Reykjavík Grapevine - 27.07.2007, Síða 17

B1_RVK_GV_INFO_ISSUE 11_007_ULTIMATE SURVIVAL GUIDE
Services
Useful Numbers
Emergency number: 112
Police: 569 9000
Medical help: 1770
Dental emergency: 575 0505
AA: 551 2010
Information: 118
Telegrams: 146
Tax Free Refund
Iceland Refund,
Aðalstræti 2, Tel: 564 6400
www.icelandrefund.com
Laundry Service
HI Hostel, Sundlaugarvegur 34,
Tel: 553 8110, www.hostel.is
Úðafoss, Vitastígur 13,
Tel: 551 2301, www.udafoss.is
Post Office
Post offices are located around the
city as well as in the countryside.
The downtown post office is at
Pósthússtræti 3-5. For a full list and
info on opening hours visit www.
posturinn.is.
Stamps are also sold in bookstores,
gas stations, some grocery stores and
tourist shops.
Embassies and Consulates
in Iceland
United States, Laufásvegur 21,
Tel: 562 9100
United Kingdom, Laufásvegur 31,
Tel: 550 5100
Russia, Garðastræti 33,
Tel: 551 5156
China, Víðimelur 29,
Tel: 552 6751
For a full list visit Ministry for Foreign
Affairs: www.mfa.is/diplomatic-mis-
sions/icelandic-missions/
Internet Access
Most coffeehouses have wireless
Internet access.
Computers with Internet connections
are available at:
Ráðhúskaffi City Hall, Tjarnargata 11
BSÍ Bus Terminal,
Vatnsmýrarvegur 10
Ground Zero, Vallarstræti 10
The Reykjavík City Library,
Tryggvagata 15
The National and University Li-
brary, Arngrímsgata 3
Tourist Information Centre,
Aðalstræti 2
Icelandic Travel Market: Bankastræti 2
Opening hours
Bars and clubs: According to regula-
tions bars may be open until 01:00 on
weekdays and 05:30 on weekends.
Shops: Mon-Fri 10-18, Sat 10-16, Sun
closed. The shopping centres Kringlan
and Smáralind as well as most super-
markets and tourist shops have longer
opening hours.
Swimming pools: weekdays
06:30-22:30, weekends 08:00-20:30
although some may be open an hour
longer.
The State owned ÁTVR liquor
stores: Mon-Thu 11-18, Fri 11-19, Sat
11-18.
Banks in the centre are open Mon-Fri
09-16.
Getting Around
Public transport
The only public transport system in
Reykjavík is the bus. Most busses run
every 20 minutes and price per fare is
250 ISK for adults and 75 ISK for chil-
dren. Complete route map at: www.
bus.is. Tel: 540 2700
Busses run from 07:00-24:00 on
weekdays and 10:00-24:00 on week-
ends
Rent a bike
Borgarhjól, Hverfisgata 50,
Tel: 551 5653, www.borgarhjol.net
HI Hostel, Sundlaugarvegur 34,
Tel: 553 8110, www.hostel.is
Tourist Information Centre,
Aðalstræti 2, Tel: 590 1550,
www.visitreykjavik.is
Taxi
Hreyfill-Bæjarleiðir,
Tel: 553 3500 or 588 5522
BSR, Tel: 561 0000
For disabled travellers
Reykjavík Group Travel Service,
Brunastaðir 3, Tel: 587 8030, www.
randburg.com/is/reykjavik_group_trav-
el_service/
A useful brochure, Accessible Reykja-
vík, can be found at tourist offices.
Car rentals
Átak Car Rental, Smiðjuvegur 1,
Tel: 554 6040
ALP, Dugguvogur 10, Tel: 562 6060
Avis, Knarravogi 2, Tel: 591 4000
Eurocar, Hjallahraun 9, Tel: 565 3800
A.G Car Rental, Tangarhöfði 8-12.
