Tag Archives: outdoors
Réttir, the annual sheep roundup. Posted by hulda on Sep 10, 2015
Food is my favourite way of following how the seasons change. Earlier this week as I was grocery shopping I realized the early autumn was here, summer was now entirely over though some sunny days might still be in store for us, and that it was time to go get the warm clothes out and…
Destroying Iceland for charity? Posted by hulda on Aug 20, 2015
This week arrived with troubling news: the police were investigating two Scottish men who had apparently driven quite a long way off-road in Iceland, which is illegal. Let’s repeat, it’s illegal to drive off-road in Iceland, everywhere, no exceptions. Why the general ban? It’s because Iceland’s highlands are moss and lichen -covered, and the damage done…
Verslunarmannahelgi, party time in Iceland! Posted by hulda on Jul 30, 2015
We’re preparing for yet another festival here, this time one that’s called Verslunarmannahelgi (= tradesmen’s weekend), our equivalent of the Labour Day. Originally started as all merchants’ holiday, it has turned into a country-wide one where people, merchants or not, party happily throughout the long weekend. People are already busily gathering food, getting ready to drive…
Iceland in deep poop – literally. Posted by hulda on Jul 9, 2015
Since the boom in tourism began Iceland is now facing a new, growing problem – tourists littering, and worse. I have addressed the problems before in The Iceaboo but let’s repeat: the cleanness of the Icelandic nature is due to people not throwing trash around. There are no cleaning ladies sweeping through the scenery every morning…
Elliðarárdalur, Reykjavík’s Central Park Posted by hulda on Apr 30, 2015
A secret oasis of Reykjavík, Elliðarárdalur, can be found only a short bus drive away from downtown. Well, when I say secret it actually means something more like “this is a place the locals certainly know of but visitors barely ever visit and that’s a shame”. It’s a popular place for walking, jogging, biking, horse…
10 steps to becoming an Icelander. Posted by hulda on Mar 26, 2015
Thinking of moving to Iceland? Here’s what you need to know. 1. Forget about punctuality Meeting your deadlines is appreciated but not actually expected. At least no one will meet any that you set, and they’ll act offended if you show any displeasure for the tardiness. As long as things get done that’s close enough is…
Iceland – deadly for the careless. Posted by hulda on Mar 12, 2015
It began and ended as these things usually do: Icelanders warning tourists who decide to ignore the warning and then almost die as a result. Three Finnish cross-country skiers on Vatnajökull met with Björgunarsveitinn, the voluntary rescue units, when one of them fell ill, and knowing there was a huge storm on its way the…