Podcasts about Icelanders

From icy seas to fire-lit longhouses, Dan heads to Iceland to trace the birth of one of the world's most unique medieval cultures — at the very edge of the known world. He joins experts across the country to discover how those early Vikings survived brutal winters in total isolation, save for their tight-knit communities and (surprisingly) warm turf houses. He explores the remarkable medieval chronicle Book of Settlement (Landnámabók) and the dramatic stories preserved in the Sagas of Icelanders (Íslendingasögur) that tell us who the first settlers were, where they came from, and how they carved out a new society on a raw volcanic island.Produced by Anne-Marie Luff and edited by Dougal PatmoreYou can see Dan's adventures in Iceland in his brand new documentary on History Hit. Sign up to watch the mini-series Icelandic Vikings here: https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.If you'd like to explore Iceland yourself, head to https://www.visiticeland.com/You can email the podcast directly at ds.hh@historyhit.com. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Terrible Air Quality in Reykjavík The last few days, with cold and still weather, saw air quality in Reykjavík plummet.ADHD And Driving In IcelandAn Icelandic attorney wanted to bring it to the attention of the public that every so often people in Iceland loose their driver's license because they are taking ADHD medication. The reason, they don't have a prescription.Horse And ToothA person that bought a 13 year old horse wanted to return the horse because it had an extra tooth. The case was taken to consumer court, where the buyer lost. The court pointed out that the horse seems to have lived with the extra tooth for at least a decade without issue, and therefore the extra tooth was not enough ground for returning the horse.Progressive Party Votes New ChairmanOver the weekend the Progressive Party, on of Iceland's oldest political parties, voted for a new chairman. The winner was Lilja Alfreðsdóttir, a former MP and minister.Man. United Owner Says UK “Colonized by Immigrants”Jim Ratcliffe, billionaire owner of Manchester United, said publicly that the UK had been “colonized by immigrants”. The comment received a lot of pushback in the UK, for various reasons. One of which is that Ratcliffe doesn't even live or pay tax in the UK, but in Monaco. The comments were thought to be quite ironic to Icelanders because Ratcliffe is the single biggest landowner in Iceland, after the state, municipalities and the church, having thus, in his own way, been “colonizing” Iceland.The Last Week In HealthcareThe past weeks have been rough for the good name of the Icelandic Health Care system and Icelandic health in general. The emergency room in Reykjavík is so full that it pretty much doesn't function. On top of that it turns out Icelanders are way too fat, and the minister is pondering to propose a tax on sugar. Lastly, a poll revealed that 83% of Icelanders want to put ban energy drinks,Support the show------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/Or donate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

We assume our title will send tens of you dashing to Google Translate or similar to check Joe's [Jesus!] pronunciation, so spoiler alert, he's spot on. Or not. Apologies to Icelanders. So.... 120's out. That's a thing we finally did. With it, season six concludes and begins its long trudge toward inevitable oblivion. But with goats, so it's not so bad. Stay tuned for a special announcement at the end, and no, I'm not going to tell you here or even give you a hint. LISTEN TO THE SHOW. That's why we made it. Sheesh! I will give you one spoiler, though: the volcano is a red herring. For now. You've been listening to: Eric Perry as Joe, Howard, Dr. von Haber Zetzer, and Mr Southers. Bonnie Brantley as Donna and Jessie Sarah Golding as Mrs Sheffield Chrisi Talyn Saje as Julie All the Space Monkeys in our Discord for providing the yodeling goats David S Dear as Dr Theo Bromae and Tiberius Kevin Hall as Greg and Felonius Pete Barry as Bob and Me Sarah Rhea Warner as Pipistrelle Shannon Perry as Olivia and Madeline Tim Sherburn as Colin and Emily June Clark Eubanks as herself Aaron Clark as himself Lee Shackleford as himself Richard Cowen as himself Kyle Jones is your Narrator Two And Chris Nadolny Gourley is your Narrator John Faley is our music director, and our artwork is by Lucas Elliott. Sarah Golding is our dialogue editor, and Mark Restuccia is our sound designer. Oz 9 is written by Shannon Perry. Oz 9 is a proud member of the Fable and Folly Network. Please check out our sibling shows at fableandfolly.com and support our sponsors. Until... I dunno, late springish? Early summerish? Keep your eyes on the stars and it's pronounced phal-OM-eter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by guest host Ólafur Jóhann Sigurðsson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Handball, Handball, HandballThe European Men's Handball Championship took place during the last two weeks of January in Norway, Sweden and Denmark, with the final matches being played in Herning, Denmark. The whole of Iceland seems to have been watching, with local media publishing pictures of empty Reykjavík streets during televised broadcasts of the Icelandic team playing. Iceland came 4th overall, loosing to Croatia in a match for the third place. Icelanders In The Epstein FliesThe latest batch of Epstein files released by the US Justice Department, led to some newsprint being spent on the few Icelanders that appeared there, such as former First Lady Dorrit Moussaieff, her husband former president Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, former CEO of DeCode Genetics, Kári Stefánsson, and cab driver Kristján Jón Karlsson. As far as we know, non of these Icelanders had any real ties with Epstein.Iceland's Laufey Wins A GrammyLaufey Lín Jónsdóttir, the Icelandic musician and singer, took home her second Grammy for her latest LP A Matter of Time. The also received an Emmy for her 2024 album Bewitched. Gas Prices & InflationInflation in Iceland is now at 5,2%, which is “too damn high”. This may have the result of nullifying recent collective bargaining agreements, which in turn might tip the generally fragile Icelandic economy into turmoil.Iceland's New Defense Policy.Icelands new defense policy was published last week, being immediately criticized for not taking into account the ongoing changes to the global world order. And what is the defense policy you may ask? It's the same as the old defense policy, basically non-existent.Tesla's Fail To Pass InspectionsThe 2021 model of Tesla's are now due for their first law stipulated inspections, which they've been failing, specifically the Y model, of which 30% didn't pass inspection in Iceland, whereas in Denmark 45% of that type of Teslas didn't pass.Support the show------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/Or donate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, Grapevine Editor-in-Chief Bart Cameron, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Prime Minister Says She Can Work With Icelandic Populist PartyIn an interview with Heimildin this weekend, PM Kristrún Frostadóttir discussed many issues, but the attention grabbing issue was her statement that she could work with Miðflokkurinn (Center Party) on immigration issues.Greenland Discussion ContinuesIceland's Prime Minister, US. President and almost everybody else has done little but talk about Greenland during the past week. We try to catch up on that.Icelanders Are The Fattest Of The NordicsIn a survey conducted for 2024 and released last December, it turns out that Icelanders are the most overweight of all the Nordics. And out of the 80.000 Icelanders categorized as obese with a BMI over 30, more than 20.000, or 25% are taking GLP-1 drugs, such as Ozempic and Wegovy. We weigh in on the discussion.The US sizes a Tanker In Iceland's Exclusive Economic ZoneLast Wednesday, the US Navy apprehended an oil tanker, presumably on its way to Russia, within Iceland's Exlusive Economic Zone, but not within its territorial waters. Icelanders Won't Be Required To Undergo Medical Exam To Renew Drivers License Until They Turn 75A new law has been proposed by the People's Party to move a required medical exam for renewing Icelandic driver licenses from 70 years old to 75 years old. The Icelandic Word Of The Year Is Paid Parking (i. Gjaldskylda)We discuss the annual choice of “word of the year” in Iceland, which this time around was the word Gjaldskylda, or paid parking, which has led to numerous misunderstandings on social media.Support the show------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/Or donate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: The Icelandic Annual End-Of-Year Skit ShowThe last joint cultural event all of Iceland collectively enjoy, to various degrees, takes place on New Years's Eve. We try to explain what it is. Greenland and Venezuela Last night Iceland's PM Kristrún Frostadóttir wrote on her Facebook “Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark. Nothing about Greenland without Greenland. Iceland stands in full solidarity behind our friends.” This morning, Iceland's Foreign Minister, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, wrote an Op-Ed on visir.is saying, opening with “It is clear that the international system we have lived with since the end of the Second World War is shaking at its foundations. At work are what can rightly be called the threatening forces of history, generating uncertainty far beyond what we have been accustomed to and creating dangers that would have seemed implausible only a few years ago.” Both of these statements are responses the USA's seizure of Venezuela's president, and Trump's subsequent comments about taking over Greenland.Gas Prices Drop By A ThirdThe price of gas dropped by a third on the first day of the year, subsequent to changes in how the Icelandic state collects tax from automobiles. An Icelander Dies On The Front Lines In UkraineA 51 year old Icelander, Kjartan Sævar Óttarsson, died on the front lines in Ukraine  in and around the 20th of December, according to the man's brother. Kjartan had travelled to Ukraine on December 7th from Gothenburg Sweden, and neither what he was tasked with on the front lines, nor what lead to his death, has been reported on as of yet.What's Coming Up In 2026?The show's host ponder what this new year will bring us.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://grapevine.is/high-five-club/Or donate to the Grapevine here:https://support.grapevine.isYou can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store:https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Saga Thing returns after a much-needed holiday to pick up the story of young Glúm Eyjólfsson, better known to history as Víga-Glúm. When last we left you, Glúm's father (Eyjólf, who some called Lump) had passed away. Seeking any advantage they could get in the district, Thorkel the Tall and his son Sigmund claimed the best land at Thverá for themselves, pushing Ástrid and Glúm to the margins of the property. With no help coming from her eldest son Thorstein, Ástrid is forced to rely on her youngest, Glúm. Unfortunately for her, Glúm is a known coalbiter who prefers laying by the fire to working or pursuing justice for his family. As the situation worsens, Glúm heads to Norway hoping to gain some experience and recognition from his maternal grandfather Vigfús. Of course, things don't go exactly to plan when he arrives. How does this family reunion go for Glúm? Does grandpa Vigfús the hersir embrace his Icelandic grandson and raise his status? And who will help Ástrid deal with increasing pressure from Thorkel and Sigmund to leave Thverá? All the answers are in this episode of Saga Thing. Along the way, we talk about the place of religion in Víga-Glúm's Saga, highlighting some places to look for signs of pagan influences in the text. For example, is old Vigfús a figure of Óðin? Does this saga explore a tension between cults of Óðin and Frey? Is it all about fate? Or is this simply a story about human beings who make their own choices and have to live with the consequences. Speaking of pagan influences, we go on a brief tangent to talk about the dísablót, a special holiday and sacrifice to honor the household gods. As always, we dig into some genealogies. Please have a look at the family tree Andy's been building for Víga-Glúm's Saga on FamilyEcho. And if that's not enough, we also share some interesting stories about corpses getting dug up to face legal consequences for their actions. If you're into that kind of thing, you'll definitely want to check out the episode on Pope Stephen VI from our friends at Pontifacts. If you're interested in reading Víga-Glúm's Saga for yourself, you can find the 1866 translation by Edmund Head for free on the sagadb. We're using the John McKinnell translation, which is available in the Complete Sagas of Icelanders collection and as a stand alone text from The New Saga Library. As with most modern scholarship on this saga, much of what we have to say about this text begins with the edition by Gabriel Turville-Petre. Listen and let us know what you think on our various socials: Sagathingpodcast on Facebook Sagathingpodcast on Instagram Sagathingpodcast on Bluesky Saga Thing's unofficial official Discord Music Credits Intro Music - "Prelude and Action" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Poetry Music - "Dark Times" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outro Music - "Stormfront" by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/  

