visiting Iceland, you will be able to have some from different brands. The amount of flavors here is pretty incredible. Ice Cream A dairy product that rivals skyr in popularity in Iceland is ice cream. There is no such thing as ice cream season in this country. Even when there is a snow storm outside, people will still head over to the ice cream shop for their favorite ice cream. There are several ways that Icelandic people like to enjoy their ice cream. One is having a swirl of vanilla ice cream on a cone dipped in a warm sauce, such as caramel, chocolate, liquorice and many others. The sauce coats the ice cream and forms a thin hard shell of candy around it. Another way to eat ice cream in Iceland is in a cup mixed with candies of your choice. While they do have different sizes to choose from, I feel like a “small” is huge and would be more than enough for two people or one person who has a big appetite and really loves ice cream. The ice cream stores are called ísbuðin or literally ice cream store. There are plenty of them around and are easy to spot because they usually have an illustration of ice cream on a cone in the window of the store. There are some places that offer vegan ice cream in Iceland but my ultimate favorite is Brynjuís in Kopavogur, a neighborhood in the Reykjavík area. If you are lactose intolerant or a vegan but you still want creamy and delicious ice cream, definitely try their vegan ice cream. You can have it soy or coconut based. The coconut based one is absolutely divine! Lamb Icelandic people have been raising and eating lamb for centuries. Eating lamb is a huge part of their culture and they have eaten it in many different forms. Some of the most notable is slow roasted, in a stew or eating cooked lambs head. Another is pickled lamb’s head but that isn’t something that everyone is willing to taste. Icelandic people normally eat that during Þórrablót, which a festival that I talk about during my Holidays, Celebrations and Traditions episode. This Icelandic foods festival is popular among the natives. Icelandic Candy, Including Liquorice Like ice cream, candy holds a special place in Icelandic people’s hearts and stomach. Many grocery stores have a complete aisle dedicated to candy. On Saturday, loose candy that you scoop into bags yourself are half off in supermarkets. You will see grownups and kids packed in the aisles so they can get scoops of their favorite candy on a Saturday.  While I am not much of a fan of liquorice, there is no denying that it is ridiculously popular here. I am pretty sure Icelandic people would revolt if their precious liquorice was ever taken from them. To me,  liquorice on its own is not bad, but the kind with salty powder on it is too intense for my palate. The powder is called salmiak salt or better known as ammonium chloride. Yes, you heard that right. They put ammonium chloride on their candy and love it! It gives the candy an astringent salty taste that can make your tongue feel like it is numb or sting your mouth. The first time I tried it, I thought I was being poisoned so I spit the candy out immediately. This is not to scare you but I do think you should be aware of what you are eating before putti

Christmas in Iceland is a lovely time. Everyone is merry and there are lots of fun events happening. I purposefully decided not to include Christmas activities that not holiday related on this list. You won’t hear me say, hunt for Northern Lights, go on a Glacier Walk, ride an Icelandic horse and so on  during this episode. While those activities are awesome, they can be experienced when it is not Christmas in Iceland.  Because the Christmas season in Iceland lasts for about a month, you will have lots of time to tick off some of the activities on  this list. 1. Try Icelandic Christmas Beer (jólabjór) I am a big fan of tasty beers and Iceland has a thriving craft beer culture. In fact, one of my favorite episodes of this podcast is my interview about Iceland’s complicated and fascinating beer history with Óli the brewmaster at Ægisgarður brewery. Icelandic brewers start to offer their special Christmas brews around mid November. It is a glorious time and there are such tasty varieties. My two favorite are Egill’s Malt Jólabjór and Einstök´s Icelandic doppelbock. I highly recommend trying those and others while you are. I know that some Icelandic companies are exporting their beer, so you might find some Icelandic Christmas beer at a  distributor near you. 2. Laufabrauð Next up is eating Laufabrauð, or leaf bread. Some people even call it snowflake bread. It is at type of bread that looks like a thin, flat cake. Geometric or leaf like patterns are cut into it and it is then fried quickly in fat or oil. It is only served during this time and it is yummy. Some people make it at home and many buy them from bakeries. Many of the supermarkets in Reykjavík carry them, but if you can get your hands on some fresh, homemade laufrabrauð, you are in for a treat. 