The election of the Reykjavík tree 2010.
by Regina1965
On Menningarnótt "Culture night", the third weekend in August 2010, our mayor elected the Reykjavík tree of 2010. The tree that was elected is a Swedish whitebeam (silfurreynir) and is believed to be the oldest tree in Reykjavík, planted in 1884 by Schierbeck, Director General of public health back then. The tree is 10,9 m high, which is a lot for trees here in Iceland :)
The tree stands in Fógetagarður or Governor's park (see my tip on the park), which is also called Víkurgarður cemetery, on the corner of Aðalstræti and Kirkjustræti.
What's in a name?
by acemj
Iceland uses a patronymic naming system, which means children here take their father's first name plus either "son" or "dottir" as their last names. For example, Katrin's father is Jon Svenson. In most western cultures, Katrin would then become Katrin Svenson, but in the patronymic system, she becomes Katrin Jonsdottir. As a result of this naming system, Icelanders only use first names when addressing each other. They don't use titles or formalities such as "doctor" or "Professor" or "Mister." If you met the President of Iceland, Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, you would call him Ólafur. This would not be considered disrespectful. If you're looking for a name in an Icelandic phone book, you look up the first name, not the last!
We do believe in elves!
by Regina1965
There are many big lava rocks in Iceland which have to be left untouched and the road has to be built around them. The reason for this is that some lava rocks are homes to The Hidden People (elves). Mishaps and accidents will happen if one tries to blow up these rocks as The Hidden People defend their homes. So a medium is contacted which will then talk to The Hidden People and ask them to move or, if they are not willing to move, the road or the project in question will have to be built around the rock.
This is a common belief here in Iceland, so common that it is just a matter of fact subject. Around Iceland there are so many places which belong to the elves. If you read my Iceland tips you will see the Capital of the elves (Ásbyrgi, North-Iceland), the Cathedral of the elves (Sælingsdalur, West-Iceland), the library of the elves (Snæfellsnes, West-Iceland), the this and that of the elves all over the country.
And there are so many tales of encounters with the elves, some of which I have written down in my tips on Iceland. The Hidden people (huldufólk) look like us, but there are many other invisible people in Iceland, like all kinds of dwarfes, who have their own preserved spots here in my country.
I have added photos of known elf-spots, but there are so many rocks on private grounds which are also inhabited by elves. So be careful when sitting on big rocks, you never know if you are sitting on an elf-stone :)
Winter solstice - the shortest day of the year.
by Regina1965
I add this tip here under customs so you can see the contrast to my tip on summer solstice. As Reykjavík is so far up north (64 degrees North) the winters are really dark here with ever decreasing daylight until the 21st of December when there is daylight for only ca 4-5 hours. A lot of people suffer from S.A.D. depression caused by lack of light. One totally loses sense of time when it is so dark and we can never get used to this even though we have lived here for our entire lives. The days are even shorter in the northern capital of Iceland, Akureyri.
When the days are so short we actually prefer it not being sunny as it is hard driving when the sun sits so low in the sky and this is the cause of many traffic accidents here in Iceland.
When planning a trip to Iceland this should be taken under consideration.
Public Toilets
by emilienoelle
If you have to go in Reykjavik, fear not. There are public, coin operated toilets available on the street for anyone who needs one. I was not so brave as to venture in to one of these, not even for the sake of research, but at least now you know.
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A big elevated truck on Laugavegur.
Reykjavík weather.
The information shield in the middle of the park.
Old army barracks by Öskjuhlíð hill.