In this centennial episode of Eerie Iceland, we uncover the strange life of an Icelander who declared himself ruler of the lost city of Atlantis.  From Seyðisfjörður to Copenhagen, myth and reality blur in some wild ways! Like what you hear?  Give us 5 Stars!  And follow for more... Checkout our website: Eerie Iceland  Follow us on: Instagram  Find our page on: Facebook  Email us: hello@eerieiceland.com Sources & Extras: Source 1 Source 2 Vestdalsfossar Hike & Monument Episode & Editing By: Ann Irene Peters (Iceland Wedding Planner)

Rachel shares how Icelanders turned giving and reading books at Christmas into a cozy national pastime, and how families today can continue the Christmas book flood tradition.BookwormRead-Aloud RevivalJolabokaflodClose Reads podcastReady Player One by Ernest ClineA Tale of Two Cities by Charles DickensThe Lightning Thief by Percy JacksonThe Silmarillion by J.R.R. TolkienThe Wingfeather Saga by Andrew PetersonAn Elephant & Piggie Biggie by Mo WillemsMike's Personal Retreat Planner

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne单词提示1.nephew 侄子、外甥原文Chapter 9: The Last TunnelHans brought the boat to the end of the beach where the cave was.We tied it to a rock in the water and took our bags to the cave."Are we going to use the boat again?""I don't know. Maybe, if we come back this way. But, who knows where this new tunnel will take us."We needed the boat sooner than we thought.We walked about twelve feet inside the cave, then we saw a huge rock blocking the tunnel.We couldn't understand it."How could Arne Saknussemm get around this rock?"The professor thought for a moment, and then he looked at the rock."Maybe it fell after his journey, in the last two hundred years, probably after an earthquake or a terrible storm.""There's only one way to find out."We still had some extra gun powder with us for the guns.Hans made a hole in the rock with his pickaxe, then we put the gunpowder inside.We used the rope to light it, but we made it very long to give us time to move back and hide.The three of us got into the boat and moved fifty feet out to sea.We had no idea how big the explosion was going to be.Waiting for it made us very nervous."Maybe it won't work.""Axel!Don't say those things."We waited.Suddenly,the rocks on the beach opened like two curtains.The earth shook and everything fell into a huge hole.We fell back in the boat, and the final explosion made the sea rise in a huge wave which pushed us back to the beach.We were in the air, on top of the water, and the hole was below us.It looked big enough to take in all the world!"We're going down into the hole!""That's what we want!""Not this way!"We shouted because the noise of falling rocks was all around us and we couldn't hear each other.The boat moved like a train through the tunnel, then we crashed into a new river of fresh water.The boat went under and came back up so fast that there was very little water init.I don't know how we stayed in it.We held onto the sides of the boat with all of our strength."Professor,where are we?""I don't know, but the water is taking us somewhere. We have no choice but to follow it.""It's getting hot!"The temperature was high.The walls had the red color of lava."Are we under another volcano?"When I finished my sentence, we heard aloud roar from behind us.Water and air pushed us forward faster.The walls began to shake and rocks began to fall."Professor!"Then it was clear.We were inside a volcano and it was going to explode.I could see the blue sky through the round hole at the top of the volcano.There was one more terrible roar and we were flying up into the air!The volcano threw us into the sea.Hans saved us again with his amazing strength.But where were we? It looked like the surface of the earth.There were small boats in the water and olive and fruit trees on the land.Behind us was the huge volcano.We saw a little boy.We tried to go near him, but he was afraid of us.After all our underground adventures, we looked horrible.The professor spoke to him in German, French and English, but he did not understand.Finally,the boy spoke in Italian."What did he say?""He said we're in Stromboli, Italy.""You mean we went in one volcano in Iceland and came out of another in Italy?""Yes,and that one there is Mount Etna."And that was how our journey ended.The professor was not happy that he didn't get to the center of the earth, but when we got back to Germany, he felt better.Martha told everyone in Hamburg about our journey, and when we arrived, there was a big celebration for us.Everyone in Hamburg was at the train station when we arrived, but the only person I looked for was my Grauben.And I saw her, like a white light, moving past the others, until I could hold her."Oh,Axel, I'm so glad you're back. I thought of you every day and sometimes I was afraid, but somehow I knew you were all right.""Well,I never felt that I was safe, but I did want to come back to you, every minute of every day."There was a stage set up in the station, and the journalists who were there asked the professor to talk about our journey.Uncle Otto was tired, but he agreed."My nephew, Axel, and I are now back from an incredible journey."We saw things that scientists still do not know about.There is life in the heart of this planet.There is water and beaches and trees.Arne Saknussemm, a famous scientist from the sixteenth century, was the first to travel under the earth.We are the second.I do not know if others will try this dangerous adventure in the future.If they do, they need someone like our guide Hans with them, or I'm afraid they will not survive.For a moment, I thought I saw a smile on Hans' face as the people clapped and cheered.But,as usual, the quiet Icelander didn't say a word.翻译第九章：最后的隧道汉斯把船开到海滩尽头山洞所在的地方。我们把它绑在水里的一块石头上，然后把我们的包带到山洞里。“我们还要用这条船吗？”“我不知道。也许吧，如果我们从这边回来。但是，谁知道这条新隧道会把我们带到哪里呢？”我们需要船的时间比预想的要早。我们在洞里走了大约12英尺，然后我们看到一块巨大的岩石挡住了隧道。我们无法理解。“阿恩·萨克努塞姆怎么能绕过这块石头呢？”教授想了一会儿，然后看了看那块石头。“也许在他的旅行之后，在过去的两百年里，可能在地震或可怕的风暴之后，它就倒下了。”“只有一个办法能知道。”我们还带了些火药来装枪。汉斯用鹤嘴锄在岩石上挖了一个洞，然后我们把火药放进去。我们用绳子点燃它，但我们把绳子弄得很长，以便有时间后退躲起来。我们三个人上了船，向海上移动了五十英尺。我们不知道爆炸会有多大。等待它让我们非常紧张。“也许这行不通。”“阿克塞尔!不要说那些话。”我们等待着。突然，海滩上的岩石像两扇窗帘一样打开了。大地震动了，一切都掉进了一个大洞里。我们倒在船上，最后的爆炸使海面上升，形成一个巨大的波浪，把我们推回到海滩上。我们在空中，在水面上，洞在我们下面。它看起来大得足以容纳整个世界！“我们要到洞里去了！”“这就是我们想要的！”“这边不行！”我们大喊大叫，因为我们周围都是落石的声音，我们听不见彼此的声音。船像火车一样穿过隧道，然后我们撞上了一条新的淡水河。船沉下去又浮上来，速度很快，船上几乎没有水了。我不知道我们是怎么熬过来的。我们用尽全力抓住船舷。“教授，我们这是在哪儿？”“我不知道，但水把我们带到了某个地方。我们别无选择，只能遵循它。”“天越来越热了！”温度很高。墙壁是熔岩的红色。“我们是不是在另一座火山下面？”当我说完话时，我们听到身后传来一声响亮的吼声。水和空气推动我们前进得更快。墙壁开始摇晃，岩石开始掉落。“教授!”然后事情就清楚了。我们在火山里，火山马上就要爆发了。我可以透过火山顶上的圆洞看到蓝色的天空。又是一声可怕的吼声，我们飞上了天空！火山把我们扔进了海里。汉斯又用他惊人的力量救了我们。我们说到哪了？它看起来像地球的表面。水面上有小船，陆地上有橄榄树和果树。我们身后是一座巨大的火山。我们看见一个小男孩。我们试图靠近他，但他害怕我们。在经历了所有的地下冒险之后，我们看起来很可怕。教授用德语、法语和英语对他说话，但他听不懂。最后，男孩说了意大利语。“他说什么？”“他说我们在意大利的斯特隆博利。”“你是说我们去了冰岛的一座火山，又从意大利的另一座火山出来了？”“是的，那座就是埃特纳火山。”我们的旅程就这样结束了。教授因为没有到达地球的中心而不高兴，但是当我们回到德国时，他感觉好多了。玛莎把我们的旅程告诉了汉堡的每一个人，当我们到达时，那里为我们举行了盛大的庆祝活动。当我们到达时，汉堡的每个人都在火车站，但我唯一要找的人是我的格劳本。我看见她，像一道白光，从其他人身边走过，直到我能抓住她。阿克塞尔，真高兴你回来了。我每天都在想你，有时我很害怕，但不知怎么的，我知道你一切都好。”“嗯，我从来没有觉得我是安全的，但我确实想回到你身边，每时每刻都想。”车站里搭了一个舞台，站在那里的记者请教授谈谈我们的旅程。奥托叔叔很累，但他同意了。“我的侄子阿克塞尔和我现在结束了一段不可思议的旅程。”我们看到了科学家们仍然不知道的事情。在这个星球的中心有生命。那里有水、海滩和树木。阿恩·萨克努塞姆 ，一位16世纪的著名科学家，是第一个在地下旅行的人。我们是第二。我不知道将来是否有人会尝试这种危险的冒险。如果他们这样做了，他们需要像我们的导游汉斯这样的人陪着他们，否则我担心他们会活不下去。有那么一刻，当人们鼓掌欢呼时，我觉得我看到了汉斯脸上的微笑。但是，像往常一样，这个安静的冰岛人一句话也没说。