3. Ice Skating in Ingólfstorg Ice skating, in general, is an activity that you can do in Iceland at any time of the year at the Laugadalur sports center. However, ice skating outside in Ingólfstorg or Ingólfs Square is only reserved for the Christmas season. It kind of reminds me of ice skating in Rockefeller Center in NYC, expect it is not as extravagant and it might even be a smaller rink. 4. Eat some Christmas cookies – Piparkökur It wouldn’t be Christmas for me in Iceland if I didn’t eat some piparkökur or pepper cookies. I know it might sound strange to want to eat cookies with pepper in them but don’t let that deter you. They taste similar to gingerbread cookies. Hopefully, that helps anyone that is on the fence with trying them. Boxes of them are sold in the supermarkets in Iceland. They are seriously delicious. I probably gain a few pounds during the holidays just because of these cookies. 5. Visit a Christmas Market Like many communities that celebrate Christmas, Iceland has Christmas markets that feature locally made crafts and food. They are great places to find a unique gift for yourself or someone else. 6. Eat at a Christmas Buffet – Jólahlaðborð Many restaurants in Iceland prepare special Christmas buffet menus. It is a tradition for most Icelandic people to get together with friends and family to chow down at a Christmas buffet. While the traditional fare, such as potatoes prepared in different ways, lamb, pickled herring, red cabbage, green peas and so on are served at the buffet, some modern dishes do show up as well. 7. Try Skatta As I had mentioned in my Icelandic traditions, holidays and celebrations episode, December 23rd is one of the smelliest days of the year in Iceland. Many Icelandic people are enjoying their once a year indulgence in skatta, or fermented skate. The putrid smell wafts through air, crawls up your nostrils and pokes your brain. It is a smell that lingers in people’s clothes and is one you won’t forget easily. Many  people don’t eat it in their house because they don’t want the smell in their furniture and any other items in their house that might hold onto smells. I’ve never tried Skatta but I have heard that it can feel like it is burning your mouth. Even if I were not vegan, I wouldn’t be interested in trying it. However, to each their own and this is a very popular Christmas activity among Icelanders. So, feel free to give it a try if you plan to be in Iceland on December 23rd. 8. Try Rjúpa Every year, Icelandic hunters go out to shoot rjúpa, also known as the Rock ptarmigan. This game bird changes the colors of its feathers with the season. It is brown in the summer and white during the winter. Many Icelandic people eat this bird for Christmas. My mother in law cooks the bird for Christmas and then saves the bones to make a soup for New Years eve dinner. I know that having this bird for Christmas is quite important for many people here. It is quite expensive to get it in Iceland. If you are in town and want to try, it seems that a restaurant called 3 Frakkar serves it. There might be others as well. A quick Google search of ptarmigan in Icelandic restaurants could provide more options.

In the last episode, I went over Iceland’s noteworthy traditions, holidays and celebrations. I recommend checking it out, if you haven’t already. This week, I am expanding on the Christmas holiday celebrations that I spoke about in that episode. While most countries that celebrate Christmas only have one Santa that comes to town, Iceland somehow ended up with 13! During this episode, I will talk about where these 13 Santa Clauses or Yule Lads come from, when they come to town, what they do while in town and include some other interesting characters that show up during Christmas. Are They Icelandic Yule Lads or Santa Claus? While Yule lad is the most appropriate term for these 13 mountain dwellers, Santa is a term that has continuously been used throughout the years, so I will use them interchangeably in this episode. In fact, they are called Jólasveinn in Icelandic, which translates to Yule Lad or Santa Claus. Where do Iceland’s Yule Lads Come From? When it is not Christmas time, Iceland’s 13 Santas live in a cave in the mountains with their mother Grýla, as well as a gigantic black yule cat and their mother’s 3rd husband, Leppalúði. This might sound cozy but Grýla is a giant troll that has an insatiable appetite for bad children and her husband shares the same pleasure in eating misbehaved kids. Grýla likes to make stew out of the bad children that she collects. Additionally, their yule cat is a vicious monster that eats people that have not received any new clothes to wear before Christmas Eve. I think anyone growing up in a household like that would be kind of strange, and the 13 Yule lads are certainly not an exception. They each have their own personality and a specific mischievous act that they do when visiting houses in Iceland during Christmas. In fact, their names describe the special thing that they do while visiting. As I mentioned in the episode about Icelandic holidays, traditions and celebrations, the first Yule Lad comes to town on December 12th and the last one arrives on December 24th. Back in the day, they weren’t that nice but as the years have passed, they have become milder in nature and have even started to leave gifts for children. Mischievous Yule Lads Turn Into Gift Giving Santa Clauses When it is time for the Santa Clauses to start coming to town, Icelandic children leave one of their shoes in the window before going to sleep on each of the 13 nights. Good children will find a little gift in their shoe when they wake up in the morning. However, misbehaved