All Things Iceland

Ásatrú, an Old Norse paganism, has become the fastest growing non-Christian religion in Iceland. When most people think of this country, religion is not normally what pops into their minds. However, over 75% of the Icelandic population are registered as members of a religious organization.

Later, in the random fact of the episode, I share the number of Icelanders belonging to the top five religious organizations in the country.

When & Why Was Ásatrú Founded

Paganism was once the norm in Iceland. In fact, the majority of the settlers that came to Iceland in the 900s were members of Ásatrú. However, the spread of Christianity drastically diminished its members and Christianity became the official religion of the country in the year 1000. While the Alþingi declared that Christianity would be the only religion in Iceland, people were still allowed to practice the old religion, just as long as they did it in secret.

The re-recognition of Ásatrú in Iceland came about in 1973 and the journey to that recognition is quite fascinating. Four men named Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, Jörmundur Ingi Hansen, Dagur Þorleifsson and Þorsteinn Guðjónsson met in a cafe in Reykjavík during winter in 1972. That is when they came up with the idea to found a folk religion. It is believed that the start of this religion was due in part to the counter cultural and religious sentiments at the time. Additionally, nationalism, and interest in spiritism and elves created a near perfect environment for the resurgence of Ásatrú.

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson, who later became the first high priest of the re-emerged Ásatrú, believed that the religion was based on a belief of hidden forces in the land. He also felt that Icelanders had a desire to have their own religion and that they should support it just as much as they do imported religions. Ásatrú, in many ways, was a movement back to nature in a time where the negative effects of being an industrialized civilization were rearing their ugly head.

Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson

The Road to Recognition

To gain recognition of Ásatrú as an official religion in Iceland, Sveinbjörn Beinteinsson and Þorsteinn Guðjónsson met with Ólafur Jóhannesson, the minister of justice and ecclesiastical affairs, in Iceland, right before Christmas in 1972. At first, the minister thought they were joking but once he realized that they weren’t, he requested more paperwork. A funny occurrence that goes along with this story is that when Sveinbjörn and Þorsteinn left the minister, a thunderstorm caused the lights in the center of Reykjavík to go out. According to an article in Vísir at that time, the paper joked that Þór, the God of Thunder, was showing his dissatisfaction with the vague answers that Sveinbjörn and Þorsteinn had received.

The most notable opposition to the re-recognition of the religion came from the Bishop of Iceland, Sigurbjörn Einarsson. He went on to publish his opinion in Morgunblaðið, which pointed out that the Icelandic constitution did grant everyone the right to “found organizations t...

After most visitors to Iceland arrive at Keflavik international airport, they quickly grab their bags and set their sights on traveling to downtown Reykjavík. Unfortunately, the don't give any thought to visiting the rest of the Reykjanes Peninsula.

 Little do they know that a beautiful, less crowded and completely underrated place waits just outside of the airport. I was delighted when I found out that this peninsula had been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark in 2015.

I have been fortunate to travel to this area on several occasions. When there, I am always pleasantly surprised by how amazing and diverse the landscape is. While I don’t want this peninsula to become overcrowded with visitors, I do think it is a shame that more people do not explore this place. It is literally brimming  with geothermal activity, mud pools and lava fields. It is also home to so many hiking trails and fascinating Icelandic history.

Most notably, it is one of the best places to see the separation of the Eurasian and North American tectonic plates.   After learning more about this place, I decided it was worth it to dedicate this episode to the Reykjanes Peninsula.

The Unique Geology of the Reykjanes Peninsula

During one of my visits to the area I found the geology to be quite interesting. After looking up how the area was formed, I found the following quote from Visit Reykjanes brochure. Just a heads up, there is some science lingo in the quote but I still think it is worth sharing,

“Reykjanes Peninsula is an important region from a geological standpoint. It is a geologically young section of Iceland and is a land born and highly volcanic counterpart of the North Atlantic Ridge where the tectonic plates diverge at an average rate of 2.5 cm/ yr. The peninsula contains late Quaternary volcanic palagonite tuff and pillow lava formations as fells and mountains from the last glacial periods. Widespread basaltic lava flows and volcanic structures from interglacial periods, especially from the last 11,500 years (the Holocene Era) characterise the area. Four elongated volcanic systems and fissure swarms line the peninsula from SW to NE. They contain open fissures, normal faults, high temperature geothermal fields and numerous volcanic fissures that are lined with monogenetic craters.”

Whether you care about the science behind how this area was formed or not, the beauty and the uniqueness of the landscape can’t be denied.

Where is the Reykjanes Peninsula & How to Get There

Before jumping into what to see and do in this part of south Iceland, I think it is important to go over where it is and how to get there. As I mentioned in the beginning, this peninsula is in the south of the country, specifically the south-west.

The towns and villages that make up the Reykjanes Peninsula include Suðurnesjabær, Grindavík, Vogar, and Reykjanesbær. If it is relatively clear when you are flying into Iceland, you can get a glimpse of the stark black sand beaches along the coastline and the jagged lava rock that dominates this part of the country.

By car, it is very easy to drive around the peninsula. Whether you rent a car on your own or take a tour. However, the real fun begins when you get out of the car and explore on foot.