When you arrive in Iceland in December, the first thing you notice is the quiet. Snow sits on the hills like a thick blanket, steam rises from hot springs, and the cold air feels crisp but clean. Towns look small against the vast landscape, and most homes glow with warm lights by mid-afternoon. The short daylight makes every window feel like a beacon, and families across the country lean into these warm touches to brighten the long season. Walking through Reykjavik or any of the small towns, you see people with bags of baked goods from local shops, children bundled in thick coats, and families gathering indoors before the evening chill settles in. Icelanders handle winter with simple routines that make the season feel friendly. Nothing here rushes. People enjoy the slow build toward Christmas, with lights, books, treats, and old traditions that help them get through the cold months. December in Iceland feels like an invitation to slow down and enjoy the season alongside everyone else... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-iceland/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/christmas-traditions-sweden/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal  #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

If you're searching for the perfect Christmas gift for that Iceland-obsessed friend in your life, I've got you covered. As someone who lives in Iceland and shares all things Icelandic year-round, I've rounded up a curated list of meaningful, cozy, and delicious gifts that will make any Iceland lover light up this holiday season. Here are some wonderful Iceland-inspired ideas (links included): 1. A Traditional Icelandic Sweater (Lopapeysa) Nothing says “I love Iceland” quite like a beautifully hand-knit lopapeysa. Made from Icelandic wool, it's warm, breathable, and naturally water-resistant. Plus, each pattern carries a piece of Icelandic heritage—making it a functional and sentimental gift. 2. Jólaöl – Icelandic Christmas Ale This seasonal favorite ale is only available around the holidays and has a comforting malt-forward flavor that Icelanders adore. It's a festive, fun, and very Icelandic way to toast the season. 3. Icelandic Chocolate Iceland's chocolate makers craft incredibly smooth and flavorful treats, often using local ingredients. Whether it's classic milk chocolate or artisanal small-batch bars, this gift never fails to impress sweet-toothed Iceland enthusiasts. 4. Iceland Christmas-Themed Mugs Perfect for cozy winter mornings, these mugs let your Iceland-loving friend enjoy their coffee or tea with a little nod to their favorite country. They're great for holiday decorating too! 5. Icelandic Coffee Blends Coffee culture is strong in Iceland, and local roasters create rich, aromatic blends inspired by the island's landscapes and traditions. It's a thoughtful gift for anyone who starts their day with a warm cup in hand. 6. Icelandic Beer & Spirits From craft beers to unique Icelandic spirits like Brennivín, these beverages offer a fun taste of Iceland's brewing and distilling traditions. It's a great way to share a little Icelandic cheer from afar. 7. A Book by an Icelandic Author Iceland punches far above its weight in literature! Whether your friend loves mysteries, folklore, poetry, or Icelandic sagas, gifting a book from a local author is a beautiful way to connect them to Iceland's storytelling roots. 8. Outerwear from an Icelandic Brand Icelanders know how to stay warm, dry, and stylish in unpredictable weather. Jackets, hats, and other outerwear from local brands, like 66 North, make incredible gifts—practical, high-quality, and authentically Icelandic. 9. A Music Record from a Local Icelandic Artist Music is a huge part of Icelandic culture, and gifting a vinyl record or album from a local artist is a beautiful way to share the country's creative spirit. Whether it's ethereal vocals, indie rock, contemporary pop, or traditional Icelandic sounds, this gift connects your friend to Iceland through artistry and emotion. Random Fact of the Episode It’s my first Christmas as a mom and I’m so excited!  Icelandic Word of the Episode Today's Icelandic word is: “Jólagjöf” (yo-la-gyöv) — which means “Christmas gift.” You'll hear Icelanders using this word everywhere in December. So now, when you're picking out that perfect jólagjöf for your Iceland-obsessed friend, you can throw in a little Icelandic too. I hope this episode sparks some great ideas for thoughtful, meaningful Christmas gifts inspired by Iceland. If you want links to any of the items I mentioned, check the show notes for this episode at allthingsiceland.com/iceland-christmas-gift-ideas If you enjoyed the episode, subscribe, leave a review, or share it with someone who also loves Iceland. And of course, you can follow me on social media @allthingsiceland for more Icelandic content, tips, and inspiration. Share this with a Friend Pinterest Facebook Email Let’s Be Social Youtube Instagram Tiktok Facebook Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta og sjáumst fljótlega.

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Icelandic Made A Must For Hospital StaffAll staff at Landspítali are expected to be able to speak Icelandic according to the hospital's newly approved language policy. These requirements will first be applied to nurses, nursing assistants, and medical residents. Better Icelandic proficiency means higher pay.New Hospital Being Built, But Will There Be A Helipad?The most expensive building in Iceland's history, a new hospital in Reykjavík, will be opened in 2030 according to plans. However, issues remained unsolved regarding a helipad for said hospital. In an interview this weekend, minister of Health Alma Möller told RÚV that the plan is either to build a helipad on top of one of the buildings of the new hospital, or to acquire a plot of land near by the hospital, probably near the BSÍ Bus Terminal, for that purpose. Two Tourists Rescued  North Of Torfajökull On Saturday night two tourists, driving god-knows-how  north of Torfajökull in the Icelandic highlands, got their Suzuki Jimny stuck in the river Dalakvísl. The two SARS teams sent to rescue them took eight hours to do so.40 Years Of TV News On Weekends OverSýn, which used to be known as Stöð 2 until recently, announced Friday, that the TV news on their station would be no more. The network, founded in 1986 as the first non-state owned TV station, has been facing financial troubles recently, as have many media companies. The announcement , that also brought with it news of layoffs, added to an ongoing discussion about the dire financial straits media companies in Iceland find themselves in.Thanksgiving Is Becoming Popular In IcelandRÚV reported that more turkey is being sold at this time of year than before and that celebrating Thanksgiving seems like it is becoming something Icelanders do, along with celebrating Halloween. Dorrit Moussaief Mugged In LondonFormer First Lady of Iceland, Dorrit Moussaief, was, according to her own instagram #mugged in #London, this weekend, calling the incident, appropriately, a #crime. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

We're thrilled to kick off our first episode of Víga-Glúms saga, the last of the sagas of Eyjafjörð. Víga-Glúms saga is one of the great character-driven Íslendingasögur, often drawing comparisons to Egils saga. Now, whether that's because it also happens to be a biographical saga or because it's of a similar quality will have to be sorted out on the podcast across the overview and judgments. But we're excited to start this new saga either way, and this first episode sets the stage beautifully for the arrival of the man who comes to be known as Killer-Glum. Like so many sagas, Víga-Glúms saga opens not with the hero himself but with the adventures of the generations that came before him. These early chapters give us a sense of the family dynamics, the local tensions, and threads of fate that Glum will inherit and inevitably wrestle with as his saga develops. Cast of Characters: I'm going to try and include a cast of major characters in the show notes for each episode to help listeners keep track of things. In this first episode, we get to know Glum's formidable ancestors, including: Helgi the Lean, Glúm's great-grandfather and the most prominent settler in Eyjafjörð Ingjald Helgason, Glúm's grumpy grandfather Eyjólf, Glúm's mild-mannered but calculating father Of course, this wouldn't be Saga Thing without a few memorable supporting characters to make things interesting. This episode introduces some pretty interesting Norwegians: Hreiðar, a Norwegian merchant with a heart of gold Ívar, a Viking with a heart of red (also Hreiðar's brother) A berserk with a notably low sense of self-worth, whose attempts at intimidation don't quite land the way he hopes Vigfús, a powerful Norwegian hersir with a lovely daughter named Ástrið And then, there are the Icelanders who will make Glúm's life more interesting, and challenging: Þorkell the Tall, father-in-law of Glúm's recently deceased brother Sigmund, son of Þorkell the Tall, and wannabe goði Víga-Glúms saga is definitely a fun one that we've been saving for a while. We hope you enjoy this first episode! Texts Discussed in This Episode Andersson, Theodore M. “Creating Personalities: The Saga Age Icelanders.” In The Growth of the Medieval Icelandic Sagas (1180–1280), 60–85. Ithaca, NY: Cornell University Press, 2006. Johnston, George, trans. Viga-Glum's Saga. Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 1999. McKinnell, John, trans. Viga-Glums Saga: With the Tales of Ögmund Bash and Thorvald Chatterbox. The New Saga Library / UNESCO Collection of Representative Works, Icelandic Series. Edinburgh: Canongate/UNESCO, 1987. North, Richard. “Sighvatr Sturluson and the Authorship of Víga-Glúms saga.” In Analecta Septentrionalia, edited by Wilhelm Heizmann, Klaus Böldl, and Heinrich Beck, 256–80. Berlin and New York: De Gruyter, 2009. Turville-Petre, Gabriel, ed. Viga-Glúms Saga. 2nd ed. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1960. Listen and let us know what you think: Sagathingpodcast on Facebook Sagathingpodcast on Instagram Sagathingpodcast on Bluesky Saga Thing's unofficial official Discord Recent Interview Links As promised, here are the links to our recent interviews: Relevant or Irrelevant - "Podcasts and Teaching" (KALA broadcast portion) Relevant or Irrelevant - "Podcasts and Teaching" (KALA podcast portion) Vikingology - "It's a Saga Thing" Music Credits Intro Music – “Prelude and Action” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Outro Music – “Stormfront” by Kevin MacLeod Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Grapevine Editor-In-Chief Bart Cameron, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Too Few Physicians In North IcelandIt was reported before the weekend, that the Akureyri hospital in north of Iceland was hardly operational because too few physicians currently work there. Three doctors quit because they were overworked. The situation is also connected to how hospitals and health clinics have been staffed over the past decade or so, which is to hire doctors as  short term contractors, a practice which has turned out not to be strictly legal. Staffing generally is a problem in the Icelandic health care system, and the Reykjavík hospitals have been running in an emergency mode for over a year.Half of Municipalities In Iceland Without Policy Towards Disabled PeopleFifteen years ago, municipalities in Iceland took over responsibility for services to disabled people. Since then, only half of them have even taken up a policy regarding those services. This has in legalistic terms, not been a problem, but just recently Althingi ratified the UN's Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, which in turn will make some of those lackluster policies regarding disabled persons, illegal.55% of Icelanders Want An Investigation Of The State's Special Prosecutor The office of Special Prosecutor, setup after the 2008 economic collapse, has had tumultuous moments, and now 55% of Icelanders want that particular office, to be investigated. This recalls some parliamentarians interest in investigating the investigation committee that wrote a report for Althingi in 2010, on the reasons for the economic collapse. Investigate the investigation is a perpetual motion machine, of sorts.CEO Of Beloved Hot Dog Stand Shares Questionable Videos On TikTokLocal news outlet Heimildin reported on Bæjarins Bestu CEO having reposted a TikTok video which defends the actions of one Adolf Hitler. The CEO in question said he did not remember reposting the video.North Korea Is A Prosperous Country According To One IcelanderLast week it saw a report on Icelander Kristinn Hannesson, who visited North Korea for the 80th anniversary of that country's communist party. The former socialist------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Icelandic Language DayTook place on November 16th. The celebrations sometimes felt a bit like a premature wake. Former PM Katrín Jakobsdóttir said in an interview - in English - with The Guardian, “Having this language that is spoken by so very few, I feel that we carry a huge responsibility to actually preserve that. I do not personally think we are doing enough to do that,” her co-author Ragnar Jónasson, in the same interview said “We are just a generation away from losing this language because all of these huge changes”. Organized Crime Doubles In A DecadeA new report released Friday on organized crime in Iceland. So Groups that engage in organized crime are now twice as many as they were ten years ago. These groups often have international connections,  they pray on immigrants, refugees and young people and engage in prostitution, human trafficking, theft, money laundering and drug trafficking.Pets Now Legal In Apartment BuildingsBefore, if you wanted to keep a pet in an apartment building, you had to ask permission from other residents. This is no longer the case after a new law was passed, leaving many an allergic person, scratching more than their respective heads.Mosquito takeover continuesLast week it was reported that more mosquitoes had now been found in Iceland. This time in South Iceland, in a horse stables, and off a different type than those found earlier this fall in Hvalfjörður. Centre Party embraces “Great Replacement Theory”Snorri Másson of The Centrist Party wrote an Op-Ed for Viðskiptablaðið stating that Icelanders were facing an imminent threat of being replaced by immigration. An article on Visir.is with a picture of Snorri holding one of his kids by at the podium of a Center Party event, then caused a stir. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Something amazing happens in Iceland's Westman Islands each summer. Baby puffins — or pufflings…

