Reykjavík Grapevine - 13.06.2003, Síða 24

- the reykjavik grapevine -24 may 15 - may 29, 2003 - the reykjavik grapevine - 25may 15 - may 29, 2003
CONSTITUTIONAL ANAL PROBES,
NAZIS AND BARBED WIRE BARS.
SOME THINGS YOU PROBABLY DIDN´T KNOW ABOUT THE SIGHTS OF REYKJAVÍK
If you walk down Austurstræti you might notice Metz Bar
and Bistro. Unless you look up, however, you might not
notice that right above the bar, at the top of the
house is what looks like a Star of David.
This house was built in 1920 by
a merchant of Danish descent
who was also freemason, so
the symbol is probably
a sign of the order.
This symbol c o n t r a s t s
with the one you will find on the next building.
In front is Hannes Hafstein, the first minister Iceland
had under home rule, who took office in 1904. In
the rear is king Christian IX of Denmark, who no-
bly presented Iceland with its first constitution in
1874. However, history is often a matter of
perspective, and from this vantage point you
can see the king shoving the document up
the ministers rear. This scene is also immor-
talized in the film 101 Reykjavik.
If you stand outside Pósthússtræti 2 and look up, you´ll see a scary
looking symbol. Don´t worry, this is not, in fact,
the headquarters of the Icelandic Nazi
party, but of the shipping company
Eimskip, found ed in 1914, and
hence predat ing Nazism.
The Swastika is a Nordic sun
symbol, prob ably originally
d e s c e n d e d from India.
Nazism never really caught on
in Iceland, and the symbol was re-
tained by the company, although in the postwar
years they would cover it up when entering foreign ports.
And if the sheriffs office has been converted into
a nightclub, then it should not come as a surprise
that the jail has become the seat of government. It
was built as a penitentiary in 1770, and served
as such for 50 years. Those who
follow Icelandic politics might
be forgiven for suggesting that
the best course of action would
be to reinstall the bars and lock
the doors, with the current occu-
pants still on the inside.
Is it a museum? Is it a heritage site? No, Reykjavik’s old-
est house is now in service as a nightclub. Built in
1750 on the spot where the first set-
tler, Ingólfur Árnason repudetly
lived, the club Vídalín cur-
rently has the same name
as various 17th and 18th
century bishops, some
of whom were renowned
ghostbusters. The building
used to be a sheriffs office,
but now houses late night drinkers and prowlers who are at
liberty to leave when they want.
In most countries barbed wire is mostly used for military pur-
poses. Iceland has no army, but barbed wire can still be put
to good use. In the countryside it is used to keep sheep from
straying from the fields, and in the city it is used to keep punters
from cutting the line by climbing over the wall to get to the bar.
It is not, however, always enough to dissuade them.
W O N D E R I N G S