children will receive a potato, which could be rotten. Below, you can see the spelling of the names of the Yule Lads in Icelandic. I have also included the days that each lad arrives and the day when they leave town. Ok, now let’s jump into the names of each of the 13 Icelandic Santa Stekkjarstaur 1.Stekkjarstaur – Sheep Cote-Clod or also known as “stiff legs” – He is said to have such stiff legs that he walks as if they are peg legs. He harasses sheep, and steals milk by suckling the ewes on a farm. (12 December to 25 December) Giljagaur 2. Giljagaur – Gully Gawk- Hides in gullies, waiting for an opportunity to sneak into the cowshed and steal milk. (13 December to 26 December) Stúfur 3. Stúfur – Stubby – Abnormally short. Steals pans to eat the crust and leftovers in them. (14 December to 27 December) Þvörusleikir 4. Þvörusleikir – Spoon-Licker Steals Þvörur (a type of a wooden spoon with a long handle) to lick. Apparently, he Is extremely thin due to malnutrition. (15 December 28 December) Pottaskefill 5. Pottaskefill – Pot-Scraper – Steals leftovers from pots and licks them clean. (16 December to 29 December) Askasleikir 6. Askasleikir – Bowl-Licker – Hides under beds waiting for someone to put down their “askur” (a type of bowl with a lid used instead of dishes), which he then steals and licks clean (17 December 30 December) Hurðaskellir 7. Hurðaskellir – Door-Slammer – Likes to slam doors that are left open, especially during the night. This usually results in waking people up people in the house. (18 December 31 December) Skyrgámur 8. Skyrgámur – Skyr-Gobbler – He really loves skyr, which is a type of yogurt made in Iceland that is packed with protein. Not surprisingly, he steals skyr whenever he gets a chance. (19 December to 1 January) Bjúgnakrækir 9. Bjúgnakrækir – Sausage-Swiper – He hides in the rafters and snatches sausages that are being smoked. (20 December 2 January) Gluggagægir 10. Gluggagægir – Window-Peeper – He looks through windows in search of things to steal. (21 December 3 to January) Gáttaþefur 11. Gáttaþefur – Doorway-Sniffer – Has an abnormally large nose and an acute sense of smell which he uses to locate laufabrauð, cakes and cookies. As a side note, laufabrauð, translated as leaf bread in Icelandic. It is a traditional thin Icelandic bread eaten at Christmas time. T

Aldís Amah Hamilton, who is half African American and half Icelandic, shares what it is like living in Iceland as a person of color. Aldís and her friend were the first people of color in the country to be admitted to and graduate from the country’s National Academy of Theater. She is a working actor and flight attendant in Iceland. It was fascinating to chat with her about her experience growing up with physical features that are different than what you typically associate with being Icelandic. Aldís was so pleasant to chat with. Even though this was my first time meeting her, the conversation flowed like two friends just chatting about life. At the end, she shares a few funny Icelandic idioms, so stay tuned to hear them. Here is the winter episode that I mentioned in the introduction of the podcast. The Questions I Asked Aldís Amah You are half African American and half Icelandic, what has it been like growing up as a person of mixed race in Iceland? Have you ever encountered racism in Iceland or someone treating you differently because of your skin color? As a flight attendant for an Icelandic airline, you encounter a lot of people. Are people surprised to hear that you are Icelandic? Do you feel like Icelandic society accepts people of mixed race who have grown up in the country as Icelanders or are they still considered as “other”? What do you feel is the biggest challenge for a mixed race child growing up in Iceland? What has your experience been like as an actor in Iceland? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me on social media platforms: Facebook Instagram Twitter I hope you enjoyed listening to this interview. I release a new podcast episode every week. Make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss new episodes. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

I had the opportunity to chat with Dr. Guðmundur A. Guðmundsson, who has a MSc and PhD degree in Ecology, and is a researcher at the Icelandic Institute of Natural History. During the interview you will hear me say Mummi when I speak to Dr. Guðmundsson. It is a nickname commonly used in Iceland for men with the name Guðmundur. Some of the topics I discussed with Mummi during our interview for the All Things Iceland podcast include the fascinating birds that can be found in Iceland, the connection between birds and Icelandic culture, and the best time to see birds migrating to the country. It was an enlightening conversation and I hope you enjoy listening to it. Questions I asked Mummi: What sparked your interest in studying birds? What is your role at the Institute of Icelandic Natural History? I read that about 350 species of birds have been recorded in Iceland. Why is it that so many birds are finding their way to this island? How many of them are nesting here? Are their birds that are most commonly found in Iceland? Is there a connection between birds and Icelandic culture? Is there a best season or specific months to go bird watching in Iceland? Do you recommend any areas in Iceland for people to watch birds? Have you seen any effect on bird migration and nesting due to climate change? Are there any birds that you have observed in Iceland that have strange or fascinating habits? Do you have a favorite bird that you like to watch or study? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase (I like to ask this during all of my interviews. It can be related to birds but it doesn’t have to be)? Please remember to subscribe to the podcast so you don’t miss the new episodes that I upload every week. If you are listening to this podcast on a platform that allows a reviews, please leave a review. Goða skemmtun og sjáumst fljótlega (Enjoy and see you soon)!