Something amazing happens in Iceland's Westman Islands each summer. Baby puffins — or pufflings — are thrown from cliffs to save their lives. The Iceland population of Atlantic puffins is...

Journey to the Center of the Earth by Jules Verne原文Chapter 3: IcelandIt was very early in the morning when the boat got to Iceland.We could see the round body of the Sneffells Yokul volcano going up into the sky through the clouds.It had snow near the top, and it looked like an angry monster waiting for someone to try and climb it.The boat stopped at Reykjavik.It was a small town with small brick houses.Mr. Fridriksson, a professor from the university there, met us at the boat.He looked very friendly and smiled when he saw us."You must be professor Lidenbrock.""And you must be professor Fridriksson. This is my assistant, Axel."We shook hands."You got my letter, then.""Oh,yes, professor, and everything is ready for you. Please, come with me."My uncle did not tell anyone the real reason for our journey.But we needed someone to go along with us as we didn't know the area, and the ice and snow around the volcano was too dangerous.So, Mr. Fridriksson found us a guide.His name was Hans and he looked perfect for the job.He was tall and very strong.He had small blue eyes and long red hair.He almost never smiled or spoke.Mr. Fridriksson introduced us."Professor Lidenbrock, this is Hans. Hans, professor Lidenbrock and his assistant, Axel."Hans moved his head just a little to say hello."Hans is a very quiet man, like most Icelanders, but he is the strongest and best climber in Reykjavik."My uncle smiled at Mr. Fridriksson's words."He's just perfect, Mr. Fridriksson."Mr. Fridriksson let us stay at his house until we were ready to leave.We needed many things for our adventure.We took four horses to travel to the mountain.The professor and I each rode one, but Hans walked.The other two horses carried our bags.We took a lot of things with us: rope for climbing, tools, lights, guns, medicine and enough food for six months.The only problem was we could only carry enough water for one week.The professor believed there was water under the volcano, but what if there wasn't?We left Reykjavik on the 15th of June, early in the morning.We travelled along the sea and it was a wonderful journey.The land had a dark color from the explosions of the volcano, and the beautiful blue sea next to it made it look fantastic.The journey to Sneffels took us six days, and each day we stopped in a different village for the night.The villages were small and very pretty, built at the foot of the volcano, next to the sea.The villagers were very nice, but, like Hans, they did not talk much.When we got closer to the top of Sneffels, I thought of something."Uncle,what happens if the volcano explodes again?""No,that's impossible. This volcano had its last explosion in 1229. I checked the ground.It's impossible.""But...""Axel,I am a scientist. This is a fact. There is nothing more to say."It was now eleven o'clock at night and we were at the top.We stopped and found a small place inside the opening of the volcano where we could sleep.That night, I had a dream.I saw that I was alone inside the volcano.I was lost and very scared.Suddenly,the volcano exploded and I was shot out of it stop like a rock!翻译第三章：冰岛船到达冰岛时，天还很早。我们可以看到斯奈菲尔·尤库尔火山的圆形火山体穿过云层直插云霄。山顶附近有雪，它看起来像一个愤怒的怪物，等待着有人试图爬上它。船在雷克雅未克停了下来。那是一个有小砖房的小镇。那里一所大学的教授弗雷德里克森先生在船上迎接我们。当他看到我们时，他看起来很友好，微笑着。“你一定是利登布洛克教授吧。”“你一定是弗雷德里克森教授吧。这是我的助手，阿克塞尔。”我们握了握手。“那么你收到我的信了。”“噢，是的，教授，一切都为您准备好了。请跟我来吧。”我叔叔没有告诉任何人我们旅行的真正原因。但是我们需要有人和我们一起去，因为我们不熟悉这个地区，而且火山周围的冰雪太危险了。弗雷德里克森先生给我们找了个向导。他的名字叫汉斯，看起来很适合这份工作。他又高又壮。他有一双蓝色的小眼睛和一头红色的长发。他几乎从不微笑或说话。弗雷德里克森先生介绍我们认识。“利登布洛克教授，这是汉斯。汉斯，这是利登布洛克教授和他的助手阿克塞尔。”汉斯微微摇了摇头打招呼。“汉斯是一个非常安静的人，就像大多数冰岛人一样，但他是雷克雅未克最强壮、最好的登山者。”叔叔听了弗雷德里克森先生的话笑了。“他太完美了，弗里德里克森先生。”弗雷德里克森先生让我们住在他家，直到我们准备离开。我们的冒险需要很多东西。我们骑了四匹马去山上旅行。教授和我各自骑着车，但汉斯是步行的。另外两匹马驮着我们的行李。我们带了很多东西：登山用的绳子、工具、灯、枪、药品和够六个月吃的食物。唯一的问题是我们只能带够一个星期的水。教授认为火山下面有水，但如果没有呢？6月15日一大早，我们离开了雷克雅未克。我们沿着海边旅行，这是一次美妙的旅行。火山爆发后，大地呈现出一片黑暗的颜色，旁边美丽的蓝色大海使它看起来非常迷人。去斯奈菲尔的旅程花了我们六天的时间，每天我们在一个不同的村庄停留过夜。这些村庄很小，但非常漂亮，建在火山脚下，紧挨着大海。村民们都很好，但是，像汉斯一样，他们不怎么说话。当我们走近斯奈菲尔山顶时，我想起了一件事。“叔叔，如果火山再次爆发会怎么样？”“不，那不可能。这座火山最后一次喷发是在1229年。我检查了一下地面。这是不可能的。”“但是……”“阿克塞尔，我是个科学家。这是事实。没什么可说的了。”现在是晚上十一点，我们已经到了山顶。我们停下来，在火山口里找了一个小地方睡觉。那天晚上，我做了一个梦。我看到火山里只有我一个人。我迷路了，非常害怕。突然，火山爆发了，我被射了出来，像块石头一样停了下来！

