Don’t Ask Nanna: About Fisherman’s Fat
Hi Nanna, While visiting the the Maritime Museum in Bolungarvík I learned that in the olden days Icelandic Fishermen used to use lýsi to make their clothes waterproof, how many [
Show Me The Money: The Ringo Starr
Until the mid-to-late 19th century, most financial transactions in Iceland were conducted in vaðmál (homespun wool). However, since 1922, Iceland has issued its own currency, the
Buy Shit: Icelandic Vinyl, Antique Postcards, Hildur Yeoman Clothing & More
Payday is just around the corner. Here is an idea of what to buy with whats left after you’ve paid your rent. Icelandic Vinyl Two Iceland labels sell their […]
Island Life: News From The Countryside – West Iceland Edition
As temperatures warm and the sun shows its face more often now, it’s that time of year again: time for spontaneous grass fires. Farmers conduct controlled grass fires on their [&
Is This All We Are, Hollywood? Sense8’s Stereotype Of Icelandic Women
Riley. Riley, Riley, Riley. Do you know Riley? She’s an Icelandic main character in the hit Netflix show ‘Sense8’. Riley is not like a single Icelandic woman I know, but [&he
Words Of Interest: Whale Tales
“Hvalreki” is the Icelandic word for a beached whale. It comes from the words “hvalur”, for whale, and “reki”, meaning something washed up on sh
The Future is Coming: Electric Cars In Iceland
Iceland almost always gets better press than it deserves, and this applies not least to environmental issues. While most of the world sees us as happy hippie nature-loving moss-hug
What It Means To Be A “Music City”
Sigtryggur Baldursson is a quintessential musician. Although he first came to international attention as the drummer for the Sugarcubes, he’s been active in Reykjavík’s music
Iceland Falls Behind In Queer Rights… Again
To many people around the world, Iceland is a bastion of queer rights, with oft-cited examples such as having elected an openly lesbian Prime Minister and legalised same-sex marria
The Socialist Party Is Finding Its Legs
Iceland, unlike all other Nordic countries, has been primarily a conservative, centre-right country for roughly the past 30 years now. It took the literal collapse of the financial
Blast from the Past: Farmers vs. Phones
It is a tale often recounted to illustrate the backwardness of Icelandic farmers in times past: that time they rode into Reykjavík to protest the coming of the telephone. Those [&
Bjartmar Does Spencer: Merchant of Fear
“He cannot take any pictures of the guests. He needs to stay there with the rest of the photographers,” said Valdimar Jóhannson, one of the coordinators of the event h
Word of the Issue: Svikalogn
The word of the issue this issue is svikalogn, and like other useful aspects of Icelandic conversation, it’s about the weather. The word literally means “betraying calm,” and
“Anti-Rape Sticker” Sparks Controversy And Discussion
Singer Þórunn Antonía, with the support of President Guðni Th. Jóhannesson, recently launched a campaign against sexual assault with a sticker she had designed. This sticker i
Missing in Iceland: A Real Deli
Don’t listen to what anyone tells you: there are no delis in Iceland. Oh, you can find pizza shops or the occasional high-end grocery store calling itself a “deli.” But [&hel
Time Capsule: Parliament Hall
The Parliament Hall and its iconic cerulean walls have stood the test of time since 1881. Despite the absence of opulent décor, the Hall still exudes grandeur even in its [&hellip
Home On The Range: Shooting in Borgarnes
I have never been a fan of firearms. I mostly found them scary, and the only things I liked about my grandfather’s hunting trips to the Italian countryside were the […]
Readers Write: Sad Democrats Don’t Want To Talk About Trump
Dear Grapevine First, my wife and I love Iceland! We are having a really good time here, and everyone has been super friendly. Just one thing bothers us: each and […]
What To Do If You Find A Rat In Your Toilet
Reykjavík is a harbour town, and like all harbour towns, it has rats. How many rats exactly is unknown, but they are not great in number, and have been on […]
Ísland Life: Hot Lumpfish News! An All-White Calf! Traffic!
People are still driving off-road in Iceland, despite strict laws forbidding it. An abandoned jeep was found in Hellisskógur near Selfoss, and locals alerted authorities to the si
Poll: Most Icelanders Support Equal Pay Law
Iceland made international headlines last month with the passage of the so-called “equal pay law.” The law itself is complex in structure, but one key feature is that it would