During part 2 of my interview with Alda Sigmundsdóttir, an Icelandic author and journalist that has her thumb on the pulse of Icelandic society, Alda shares some eye opening information. Alda talks extensively about Iceland’s economic meltdown, scandals that people outside of the country might not be aware of, a place in Iceland that is close to her heart and her favorite Icelandic word or phrase. While the two parts of this interview can stand alone as individual episodes, I very much recommend listening to both parts. Questions I asked Alda during this interview about Icelandic Society: In your book “Living Inside the Meltdown”, you interviewed Icelandic people about the economic crash in Iceland in 2008. How did you go about choosing who you wanted to interview? Was it difficult to get people to cooperate? What do you feel are some important topics being discussed in Iceland that people who live outside of the country or those that do not understand the language would not be aware of? Have you ever received a funny or strange reaction to any of your books? Do you have a favorite area or place in Iceland that you enjoy visiting? What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase? You are quite active on social media and you have done many speaking engagements. Where can people interact or get in touch with you? Alda’s Books Mentioned in the Interview: Living Inside the Meltdown The Little Book of the Icelanders: 50 Miniature Essays on the Quirks and Foibles of the Icelandic People The Little Book of the Icelanders in the Old Days Connect with Alda Sigmundsdóttir: Alda’s website Instagram Facebook I hope you enjoyed listening to part 2 of this interview. Make sure to check out Part 1, if you have not already. I publish a new episode of the All Things Iceland podcast every week. Make sure you are subscribed so you don’t miss new updates. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you kindly for listening and see you soon)! Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I recommend these companies because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

As I mentioned in part one of the “6 Reasons Why Iceland is so Popular” episode, this amazing country has many reasons for why people are flocking to it. In this episode, I share my final three out of six reasons. Make sure you check out the first three reasons I shared in the last episode of the All Things Iceland podcast. 4. Iceland is a Convenient Place To Catch a Connecting Flight If you are traveling from North America to mainland Europe and vice versa, Iceland is in the middle of those places, which makes it a very convenient place for airline companies to stop and refuel, as well as offer connecting flights to many destinations. Iceland, as a hub for connecting to other flights, has made travel to many places more accessible to people. Even though connecting via Iceland’s Keflavík airport has been used by travelers for over 50 years, it is only in the last 20 years that Iceland has experienced many travelers leaving the airport to explore the country. Up until the 1980s, the number of tourists to Iceland did not exceed 80,000 people in a single year. In fact, the travels of Icelandic people usually exceeded the number of tourists back then. Keflavík Airport by WhatsOn It wasn’t until the 2000s that the number of tourists began to increase. In the early 2000s, Iceland received around 300,000 visitors, which was more than the number of people living on the island! By 2016, that number had sharply risen to almost 1.8 million foreign visitors. # of Tourist to Iceland vs Icelandic Population Iceland is still a great place for planes to stop and refuel, and it is used by many airlines that want to have connecting flights for their customers. However, it is now a must-see destination, and foreigners are more than happy to leave the airport and discover the country’s unique features. Iceland is so popular because it has been made easy for people to visit. 5. Movies and shows filmed in Iceland The amount of movies and shows filmed in Iceland is astonishing.  I might be stretching it here, but I believe that most people that live in the Western world, and who actively go to the movie theater and/or watch television, have watched at least one of the films listed below: Batman Begins Die Another Day Fast & Furious 8 Flags of Our Fathers Interstellar Judge Dredd Lara Croft: Tomb Raider Letters from Iwo Jima Noah Oblivion Prometheus Star Trek into Darkness The Secret Life of Walter Mitty Rogue One: A Star Wars Story This is not an exhaustive list of all of the films that have been shot in Iceland but it gives you a taste of major motion pictures that have captured footage in Iceland’s diverse and remarkable nature. The stunning scenery showcased in these films has inspired people to visit. Plus, who wouldn’t want to go to a destination that feels like you have been transported to outer space? 