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: Snowpocalypse, Iceland VersionTuesday saw a record snowfall in Reykjavík, for October that is, breaking a record from 1921, with 27 centimeters of snow in one day.  The snowfall resulted in massive traffic disruptions in Reykjavík, both because of the copious amounts of snow, and because  not all drivers had managed to change to winter tires. We used to think Icelanders could drive in snow. That myth has now been shattered.National Police Commissioner Spends 160 Million ISK On “Advice” From A Single PersonThe National Police Commissioner, Sigríður Björk Guðjónsdóttir, has found herself in potentially job ending circumstances, after RÚV revelled she had been buying the services from a single company over the past 5 years, for 160 million ISK, which is roughly 2.7 million ISK a month.  The company in question, Intra, is a single person operation whose only employee is a Þórunn Óðinsdóttir. The tasks she did ranged from buying office furniture to introducing “lean management” to the police offices, to helping move the office of the Police Commissioner between locations. Government Announces Housing Policy PlansAs often discussed on this podcast, the Icelandic housing market is fucked. Last week the government announced their ideas to “fix” the market. These include; Building 4000 apartments in a new suburb in Reykjavík, deregulating building regulations, giving funding to non-profit, housing companies. The government also plans to tax empty building plots, decrease AirBnB availability, increased taxes on rent and sell of copious amount of state owned real estate. Fewer Sheep Than Humans In Iceland, For First Time EverThe Icelandic sheep population has dropped by a 100.000 in the past 10 years, meaning that there are now “only” 350.000 sheep in Iceland. This also means that there are fewer sheep than people in Iceland, which has never ever happened before in the history of Iceland.Former Prince Andrew And Naming Royals In IcelandicIceland has the somewhat idiosyncratic policy of giving foreign royals Icelandic names. This means that King Charles III is Karl III in Icelandic ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are:Snow And Ice Expected All Over IcelandConsider this a weather warning. We're expecting a lot of snow in Iceland in the next 24-48 hours, with snowfall up to 20-30 centimeters, in the south and east of Iceland, including ReykjavikStuck In The Highlands (With Your Mom)A mother and son, who arrived in decent weather at Landmannalaugar in the Icelandic highlands this Saturday, woke up yesterday in deep snow, rendering them stuck, far from civilization. They had to be towed from there by SARS. The Last Criminal Case Following the 2008 Economic Collapse, Resolved.The last Icelandic criminal case in relations to the 2008 banking collapse was resolved in 2021. However, one case in Luxembourg remained and that case was finally finalized with a settlement in a Luxembourg court last week. The case in question, called the Lindsor case, had been under investigation for 15 years and had to do with the bank Kaupthing buying up bonds from Kaupthing's employees, just days before the bank collapsed in October 2008.The Icelandic Housing Market Freezes OverFollowing a recent Supreme Court ruling on inflation indexed housing loans, all the major Icelandic banks stopped issuing such loans. The result is, at least temporarily, that very few Icelanders can actually take out a hosing loan.Police raids the wrong address, Twice. Twice this year, the police entered the wrong house to perform a search.00:34:30 Question TimeWe respond to some listeners questions.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WHO ARE WE?The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine, bringing you all the news and views on Icelandic society, music, travel, culture and more. Grapevine.is #rvkgrapevineJ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: 00:00:55 Overview Of This Weeks Stories00:04:00 Strange Place Names In IcelandicWe discuss a random assortment of strange names of places in Iceland00:11:00 A Drunk Man Arrested For Taking A Nap On A Coast Guard ShipThe police arrested a man who had “taken up residence” in the the Icelandic coast guard ship Thor (Þór) this weekend. No further details were given about the incident.00:16:50 Iceland And Germany Sign A Defense AgreementOn Sunday, Þorgerður Katrín Gunnarsdóttir, Iceland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, and Boris Pistorius, Germany's Minister of Defense,  signed a bilateral declaration of intent on defense matters in connection with Pistorius' visit to Iceland. According to the declaration Iceland will build up infrastructure to accommodate military submarines and aircraft as a part of Iceland's membership in NATO. 00:21:40 Julian Assange Visits IcelandJulian Assange, the founder of Wikileaks, visited Iceland this weekend and was spotted at Vitabar, having a burger and fries. Assange, who was more or less in detention for 15 years was set free a year ago and now lives in Australia. 00:24:30 Drugs On A FerryThe only ferry to sale to Iceland on schedule, Norræna, which harbors in Seyðisfjörður, east Iceland, has been in the news recently for drugs. At the beginning of September, 7 kilos of cocaine were apprehended in a car on the ferry and two men arrested. Later in September, 15 kilos of Ketamine and 5 kilos of MDMA war found in another car on the ferry. Three people were arrested in the latter case.00:29:00 52% Think Church And State Should Be SeparatedA poll conducted recently tells us that 52% of Icelanders think that church and state should be separated. 27% are neither for nor against the motion, and 21% are opposed to separation. 00:39:40 Women's Strike 50th AnniversaryThis Friday, October 24th the famous 1975 Women's Strike turns 50. Tens of thousands are expected to celebrate this with a strike, and gather in downtown Reykjavík. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: 00:03:50 Overview Of This Week's Stories00:04:50 Man Drinking Alcohol At City Library Kicked OutA man was evicted from a library in Reykjavík for drinking alcohol in the library's bathroom on Friday. The police said that drinking in the library was not good “library etiquette”.00:10:45 Laxness On His Way Out Of Icelandic College CurriculumNovels by Halldór Laxness, the only Icelander ever to win a Nobel prize, will soon no longer be taught in Icelandic schools 00:26:20 Icelanders Can Now Be Named MohammedThe Icelandic Naming Committee decided on five new names that Icelanders can use this past week. The names in question were Tenchi, Ivy, Ýri, Meryem and Múhameð, which is the Icelandic spelling of Mohammed.00:33:40 Former Icelandic Popstar And Activist Arrested On The High Seas By IsraelMargrét Kristín Blöndal, arrived in Amsterdam this past weekend after having been released from custody by the State of Israel. Margrét, or Magga was arrested last Wednesday along other members of the so called Freedom Fleet, trying to get aid to Gaza by way of the sea. A ceasefire has been declared in Gaza. Also, the foreign minister of Palestine, Dr. Varsen Aghabekian, happened to be in Iceland when the ceasefire was announced.00:39:30 Two Thirds Of Icelanders Think Iceland Should Not Participate In Eurovision, If Israel Is Allow To ParticipateA recent poll, conducted this September, 67% of participants said Iceland should rather stay out of Eurovision next year if Israel participates. Younger people were less likely to want Iceland to withdraw in that scenario, while people from outside Reykjavík were likelier than the inhabitants of Reykjavík, to want Iceland to boycott the competition.00:41:00 The Murder Case That Never RestsIn 1974, two men disappeared within 10 months of each other. These men were named Guðmundur and Geirfinnur. The case led to numerous arrests, and finally long time prison sentences. Much doubt has been cast on whether those charged and sentenced were actually guilty. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

We are joined by a big friendly giant - Icelander turned Londoner, Jón Valgeir Williams. Jon is the founder of ‘Valgeir Strength Trips', a Personal Trainer & Strongman Coach based in London & the father to a very strong 18 year old son - Erik. Jon was a competitor at the Worlds Strongest Man competition in 2002 & 2003 & was also the mentee & training partner of 4 x WSM & former Health Oddity guest Magnus Ver Magnusson. We discuss training, competing, travelling, stone lifting & what a lifetime of being incredibly strong (& the injuries that come with that) has taught Jon about training the general population & being ‘strong for life'.

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/german-studies

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/biography

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/environmental-studies

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/music

In Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland (Indiana University Press, 2019), Árni Heimir Ingólfsson provides a striking account of the dramatic career of Iceland's iconic composer. Leifs (1899–1968) was the first Icelander to devote himself fully to composition at a time when a local music scene was only beginning to take form. He was a fervent nationalist in his art, fashioning an idiosyncratic and uncompromising 'Icelandic' sound from traditions of vernacular music with the aim to legitimize Iceland as an independent, culturally empowered nation. In addition to exploring Leifs's career, Ingólfsson provides detailed descriptions of Leifs's major works and their cultural contexts. Leifs's music was inspired by the Icelandic landscape and includes auditory depictions of volcanos, geysers, and waterfalls. The raw quality of his orchestral music is frequently enhanced by an expansive percussion section, including anvils, stones, sirens, bells, ships' chains, shotguns, and cannons. Largely neglected in his own lifetime, Leifs's music has been rediscovered in recent years and hailed as a singular and deeply original contribution to twentieth-century music. Jón Leifs and the Musical Invention of Iceland enriches our understanding and appreciation of Leifs and his music by exploring the political, literary and environmental contexts that influenced his work. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/european-studies

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ Three AI robots have started “working” for the Icelandic container company. Their job is to sort garbage. ✨ Morgunblaðið has been  going nuts about the profitability of drilling for oil on the ocean floor north east of Iceland, in an area generally referred to as “Drekasvæðið” or the Dragon Zone. What do you guys think is driving this discussion, and does it really make sense to drill for oil — underwater — at this point in history?✨ Four out of ten Icelanders say they have faith. Down from just over half of the population 10 years ago. 25% claim to be atheist, compared to about 15% in 2014. We see the trend of young men being more religious that women, with a third of men saying they have faith, while only a fifth of women report the same. ✨ A Reykjavík city council member of Viðreisn, suggested during a city council meeting last week, that the school summer recess would be shortened. The minister of education announced he'd be willing to discuss the proposition. ✨ On Friday, Estonia announced they were putting article 4 of the NATO charter into effect, initiating a consultation among the member states. This happened after Russian airplanes entered Estonian airspace.✨ Political parties meet over the weekend. Viðreisn, one of the three political parties of the majority coalition government was re-elected chairman of that party over the weekend. The Pirate party also met over, decided to take up the status of chair and co-chairman as a part of their party's hierarchy, but nobody really seemed interested in becoming chairman of the party.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------WHO ARE WE?The Reykjavík Grapevine is an alternative monthly magazine, bringing you all the news and views on Ice------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Iceland is so much more than the Golden Circle and Northern Lights—there's a vast country that exists beyond the tourist hotspots. On this episode of Unpacked, join host Aislyn Greene as she speaks with travel writer Ali Wunderman, who has been exploring the country for more than a decade. Ali shares how to connect with authentic Icelandic culture, avoid the crowds, and discover the spots that most visitors miss. From traditional lopapeysa sweaters to remote West Fjords adventures, learn how to experience Iceland like a local. In this episode, you'll learn How to avoid crowds at Iceland's most popular destinations Why the West Fjords and East Fjords offer Iceland's most authentic experiences The cultural significance behind Iceland's tourism boom and economic recovery How to respectfully engage with Icelandic hot spring etiquette and local customs Don't miss these moments [03:00] The tourism video that changed everything and launched Iceland's boom [08:00] Why dating an Icelander is the ultimate travel hack (and passport strategy) [15:00] Iceland's transformation from a place left off maps to overtourism destination [20:00] The real story behind Icelandic cuisine beyond fermented shark [25:00] How WWII American soldiers accidentally created modern Iceland's progressive culture [30:00] Essential Icelandic words and cultural tips for connecting with locals Meet this week's guest Ali Wunderman, travel writer for National Geographic, Vogue, and Afar, and author of an Iceland guidebook Resources —Read the transcript of this episode —Read Ali's Afar.com story about off-the-beaten-path Iceland —Explore Afar's guide to Iceland —Browse Ali's Iceland guidebook —Follow Ali's travels and writing on Instagram —Explore her ex-boyfriend's Icelandic music playlist. "He often shares this with foreigners to get a deeper taste of Iceland's music beyond the stuff that makes it to the USA," Ali says. Where to Stay Find your dream Icelandic hotel Where to Eat, Drink, and shop Shop for traditional Icelandic sweaters at the Handknitting Association of Iceland Eat Icelandic cuisine at Dill restaurant (Iceland's first Michelin star) Try local Thai restaurants (a surprising Iceland specialty) Eat the famous hamburger with fries inside at Leirunesti in Akureyri Activities Horseback riding with Eldhestar Sheep herding during réttir season (September) Iceland Airwaves Music Festival (November) Þorrablót winter festivals (January) West Fjords photography expeditions Highland four-wheel-drive adventures Bonus Opportunity: What's one tricky travel topic you want us to unpack? Send us a voice message here, for a chance to weigh in and be featured in an upcoming episode. Stay Connected Sign up for our podcast newsletter, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Behind the Mic⁠⁠⁠, where we share upcoming news and behind-the-scenes details of each episode.  Explore our other podcasts, View From Afar, about the people and companies shaping the future of travel, and ⁠Travel Tales⁠⁠⁠, which celebrates first-person narratives about the way travel changes us. Unpacked by Afar is part of ⁠⁠⁠Airwave Media⁠⁠⁠'s podcast network. Please contact ⁠⁠⁠advertising@airwavemedia.com⁠⁠⁠ if you would like to advertise on our podcast. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Iceland is one of the last remaining Western countries where a substantial proportion of the population believes in the presence of other beings - The Hidden Folk. For centuries, and until fairly recently, ghosts, revenants, trolls and elves were regarded as an integral part of everyday life. Their stories were shared during the long nights of winter gatherings, and they felt just as real to Icelanders as the people sitting beside them.  Ethnologist Dagrún Ósk Jónsdóttir came to the Bureau to talk about the role of these mythical and supernatural beings in Icelandic society and landscape. Her book 'Ghosts, Trolls and the Hidden People: Icelandic Folktales' opens the door to the astonishing and eerie world of folk legends in the various settings of farm, wilderness, darkness, church, ocean and shore. We hear about her own family's ghost, how to recognise a magical being, how to scare off a troll and how construction projects in Iceland can still be delayed or rerouted in order to take account of the Hidden Folk. #folklore, #iceland, #icelandicfolklore, #trolls, #elves, #ghosts, #supernatural, #supernaturalbeings, #sorcery #ghoststories, #counterculture  

