Dalai Lama Coming to Iceland
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will be coming to Iceland from 1 -3 June of this year, sponsored by the Dalai Lama Society of Iceland. During part of his visit, […]
Central Bank Chairman Refuses to Resign
Central Bank Chairman Davíð Oddsson, who was asked by Prime Minister Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir to resign, has formally refused the request, saying that he “enjoys his job&#
Dogs Not Allowed in Movie Theatres
A promotion for the opening of the movie Beverly Hills Chihuahua – wherein dogs were encouraged to bring their owners – fell apart when it came to light that dogs [&hel
What The Fuck Did I Ever Do To You?!?
On the eve of Monday January 19, I strolled the fifty meters or so that separate my home from that of my friend (and former Grapevine editor) Sveinn Birkir Björnsson. […]
The Republic of Iceland FAQ
The Icelandic government, led by the Independence Party and Social Democrat Alliance, imploded last month after a year and a half in power. A new minority coalition formed by the [
Pisa
In a small-ish cellar by Lækjagata, you’ll find newly opened Italian restaurant Pisa. The interior is roughly unaltered from the cellar’s previous life as a café. No fancy re
Hótel Holt
The last time I had the pleasure of dining at Hotel Holt, it was for their classical French cuisine lunch special – three great courses, impeccably served, priced cheap. Certainl
Iceland’s Rainbow Revolution
Prologue: By early afternoon on January 20th 2009, it was obvious that it was going to be a historic day. Just how the day, and the ones that followed, would […]
What is the significance of Jóhanna Sigurðardóttir…
It is very significant. It is interesting to note how much attention it has received from the international media, while their Icelandic colleagues barely mention it. If they do, t
Bus 51 To Hveragerði – An Exciting New Option In Travel
Since the 2nd of January, the city bus company Strætó has provided the towns of Hveragerði and Selfoss with a regular bus service to Reykjavík. The bus service costs 840 [&hell
Almost Snowboarding In Akureyri – Two Days Of Riding That Just Weren’t Meant To Be
My iPod is pink and ancient. Within it resides, among others, Steve Von Till. He is gently crooning at my eardrums as turbulence hits like a linebacker, sending the Fokker [&hell
Police Story
I saw police officers pepperspraying innocent journalists just standing around with their cameras. A peace lovin’ friend got run over and bashed with a club. Another was forced t
Icelandic Labour Union Criticizes Whaling
The Federation of General and Special Workers in Iceland (SGS), one of Iceland’s largest labour unions, issued a statement yesterday criticising former Miniser of Fisher
Former Conservative Manager Cries “Persecution”
Former Conservative Party manager Kjartan Gunnarson (seen here dancing with former Minister of Education Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir) criticized the new coalition government
Gender Wage Gap Higher in the Countryside
Men earn higher salaries than women everywhere in Iceland, but in the countryside, their wages are 40% higher than women, as opposed to a 10% wage difference in the capital [&helli
Whaling Discussed in Parliament
The subject of whale hunting was hotly contested in parliament yesterday, with the former Minister of Fisheries – whose last act was to allow commercial whale hunting –
Baugur Enters Moratorium Talks
According to CNN International, Baugur Group has applied to enter the “moratorium” process in Reykjavik, which offers protection from creditors. The article states that
Wants to See Music Hall Completed
Minister of Education Katrín Jakóbsdóttir told reporters that she wants to see the proposed Music Hall complete construction, despite financial hardships the project has run int
Iceland Praised by Financial Times
An article published in the Financial Times contends that even if Iceland’s financial sector is crippled, other industries in the country will help restore the economy. ̶
Whale Hunting Decision to Be Reviewed
Minister of Finance, Agriculture and Fisheries Steingrímur J. Sigfússon intends to review the law allowing for commercial whale hunting, one of the last acts made by the former M