You see it is written with a k not c.
(Source: birgissons, via fuckyeahiceland)
On your way home, late at night planning on settling in for the next morning’s hangover? Stop by at Hlölla bátar for a meaty sub.
(Source: bethechangeyouwishtoseeinworld)
White Christmas in Iceland
The video shows clips from the news. I spent a sleepless night out in the snow driving a super jeep from the rescue team pulling stuck cars and a helping out. The snow cover also made yesterday’s New Year’s Eve particularly nice. If you missed the Icelandic New Year’s Eve fireworks bonanza, the formerly live webcam is now showing a rerun of midnight.
In Iceland we have a London taxi cab. There is or at least was another one used in the Icelandic rally.
(Source: hvitumavar)
areivaj asked: When it start snowing in Reykjavik? I love your blog :)
Thank you.
The weather in Iceland is extremely hard to predict and you can get all the year’s seasons in a single day anytime of year. There are winters during which almost no snow falls in Reykjavík and there are winters when we get a lot. Typically we’ll get the first “hausthret” or fall snow/sleet sometime in October. However it is unlikely that snow will cover the ground for more than a day or so at a time until late December. But even in the coldest month, January, the average temperature is just below freezing. This means that it can rain any day. In my experience Reykjavík rarely stays snow covered for much more than a week or so at a time.
Last year we had a couple of odd days of snow in mid June. This is very unusual, but as I said, weather in Iceland is unpredictable.
Iceland once had one train
The only train Iceland has ever had. The tracks stretched from Öskjuhlíðin by the Reykjavík airport to the Reykjavík harbor. It’s purpose was to carry rocks from the quarry in Öskjuhlíðin to where the harbor was being constructed. Throughout the early 20th century there were talks of setting up trains around Iceland. It never happened. You can see the locomotive from the picture sitting down by the Reykjavík harbor.
It’s probably rare to find a photo of the train running. If I remember right, this train transported coal while they were building the harbour and its track length was something like 15km. That’s all from memory though, if anyone has any facts let me know.
From “Iðnbylting á Íslandi: Umsköpun atvinnulífs um 1880 til 1940” published in 1987.
This is Tjörnin (E. The Pond), the pond in downtown Reykjavík. It freezes pretty quickly each year since it is shallow. The building you see in the middle is ráðhúsið, the city hall, half built out into the pond. One of my earliest memories is falling through the ice on the pond with my grandparents and having been attacked by a swan there. Tjörnin is a very popular place to take little kids and feed the ducks and swans. They actually hang out here all winter, as one corner of the lake is heated up with hot water. This is how Tjörnin looked in 1860. Back then there was a stream that connected the pond out into the ocean. This stream is now just a pipe hidden under Lækjargata (E. Stream Street), but there are discussions on whether we should open it up again.
In the winter, snow is cleared from an area of the pond for ice skating. The students from nearby Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík and Kvennaskólinn high schools also use the pond to play soccer on in winter. I used to think it was the most fun when the ice was thin. This added an extra element to the game. If you fell, chances were you’d break the ice. If more than two players battle for the ball, chances are the ice will break in that area.
(Source: chlofun)
Eat waffles with The President of Iceland
Now this is a campaign only accomplishable in a tiny and friendly country such as Iceland. The President of Iceland launched the campaign with an address to the nation asking them to invite foreign guests into their homes or out for some play. Icelanders are supposed to go to the Inspired by Iceland website and register their invitations which visitors can then view and select.
Whether it is a private concert in your hotel room with one of my favorite singers Mugison, swimming in the sea with locals, learning to knit a lopapeysa, eat sushi with Jón Gnarr, milk some cows or go out for winter ice cream, I’m sure you’ll find someone to connect with.
The campaign was just launched today, so it will be interesting to watch the invitation list grow in the coming days. Wish I was home right now to make an invite.
An unusual request from beyond
Icelanders have always been a bit more open than average to superstitions and supernormal beliefs. Anyways, the Reykjavík Planning Council and Jón Gnarr, Reykjavík’s mayor in particular are considering a proposal for a namechange for one of Reykjavík’s streets. Hringbraut (E. Circle Way) is one of the main streets in Reykjavík and is the former home (and perhaps current), of the late Þórbergur Þórðarson (1888-1974).
Þórbergur was one of Iceland’s most renowned authors (and my favorite). But he was also known for his interest in spirituality and contact with the dead. It is therefor perhaps no surprise that this proposal is in his name. The person who wrote the letter to the mayor said that he was only a medium, the proposal actually came straight from his friend, Þórbergur.
Those who have studied Þórbergur or knew him are however not convinced. Although they are positive to the proposal, they say that Þórbergur was not the kind of person to lobby for streets with his name. He was probably quite busy in his afterlife, but with more important things.
I would be happy to see Hringbraut changed into Þórbergsstræti. However I think the battle might be hard, since it is a very old street and known placename.
Bæjarins bestu “The Towns Best” in Reykjavík. A mini documentary about the hot dog stand, favored by locals and considered a cult destination by tourists.
Kaffi Babalú on Skólavörðustígur street in downtown Reykjavík. Check out their website. It is the most simple website I’ve seen since around 1995.
(Source: p2c2e)
I’ve written before about the ducks on the pond in Reykjavík. Feeding the ducks some bread is a favorite of most Reykjavík children. There has however been a growing problem with seagulls taking over the pond. They tend to swoop by and grab the bread from people’s hands. This sign explains how to get your duckaid to the intended recipients.
(Source: everythinginthesky)