MINNESOTA — In this episode of the Echo Press News Minute, reporter Lisa Johnson talks about the Douglas county fair, efforts to host Hockey Day Minnesota in Alexandria in 2028, an active shooter training exercise in Osakis and the Douglas County Commission's efforts to balance funding requests with some less-than-idea budget news.  Those stories and more, this week on the Echo Press News Minute. Check out the top headlines from August 20 and August 22 below:   August 20, 2025: More than 60,000 attend 2025 Douglas County Fair Alexandria's new assistant superintendent wants to hear from parents, students More than 170 Icelanders visit Runestone Museum in 1 day City of Alexandria supports hosting Hockey Day Minnesota 2028 Alexandria native earns Fulbright award to research in Japan Volleyball: New year, new challenge for Alexandria after winning 2024 Class 3A state title   August 22, 2025: Local law enforcement, first responders, stage active shooter drill at Osakis Public School $10,000 reward offered for information about missing woman Douglas County Commissioners approve $861,918 in funding requests, $21,000 in raises for 2026 Alexandria School Board learns about Extended School Year program, district's operational plan Football: Fresh challenges ahead in 2025 for Alexandria Opinion  

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨Three caravans/trailers were blown up by strong winds on Holtavörðuheiði, a mountain road between the north and west of Iceland. Nobody was hurt, but SARS also had to help a group of motorcyclists off the mountain road, due to heavy winds. The weather on Friday also brought a thunderstorm to the west of Iceland. A rarity. ✨Egilsstaðir, a town in east Iceland saw the the thermostat reach 29,8 celsius on Saturday. That is the highest temperature recorded in Iceland this century, though it still does not pass the all time record of just over 30 degrees, recorded - also in the east - in 1939.✨A boulder fell on the the ring road road south of Eyjafjallajökull, in south of Iceland on Sunday. This spring, in the same area, a boulder hit a car, killing a woman who was visiting Iceland. The locals have for long complained about the safety of that stretch of road, but so far nothing has been done to amend it.✨Third of Icelanders pay for Spotify and the platform is almost responsible for 100% of streaming in Iceland. The Chairman of STEF (Composers' Rights Society of Iceland), Páll Ragnar Pálsson says STEF is not planning on withdrawing the the catalog of Icelandic music from the service, and points out individual artists can do that. He says that STEF is working with other composers' rights societies abroad in order to try to put some pressure on Spotify. But because of what? There are three reasons, first, the extremely low revenues that artists get for streaming. Second, the numerous fake artists that also skim money from streaming on Spotify, and which in some cases seems to have happened with Spotify's consent, and third, the recent move of Spotify's CEO into weapons development and manufacturing. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

We have had many older, distinguished gentlemen and young passionate ladies.Countless Distinguished authors, iconic modern living legends that have paved the way of our fly fishing knowledge. The Brits, The Scottish, Irish, Norwegians, Icelanders, Canadians and our American ground- zero roots. Tons of knowledge bombs have come across our airwaves if you go back and listen and learn.But now this young gent : an ER Nurse, approached me and I listened and liked.He believes in time on the water and having a plan with a purpose- to learn, improve and be open- minded.And for a young age, he sees the whole spectrum- may I  present Nick Sage. Millennials are the new future icons of our passion. Do you enjoy the show? Please take a moment to like and leave a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify! It will help take our terrestrial bug crazed crusade even further around the world!!We would love to hear from you. Drop us a line at hallowedwaterspodcast@gmail.comhallowedwatersjournal.comhallowedwaterspodcast@gmail.comEdited at Jupiter Sound Studio - www.JupiterSound.studio

When Swedish twins Ursula and Sabina Eriksson suddenly began throwing themselves into speeding traffic on a UK motorway—captured on camera by a reality TV crew—it was only the beginning of a shared psychotic break that would lead to superhuman strength, psychiatric hospitalization, and ultimately murder.==========HOUR ONE: In 1761, a young Frenchman died violently. This tragedy would lead to what is still one of that country's most famous cases of judicial injustice. Assuming, of course, that it truly was an injustice at all. (The Mysterious Death of Marc Antoine Calas) *** Most know them as “The Hidden Folk.” The elusive and magical residents of Iceland, who live inside rocks and sometimes play games with unsuspecting passers-by. Are they real? That's a complicated question, if you ask Icelanders. (The Elves of Iceland) *** As two boys were walking back to the house on their farm, a small stone rolled past them. Then a second one. They immediately thought some other boys were hiding in the scrub and throwing stones for a joke.  They couldn't have been more wrong. (Stone Throwing Spirits) *** Belle Gunness lured numerous suitors to her Indiana farm. Not to entertain them or to be courted by them. She simply wanted to kill them in cold blood and dump their bodies in her hog pen. (Belle Gunness – The Black Widow of the Midwest) *** "They're going to steal your organs!" screamed Sabina Eriksson, before running toward oncoming traffic on the M6 highway, having already been hit head-on by a Volkswagen. Her twin sister, Ursula, legs crushed by the truck that had just run her over, was spitting and screaming at paramedics on the side of the road. Now, many years after these events, we're still no closer to understanding the chaos that occurred over two days in 2008 involving psychotic twin sisters on a UK highway. (The Disturbing Case of the Eriksson Twins)==========HOUR TWO: In 1882 the Ma'amtrasna murders, the brutal killing of several members of the Joyce family in rural Galway, caused outrage in Irish society and remains one of the most notorious homicides in Irish history. However a few years later Cork was rocked by an equally heinous case which has largely been forgotten. We'll look at the brutal murders of four family members that took place in Castletownroche, Ireland. (The Castletownroche Murders) *** An Arizona family encounters a creature from the dark side of a Navajo legend. (The Arizona Skinwalker) *** John Blair liked to keep things “in the family”. But in his case, it wasn't just a saying. It was literal. Because John was infamous for being bigamous. (Bigamous Blair) *** Dozens of Korean War GI's claimed an unidentified flying object made them all sick. Theories range from high-tech Soviet death rays to extraterrestrials studying how we engage in battle to combat-stress-induced hallucinations. What actually happened? (The Korean War UFO)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Were people ever really tortured in Iron Maidens? (The Iron Maiden)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“The Disturbing Case of the Eriksson Twins” by Harrison Tenpas for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/r6cbnxf“The Mysterious Death of Marc Antoine Calas” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/rrs89rx“The Elves of Iceland” by Rob Schwarz for Stranger Dimensions: https://tinyurl.com/u4bcw6v“Stone Throwing Spirits” from The Fortean: https://tinyurl.com/qnuf7sd“Belle Gunness – The Black Widow of the Midwest” by Steven Casale for The Line Up: https://tinyurl.com/tqyceby“The Iron Maiden” by Karl Smallwood for Today I Found Out: https://tinyurl.com/t2y6vj6“The Korean War UFO” by Natasha Frost for History.com: https://tinyurl.com/y765nsgm“The Castletownroche Murders” by Fin Dwyer for the Irish Examiner: https://tinyurl.com/y9fhagfb“The Arizona Skinwalker” by Stephen Wagner for Live About: https://tinyurl.com/yxkdh9vv“Bigamous Blair” from London Overlooked: https://tinyurl.com/y9qpo54x==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2025==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).

What would it be like to live in a world where magic is still alive? Not weird, not woo-woo, just ordinary. 400 years ago, consulting a magician in downtown London was as unremarkable as calling a plumber today. Even now, there are places where magic never died – like Iceland, where 54 percent of the population believes in elves, or thinks they might exist. Original Air Date: October 12, 2024Interviews In This Hour: Why do Icelanders believe in elves? — Deborah Harkness uncovers the real history of witches — Practical magic and the 'cunning folk' of Tudor EnglandGuests: Nancy Marie Brown, Deborah Harkness, Tabitha StanmoreNever want to miss an episode? Subscribe to the podcast.Want to hear more from us, including extended interviews and favorites from the archive? Subscribe to our newsletter.