Different Towns on Reykjanes Peninsula

Each of the towns of the peninsula that I mentioned above have unique features that attract visitors. For instance, Reykjanesbær,

Hélène Magnússon is a very talented and passionate knitter living and working in Iceland. She is well known in the knitting world as the Icelandic knitter.  While she originally hails from France, Iceland has been her home for over 25 years. We had a lively conversation that touched on why she moved to Iceland, her experience learning Icelandic, how she became interested in traditional Icelandic knitting patterns, and so much more.

The Questions I Asked Hélène During the Interview:

* You were raised in France and practiced law there. What prompted you to leave Paris and your job as a lawyer to move to Iceland?* In your bio, you mention that you learned Icelandic by working on a sheep farm. How long did it take you to learn the language and was it difficult to just jump right into full immersion?* When did you first become interested in knitting and why did you choose to knit traditional Icelandic patterns?* When you were researching traditional Icelandic patterns, was there anything surprising or fascinating that you found?* What is your favorite traditional Icelandic knitting pattern?* What inspired you to start providing mountain hiking and trekking trips that including knitting?* Where is your favorite place (or places) to knit in Icelandic nature?* If a person wanted to get started with knitting Icelandic patterns, which one would you recommend?* What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

Connect with Hélène

* Facebook* Instagram* Her Website

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. 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 an...

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

Facebook

Twitter

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 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,

I had the pleasure of sitting down with Diðrik Stefánsson, a realtor in Reykjavík, to talk about the real estate market in Iceland. His nickname is Diddi and that is how I refer to him during the interview. This topic fascinates me for many reasons. The main one is that there is a lot of confusion and curiosity about the process of renting or buying in Iceland.

I decided to reach out to Diddi because he has been sharing his knowledge about the process on Facebook in groups that we are both a part of, including Americans (U.S. citizens) living in Iceland. I could tell that he is passionate about his job and about helping others who want to rent or buy in Iceland. When I reached out to him about being on the show, he was happy to participate.

Here Are The Questions I Asked Diddi About Icelandic Real Estate:

* Why did you decide to start

working in real estate, and how long have you been a realtor in Iceland?* Iceland was riding high before the

economic meltdown in 2008. What is the real estate market like now?* What is the biggest challenge

Icelanders face when looking for a place to buy or rent?* Each year it seems that renting in

Iceland keeps getting more expensive. Why is that?* There is a lot of construction

going on in Reykjavík. There are new apartment buildings, hotels, homes, and

store fronts popping up. Do you think all of this is sustainable or do you

think the housing bubble in Iceland will potentially burst?* What is a surprising fact or facts

about the real estate market in Iceland that people outside of Iceland wouldn’t

know?* What is the process like for non

Icelandic and non EEA citizens to buy property in Iceland?* What advice do you have for first

time home buyers in Iceland (Icelandic and foreign)? * What is your favorite property

that you have rented or sold?* What is your favorite Icelandic

word or phrase (doesn’t have to be related to real estate but it can if you

want)?* If people have questions about

renting or buying a home in Iceland and want to talk to you, how can they reach

you?

Diddi's Contact Information

Email: [email protected]

Phone Number: +354-647-8052

Facebook: Diðrik Stefánsson

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!

In anticipation of the season 8 premiere for Game of Thrones on April 14th, I have decided to dedicate this episode to sharing the location of where the scenes for the show were filmed in Iceland. I am also including film locations that have been confirmed for the upcoming season. Even if you are not a fan of the show, the places on the list of where the scenes were shot are beautiful and worth checking out if you plan to visit.

Season 2

Beyond the Wall - Svínafellsjökull Glacier in Skaftafell

Iceland has not appeared in every season of the show, but the first time the country made its appearance is during season 2. The filming takes place in Skaftafell along the south coast.

I have been fortunate to visit the Skaftafell area numerous times since moving to Iceland. It is part of the Vatnajökull National Park, and it is home to gigantic glaciers and awesome hiking trails. To depict the harsh, cold and stunning world beyond the wall in Game of Thrones, the show filmed on Svínafellsjökull glacier. A decent amount of well known movies have been shot on that glacier. In fact, it is called the “Hollywood glacier” by some.

The unfortunate part is that the glacier is no longer accessible because there is danger of a nearby mountain crumbling and breaking up the ice on the glacier. Authorities don’t know if the rock fall will happen soon or in the next ten years. However, they are taking precautions by making Svínafellsjökull off limits. Well, at least for now.  

Svínafellsjökull Glacier

Even though you can’t go on that particular glacier right now, you can imagine that you are beyond the wall if you walk on one of the other glaciers in the area. Falljökull and Skaftafellsjökull are awesome alternatives that tourism companies are using these days. Regardless of the glacier you choose, make sure you go with certified glacier guides to ensure that you have a safe and fun experience.

The Fist of the First Men on Mýrdalsjökull Glacier

Another scene from Game of Thrones that shows up in season 2 is when the show depicts Mýrdalsjökull glacier as the Fist of the First Men. The First Men are one of the three main ethnic groups that evolved into the people that make up Westeros. Well, the fictional people on the show. The Fist is a defense location that offers commanding views.

In the fifth episode of season 2, you see the Knights Watch arrive at the Fist of the First Men. They are using the Höfðabrekka hiking area near the glacier. Below is a video of the scene when the men arrive in the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxzljfS4sa4

Season 3

The Many Faces of Mývatn

During season 3, the Mývatn area in the north of the country was used a decent amount to depict different places in Game ...

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 ...