6. Iceland is so popular because of Strategic Marketing The promotion of Iceland as a destination has been infused with creativity, humor and a lot of strategic planning.  According to the Promote Iceland Act, “the objective of the act is to strengthen Iceland’s image and reputation, enhance the competitive position of the Icelandic undertakings on foreign markets and to attract foreign investment and tourists to the country.” While that is a boring statement, how the country has gone about creating ways of attracting investments and visitors is far from a snore fest. Photo – Inspired by Iceland Inspired by Iceland is the official marketing arm for the country as a destination. They developed their building blocks for marketing and that serves as the guiding light for how they present the country to the world. In the PDF of their building blocks, the first line on the list of what they want to keep in mind when they promote the country is, “Iceland is not for everyone!” So many countries want to market to everyone but when they do that, it can be so easy for them to lose focus on what they represent. Because the Inspired by Iceland team accepts that the country is not for everyone, they attract their core target audience. Iceland is so popular because word of mouth about it has spread quickly. These people, like myself and many others, fall in love with the country and become super fans. They spread the word about how amazing the country is and why it is worth it to visit and/or live here. The content that Inspired by Iceland produces is always fun, educational and features Iceland’s stunning nature. You can check out a funny video that they recently produced called the Hardest Karaoke Song in the World. It has over 2 million views on Youtube. It  attempts to teach visitors the Icelandic language and show the seven spectacular regions of the country. Another super successful marketing initiative that has appealed to visitors is Icelandair’s stopover option. The airline Icelandair allows for its passengers to stopover in Iceland for up to seven nights at no addi

I was fortunate to have the opportunity to chat with Alda Sigmundsdóttir, an Icelandic author and journalist that has her thumb on the pulse of Icelandic society. Even though Alda was born in Iceland, she grew up in Canada and lived in a few different countries. The insight that she shared with me about Iceland and its people was enlightening and sometimes surprising. We had such a great time chatting, that we ended up talking for an hour. In order to keep these episodes relatively short, I have broken this interview up into two parts. During this episode, which is part 1, you will hear about the challenges Alda faced when she moved back to Iceland, how insular Icelandic society is, how she decides what to write about, what the most important thing tourists should keep in mind when they visit Iceland and what Icelandic people really think of visitors to their country. Questions I asked Alda during this interview: Even though you were born in Iceland, you lived in Canada and some other countries for many years. What was it like moving back to Iceland? The topics of your books include giving advice to visitors of Iceland, gripping fiction, mythology, culture and issues in Icelandic society. With so many changes happening in Iceland, how do you decide what to write about? It has been a little over a year since you published “The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland: Tips, tricks and what Icelanders really think of you.” What do you think are still the most important things tourists should keep in mind when they visit Iceland? Have Icelandic people’s views about tourists changed since writing that book? Alda’s Books Mentioned in the Interview: The Little Book of the Icelanders: 50 Miniature Essays on the Quirks and Foibles of the Icelandic People The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland: Tips, tricks, and What the Icelanders Really Think of You Living Inside the Meltdown: Ten People Share Their Experience of the Icelandic Economic Collapse Connect with Alda Sigmundsdóttir: Alda’s website Instagram Facebook I hope you enjoyed listening to part 1 of this interview. Part 2 will be released next week, so make sure you are subscribed to the All Things Iceland podcast so you don’t miss it. If the platform you are listening to this podcast on allows you to leave a review, please do so, if you haven’t already. Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega (Thank you kindly for listening and see you soon)! Disclosure: Please note that some of the links above are affiliate links, and at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you decide to make a purchase after clicking through the link. I recommend these companies because they are helpful and useful, not because of the small commissions I make if you decide to buy something through my links. Please do not spend any money on these products unless you feel you need them or that they will help you achieve your goals.