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ Last Saturday 40 pilot whales swam ashore in North Iceland by the town of Ólafsfjörður. They were all successfully pushed back out to sea. ✨ A third of Icelanders have an account on chess.com - Icelanders are also the most active users on there, and the in fourth place when it comes to total points.✨ Last Saturday it was reported that the Kattholt cat shelter was full. So if you need a kitten….✨ We discuss the ongoing filibuster on the new fisheries resource rent bill✨ The Police's special forces broke their way into a house in Raufarhöfn, a remote town of 180 people in North-East Iceland. A man living in the house is thought to be linked with organised crime and the manufacturing illegal substances.✨ Seven Icelanders were trying to leave Israel last week, and had contacted the ministry of foreign affairs for that purpose. Nine Icelanders had requested similar aid to leave Iran. ✨ The woman suspected of a double homicide of her husband and daughter at the Reykjavík Edition hotel will be detained for at least another two weeks, it was reported on Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

In this episode of the Big Crystal Energy Podcast, host Ashleigh Bodell takes listeners on a captivating journey into the magic of Icelandic crystals. Brimming with excitement for her own impending adventure to Iceland—a destination that has called to her for most of her life—Ashleigh explores the unique stones, minerals, and folklore that make Iceland a crystal witch's dream.Throughout the episode, Ashleigh gets into the properties and stories behind iconic Icelandic crystals like Iceland spar (clear calcite), volcanic basalt, obsidian, and zeolites. She shares insights into their spiritual significance, historical uses by Vikings and locals, and the sacred relationship Icelanders have with the land, including important guidelines about ethical collecting and respecting local laws and traditions.Listeners are also invited to immerse themselves in Icelandic mythology, meeting the huldufolk (hidden people), elves, and the powerful land spirits believed to dwell throughout the island's dramatic landscapes. Ashleigh weaves together practical travel advice for fellow crystal lovers with tales of magical beings and ancient wisdom, all while encouraging her audience to follow their own callings to the places that beckon their spirits.Whether you're a seasoned rockhound, a fan of mystical lore, or simply curious about the spiritual energy of faraway places, this episode promises inspiration, practical tips, and a hefty dose of big crystal energy.Key Moments: 05:20 "Preparing for a Meaningful Trip"07:21 Manifesting Travel Dreams12:10 Iceland Spar: Enhancing Energy & Insight15:41 Iceland Spar Locations: East Fjords18:21 "Basalt: Grounding Energy and Transformation"20:19 Basalt's Mystical Icelandic Significance24:00 Iceland's Mysterious Huldufolk Legends26:32 Icelandic Spiritual Geomancy PracticesMeet Ashleigh Bodell – your guide to the mystical and the magical on the Big Crystal Energy Podcast.By day, she's a dedicated orthopedic physician assistant, but by night, she dives deep into the metaphysical, exploring crystals, energy work, and the unseen forces that shape our world. From childhood fascinations with witches and faeries to a transformative rediscovery of crystals, Ashleigh's journey bridges science and spirituality, the practical and the mystical. A mom, a wife, and a seeker, she brings a relatable, no-fluff approach to exploring the “spooky and kooky” side of life. Through Big Crystal Energy, she creates a space where the magical and the mundane coexist—because we don't have to choose between our careers, families, and the call of the unknown.Tune in as she uncovers wisdom from crystal healers, spiritual coaches, and magic makers—inviting you to embrace your own big crystal energy.Connect Ashleigh : https://www.instagram.com/bigcrystalenergypodcast/https://www.instagram.com/mystical.mama.ashSend me any questions or comments you may have and I will answer them on upcoming podcast episodes!! Looking forward to hearing from you!Please message me with any questions or comments. bigcrystalenergypodcast @gmail.com

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin editor Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨We discuss an upcoming storm warning for the whole island. Iceland is expecting strong winds with near freezing temperatures and snow expected in the north and east of the island.✨ We discuss the parking fees in and around popular tourist locations in Iceland, also known as the habit of charging people for nothing. ✨ From June 1, 2025 swimming pools in Reykjavík will be open until 22:00 in the evenings until August 31, adding a welcome hour to the hot tub soaking of the many pool fans of Reykjavík. The pools had historically been open until 22:00, but those hours were cut by the city in April 2024 in order to save money. Since it is estimated that the extra hour will cost the city just 7 million ISK, keeping the pools open for the extra hour for a whole year would cost 28 million ISK. A puny amount of money in a city of almost 150.000 inhabitants.✨ On the last day of May a concert was held at Laugardalshöll stadium to commemorate a 14 year anniversary of a popular radio show called FM95BLÖ. The show, which featured numerous popular pop artists including Jóhanna Guðrún of Eurovision fame, Prettyboytjokkó, Birnir and Herra Hnetusmjör, to name a few. Around 10.000 people showed up, and due to a mixture of overcrowding and organisational failures, numerous people had to seek medical help, though nobody is reported to have been badly injured.✨A protest took place in Austurvöllur in front of Iceland's parliament this Saturday. “We are not racists” said the organizer of the protest, Sigfús Aðalsteinsson. We discuss.✨An Icelander in his early 40s was stopped by the police in the last week of May while driving in Akureyri. A breathalyser test indicated that the man was under the influence of alcohol, yet the man claimed to have never drunk alcohol in his life. After an argument with the police officer who conducted the breathalyser test, the man was allowed to rinse his mouth of the sourdough sandwich he had been consuming. The subsequent test showed that he had not been drinking and according to the driver this annoyed the police officer somewhat. This is news to most - if not all - lovers of a good sourdough sandwich, who have until now remai------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Alda Sigmundsdóttir is a journalist, author, and independent publisher who has built a thriving literary life outside the traditional system. From blogging about Iceland to launching her own press, Alda has published over 11 books and grown a loyal global readership—while staying in full control of her creative work.We discuss: Alda's early writing career and transition to self-publishingWhat she learned from being traditionally publishedThe freedom and responsibility of going indieHow she built and nurtured a global readershipHer approach to writing about people, culture, and the pastLessons from promoting across genres and writing memoirMindset shifts and skills that supported her success *ABOUT ALDA SIGMUNDSDÓTTIRAlda Sigmundsdóttir is a writer, speaker, and independent publisher based in Reykjavík, Iceland. She's the author of over 10 books exploring Icelandic culture and society, and the memoir Daughter. She writes two popular Substack newsletters (Letter from Iceland and The Recovery Salon), runs her own publishing house (Little Books Publishing), and teaches a course on going indie.*RESOURCES & LINKS:

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ We talk about the record breaking excellent weather Iceland has been enjoying during the last few days, and why Icelanders tend to assume that something this good (the weather), will always result in something bad. And how at least one of the hosts had a “Swedish” summer experience over the weekend (hotdogs in a thermos), while another host enjoyed lambing season.✨ We talk about last week's debate about serving alcohol at sporting events in Iceland and ponder if Icelandic swimming pools will eventually serve beer.✨ We discuss the Icelandic government's sale of a 45% share in Icelandic bank Íslandsbanki, which was bought last week by the general public. We also contrast this to the sale of the other 50% of the bank which took place some years previously.✨ Eurovision happened last weekend. We talk about that, the debate within Iceland (and elsewhere) on the competition, the songs (are they songs?) and the Eurovision parties some of the hosts “enjoyed”.✨ Lastly, we discuss at length Heimildin's story from a couple of weeks ago about the carbon capture company Climeworks, a Swiss founded company that operates out of Iceland. We discuss the problems with projects such as theirs, and wether or not Heimildin was being too harsh or critical in their article, written by Grapevine's former Editor-in-Chief, Valur Grettisson.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

Nebrasketball is going to be big in Reykjavik, next season!

Are you enjoying this? Are you not? Tell us what to do more of, and what you'd like to hear less of. The Reykjavík Grapevine's Iceland Roundup brings you the top news with a healthy dash of local views. In this episode, Grapevine publisher Jón Trausti Sigurðarson is joined by Heimildin journalist Aðalsteinn Kjartansson, and Grapevine friend and contributor Sindri Eldon to roundup the stories making headlines in recent weeks. On the docket this week are: ✨ On Wednesday RÚV reported that Iceland's richest man, Björgólfur Thor Björgólfsson, had hired police officers to carry out covert surveillance on a group of citizens who had filed a lawsuit against him. The operation reportedly cost tens of millions of krónur and involved three officers — two retired, one still on active duty at the time. We discuss this story and the fact that one of the former police officers, Jón Óttar Ólafsson, had also been subsequently been paid by rich Icelanders for various other tasks, including surveillance of journalists.✨ We discuss a story about a tourist that was held hostage in Reykjavík on May Day.✨ A Starbucks is set to be opened in Reykjavík later this summer.✨ & a tourist was sexually harassed at the Blue Lagoon on Saturday.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------SHOW SUPPORTSupport the Grapevine's reporting by becoming a member of our High Five Club: https://steadyhq.com/en/rvkgrapevine/You can also support the Grapevine by shopping in our online store: https://shop.grapevine.is------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This is a Reykjavík Grapevine podcast.The Reykjavík Grapevine is a free alternative magazine in English published 18 times per year, biweekly during the spring and summer, and monthly during the autumn and winter. The magazine covers everything Iceland-related, with a special focus culture, music, food and travel. The Reykjavík Grapevine's goal is to serve as a trustworthy and reliable source of information for those living in Iceland, visiting Iceland or interested in Iceland. Thanks to our dedicated readership and excellent distribution network, the Reykjavík Grapevine is Iceland's most read English-language publication. You may not agree with what we write or publish, but at least it's not sponsored content.www.grapevine.is

"The Icelanders, in their long winter, had a great habit of writing; and were, and still are, excellent in penmanship. It is to this fact, that any little history there is of the Norse Kings and their old tragedies, crimes and heroisms, is almost all due. The Icelanders, it seems, not only made beautiful letters on their paper or parchment, but were laudably observant and desirous of accuracy; and have left us such a collection of narratives (Sagas, literally "Says") as, for quantity and quality, is unexampled among rude nations. Snorro Sturleson's History of the Norse Kings is built out of these old Sagas; and has in it a great deal of poetic fire, ...and deserves to be reckoned among the great history-books of the world. It is from these sources that the following rough notes of the early Norway Kings are hastily thrown together." This is a collaborative reading.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

"The Icelanders, in their long winter, had a great habit of writing; and were, and still are, excellent in penmanship. It is to this fact, that any little history there is of the Norse Kings and their old tragedies, crimes and heroisms, is almost all due. The Icelanders, it seems, not only made beautiful letters on their paper or parchment, but were laudably observant and desirous of accuracy; and have left us such a collection of narratives (Sagas, literally "Says") as, for quantity and quality, is unexampled among rude nations. Snorro Sturleson's History of the Norse Kings is built out of these old Sagas; and has in it a great deal of poetic fire, ...and deserves to be reckoned among the great history-books of the world. It is from these sources that the following rough notes of the early Norway Kings are hastily thrown together." This is a collaborative reading.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Whether you're planning your first trip to Iceland or you've visited before, knowing the do's and don'ts can make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. Iceland is a breathtaking country with unique cultural norms, unpredictable weather, and natural wonders that demand respect and preparation. I'll walk you through essential travel tips—things you should absolutely do to get the most out of your visit, as well as common mistakes to avoid. From driving safely on Iceland's rugged roads to experiencing the hot springs like a local, these insights will help you navigate your adventure like a pro. Let's dive into the essential do's and don'ts for traveling in Iceland! 5 Do's & Don'ts When Visiting Iceland 1. Do go to local pools, lagoons and upscale spas. Iceland's bathing culture is such a big part of life here and it's lovely to relax in a geothermally warmed hot tub. Most people think that when I say local pool that I mean some run of the mill uninteresting place but in Iceland, the local pools are lovely and budget friendly.For instance, the biggest one in Laugardalslaug has several hot tubs, including a saltwater one, an Olympic sized lap pool, a wading pool, a gigantic slide for kids of all ages (meaning adults too), a steam room, sauna, a cold dipping pool and lovely changing area. All of that is accessible at the cost of 1.389 ISK or $9.81 for adults, $1.41 for young adults aged 16-17 and free for children up to the age of 15. Every local pool has its own charm and there is almost 2 dozen just in the Reykjavík capital area and many around the whole country.Places like the Blue Lagoon, Sky Lagoon and other well known places to take a dip will cost a lot more. For instance, the Blue Lagoon is 9.900 ISK or about $70 for the lowest admission price for one adult. These places are extremely unique and I have enjoyed many visits to all of the lagoons and new baths around the country, so I don't discourage going, but just know that you have local options too that are great. Don't go into a pool, lagoon, or hot tub in Iceland without showering first One of the most important etiquette rules in Iceland is showering thoroughly, without a swimsuit, before entering a pool, lagoon, or hot tub. Iceland's geothermal pools and hot springs are an essential part of the culture, and maintaining their cleanliness is taken very seriously.Due to the country's limited use of chlorine in pools, washing with soap beforehand helps keep the water hygienic for everyone. Most public swimming areas have strict signage explaining the showering protocol, and some even have attendants ensuring compliance.Skipping this step is considered disrespectful to locals, and you might be asked to leave. Icelanders grow up with this rule, so while it might feel unfamiliar to visitors, it is essential for keeping the pools enjoyable for all. 2. Do Travel to different parts of the country when you visit Iceland is much more than Reykjavik and the Golden Circle. While the capital offers vibrant culture, history, and nightlife, venturing beyond reveals breathtaking landscapes, unique geological formations, and local experiences that make a trip unforgettable. The South Coast is home to stunning waterfalls like Seljalandsfoss and Skógafoss, black sand beaches, and the Jokulsarlon Glacier Lagoon. The Westfjords, a lesser-visited gem, offers dramatic fjords, bird cliffs, and remote hot springs. The North, particularly Akureyri and Mývatn, provides volcanic landscapes, geothermal baths, and excellent whale watching. The Eastfjords offer charming fishing villages and rugged mountains, while the Snæfellsnes Peninsula is often called "Iceland in Miniature" due to its diverse natural beauty. Expanding your itinerary ensures you experience the true essence of Iceland. Don't Only stay in Reykjavik While Reykjavik is a fantastic city with a lively atmos...

Jón Arason was the last Catholic bishop in Iceland before it became a Lutheran country. His story involves a lot of gory details in this story including a pretty gruesome beheading. Research: Buck, Thomas. “An Icelandic Martyr: Jón Arason.” Studies: An Irish Quarterly Review, vol. 46, no. 182, 1957, pp. 213–22. JSTOR, http://www.jstor.org/stable/30103574. Accessed 8 Jan. 2025. Cunningham, Jack. “Jón Arason, ‘the last Icelander’ and the Coming of the Reformation to Iceland,” Reformation & Renaissance Review, 11:3, 245-273, DOI: 10.1558/rrr.v11i3.245.” Gunnarsson, Gisli. “Question: Is it really true that all Icelanders are descended from Jón Arason, the last Catholic bishop of Iceland, who was executed in 1550?” The Islandic Web of Science. 3/5/2005. https://www.why.is/svar.php?id=4789 Ker, W.P. “JÓN ARASON.” Saga-Book, 1913-1914, Vol. 8 (1913-1914), pp. 149-171. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.2307/48611694 Kristjánsdóttir, Steinunn. “The Dissolution of the Monastic Houses in Iceland.” Religions 15: 771. https://doi.org/10.3390/rel15070771 Oleson, Tryggvi J. “A Note on Bishop Jón Arason.” Speculum , Jul., 1954, Vol. 29, No. 3 (Jul., 1954), pp. 535-536. Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2846795 Oleson, Tryggvi J. “Bishop Jón Arason 1484-1550.” Speculum , Apr., 1953, Vol. 28, No. 2 (Apr., 1953). Via JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2849686 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HOUR ONE: In 1882 the Ma'amtrasna murders, the brutal killing of several members of the Joyce family in rural Galway, caused outrage in Irish society and remains one of the most notorious homicides in Irish history. However a few years later Cork was rocked by an equally heinous case which has largely been forgotten. We'll look at the brutal murders of four family members that took place in Castletownroche, Ireland. (The Castletownroche Murders) *** An Arizona family encounters a creature from the dark side of a Navajo legend. (The Arizona Skinwalker) *** John Blair liked to keep things “in the family”. But in his case, it wasn't just a saying. It was literal. Because John was infamous for being bigamous. (Bigamous Blair) *** Dozens of Korean War GI's claimed an unidentified flying object made them all sick. Theories range from high-tech Soviet death rays to extraterrestrials studying how we engage in battle to combat-stress-induced hallucinations. What actually happened? (The Korean War UFO)==========HOUR TWO: In 1761, a young Frenchman died violently. This tragedy would lead to what is still one of that country's most famous cases of judicial injustice. Assuming, of course, that it truly was an injustice at all. (The Mysterious Death of Marc Antoine Calas) *** Most know them as “The Hidden Folk.” The elusive and magical residents of Iceland, who live inside rocks and sometimes play games with unsuspecting passers-by. Are they real? That's a complicated question, if you ask Icelanders. (The Elves of Iceland) *** As two boys were walking back to the house on their farm, a small stone rolled past them. Then a second one. They immediately thought some other boys were hiding in the scrub and throwing stones for a joke.  They couldn't have been more wrong. (Stone Throwing Spirits) *** Belle Gunness lured numerous suitors to her Indiana farm. Not to entertain them or to be courted by them. She simply wanted to kill them in cold blood and dump their bodies in her hog pen. (Belle Gunness – The Black Widow of the Midwest) *** "They're going to steal your organs!" screamed Sabina Eriksson, before running toward oncoming traffic on the M6 highway, having already been hit head-on by a Volkswagen. Her twin sister, Ursula, legs crushed by the truck that had just run her over, was spitting and screaming at paramedics on the side of the road. Now, many years after these events, we're still no closer to understanding the chaos that occurred over two days in 2008 involving psychotic twin sisters on a UK highway. (The Disturbing Case of the Eriksson Twins)==========SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME: Were people ever really tortured in Iron Maidens? (The Iron Maiden)==========SOURCES AND REFERENCES FROM TONIGHT'S SHOW:“The Disturbing Case of the Eriksson Twins” by Harrison Tenpas for Graveyard Shift: https://tinyurl.com/r6cbnxf“The Mysterious Death of Marc Antoine Calas” from Strange Company: https://tinyurl.com/rrs89rx“The Elves of Iceland” by Rob Schwarz for Stranger Dimensions: https://tinyurl.com/u4bcw6v“Stone Throwing Spirits” from The Fortean: https://tinyurl.com/qnuf7sd“Belle Gunness – The Black Widow of the Midwest” by Steven Casale for The Line Up: https://tinyurl.com/tqyceby“The Iron Maiden” by Karl Smallwood for Today I Found Out: https://tinyurl.com/t2y6vj6“The Korean War UFO” by Natasha Frost for History.com: https://tinyurl.com/y765nsgm“The Castletownroche Murders” by Fin Dwyer for the Irish Examiner: https://tinyurl.com/y9fhagfb“The Arizona Skinwalker” by Stephen Wagner for Live About: https://tinyurl.com/yxkdh9vv“Bigamous Blair” from London Overlooked: https://tinyurl.com/y9qpo54x==========(Over time links seen above may become invalid, disappear, or have different content. I always make sure to give authors credit for material I use whenever possible. If I have overlooked doing so for a story, or if a credit is incorrect, please let me know and I will rectify it immediately. Some links may benefit me financially through qualifying purchases.)=========="I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness." — John 12:46==========WeirdDarkness®, WeirdDarkness© 2024==========To become a Weird Darkness Radio Show affiliate, contact Radio America at affiliates@radioamerica.com, or call 800-807-4703 (press 2 or dial ext 250).