Iceland is popular now but before 2010, hardly anyone came to see this spectacular place. It is fascinating now that you can’t find a “must-see” destination list without this amazing country being featured. While there are many reasons why this small, island nation located in the Atlantic ocean is so popular, I am sharing my top six. I split this list into two parts to keep the episodes relatively short. Also, the list is in no particular order because I believe that each of the reasons that I share continue to have a major impact on the country’s popularity. Below are three out of six. 1. Nature in Iceland Craters from a volcano I can wax poetic about the diverse and beautiful landscape of Iceland all day. It really is an enchanting place that will surprise and delight you. I like to this of this country as a foreign planet because it is so unlike anywhere else on earth. The dark, long winters are a wonderland of snow and ice. Powerful wind storms during this time of the year show you just how intense mother nature can be in this country; and, if you are lucky, you might even get a delightful Northern Lights show. During the summer, everything springs to life and you can enjoy 24 hours of day light for a few months. This land of contrasts gives you ample opportunity to enjoy loads of activities in each season. Some of the most notable natural wonders in Iceland are bubbling hot springs, numerous glaciers, active volcanoes, stunning lava rock, black sand beaches, colorful mountains that can be seen in the highlands, vibrant green moss as far as the eye can see, iceberg filled glacier lagoons, countless waterfalls, and remote wilderness. The power of Icelandic nature usually just affects people who live on the island or those that are visiting. However, in 2010, Eyjafjallajökull, an active volcano, erupted. Strong winds pushed the ash from the volcano into the direction of major flight routes, which interrupted airline travel for people around the world. It is funny that this eruption is why kicked off the tourism boom. Iceland is popular now because people were so curious to know more about this tiny island that could disrupt the whole airline industry. Sheep in Iceland photo by Topich On the land and in the sea surrounding the island, live fascinating animals. If you drive on the ring road (the main one that goes around the country) during the summer, you will come across free roaming sheep and lamb. They outnumber the Icelandic population two to one! You are also likely to spot majestic Icelandic horses grazing or galloping in open fields. The cunning arctic fox can be found throughout Iceland, but the largest population of them can be found in the West fjords. If you are wiling to head into very remote regions in the east, you might spot a reindeer. About 370 bird species can be found in the country but their presence and whereabouts depends on their breeding habits and season. The adorable Puffin is a popular bird that many people flock to see in Iceland (pun intended ;-)), but it is only possible to seem them between May and August, when they are breeding. Luckily, you can see these fascinating birds in different parts of the country. I’ve had the privilege of viewing Puffins up close in the West Fjords. So cute! Puffin in Iceland – photo by pascal-mauerhofer In the vast sea surrounding the island, various whale species and seals have been spotted. Summer time is your best bet for whale watching, so just keep that in mind when you plan to visit. The country’s nature and animals have been popular among nature lovers and adventure enthusiasts circles for decades. Over the last few years, the internet, specifically blogs and social media have helped to spread the word about just how amazing nature is in the land of fire and ice. 2. Icelandic People are a Big Part of Why Iceland is Popular Icelandic people in 1927 Many people think of Iceland as the land of the Vikings. While invading foreign lands is a part of their history, Icelandic people are much different now. Their family-centered culture mixes modern European living with traditional holidays and celebrations. One of the most notable aspects of the people is their intriguing language. If you think it sounds strange, you are not alone. Icelandic people cherish their mother tongue and are working hard to preserve it. If you are curious about the history of the Icelandic language, check out episode two of this podcast There is a rich culture of storytelling through written word and literary text. People the world over have heard about or read the famous sagas. There are many tales of hidden people, trolls and all sorts of mystical creatures that may exist. It seems as though creativity courses through Icelander’s veins. There is no doubt that Iceland is popular because of the artistic talent of its natives. If you are a fan of music, you might have heard of some famous Icelandic artists, such as Björk, Si