Tel: 587 5544
Atlas Car Rental, Dalshraun 9,
Tel: 565 3800
Berg Car Rental, Tangarhöfða 8,
Tel: 577 6050
Hertz, Flugvallavegur, Tel: 522 4400
Airlines
Air Iceland, Reykjavíkurflugvöllur,
Tel: 570 3030, www.flugfelag.is
Air Vestmannaeyjar, Tel: 481 3255,
www.eyjaflug.is
Bus Terminal
BSÍ, Vatnsmýrarvegur 10,
Tel: 562 1011, www.bsi.is
Samferda.net
A reasonable choice for the budget
traveller. You log on to the website
www.samferda.net, choose your
destination and hopefully find a travel
buddy to share the cost.
The Intercultural Centre
The Intercultural Centre throws oc-
casional cultural events and confer-
ences but its main purpose is to be an
information and counselling centre
and serve as an advocate for the rights
of immigrants in Iceland.
Hverfisgata 18, Tel: 530 9300
www.ahus.is
Icelandic Travel Market
Bankastræti 2, Tel: 510 5700,
www.kleif.is
Information on day tours, accommo-
dations, car rental and everything else
you need to know when travelling in
Iceland.
Iceland Visitor
Lækjargata 2, Tel: 511 2442,
www.icelandvisitor.com
A travel agency offering travelling
package trips and custom-made tours
as well as car rental, day tours and
accommodations for visitors.
Tourist Information Centre
Aðalstræti 2, Tel: 590 1550,
www.visitreykjavik.is
Offers information for tourists as well
as providing internet access, booking
service, a phone centre, money ex-
change service, tax refund and selling
the Reykjavík Tourist Card. The Reykja-
vík Tourist Card gives admission to city
busses, various museums, Reykjavík
swimming pools, The Family Park and
Reykjavík Zoo, The Culture House and
the National and University Library.
The Icelandic Tourist Board
Lækjargata 3, Tel: 535 5500,
www.visiticeland.com
All information needed before travel-
ling in Iceland.
Goethe Institute
Túngata 14, Tel: 561 5921,
www.goethe.de/island
A cultural institute that offers movie
screenings, lectures and German
language courses.
Nordic House
Sturlugata 5, Tel: 551 7030,
www.nordice.is
The Nordic cultural centre organises
various cultural events, conferences
and exhibitions.
All major tourist spots in Reykjavík also
offer brochures, maps and information
for travellers.
Useful Information
Where to learn Icelandic as a
foreign language
Icelandic on the Internet,
www.vefskoli.is
Mímir Continuing Education,
Skeifán 8, Tel: 580 1800, www.mimir.is
Námsflokkar Reykjavíkur,
Fríkirkjuvegur 1, Tel: 551 2992
Fjölmenning, Laugavegur 59,
Tel: 511 1319, www.fjolmenning.is
The Icelandic College of Engineer-
ing and Technology, Höfðabakki 9,
Tel: 577 1400, www.thi.is
Iðnskólinn í Reykjavík,
Skólavörðuholti, Tel: 552 6240,
www.ir.is
The University of Iceland – Depart-
ment of Continuing Education,
Dunhagi 7, Tel: 525 4924,
www.endurmenntun.is
Religious movements
The national church in Iceland is the
Evangelical Lutheran Church. Masses
are generally held on Sundays at 11:00
in churches all around the capital.
Service in English is at Hallgrímskirkja
every last Saturday each month, start-
ing at 14:00. The Roman Catholic
Church also has masses in English and
Polish.
Other religious movements in Reykja-
vík are for example:
The Muslim Association of Iceland,
Ármúli 38
Ásatrú Association, Grandagarði 8
Bahá’í, Álfabakka 12
The Church of Evangelism,
Hlíðasmári 9
The Icelandic Buddhist Movement,
Víghólastígur 21
Reykjavík Free Lutheran Church,
Fríkirkjuvegur 5
Pentecostal Assembly, Hátún 2
Roman Catholic Church,
Hávallagata 14
Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-
Day Saints, Ásabraut 2
Jehovah’s Witnesses, Sogavegur 71
Seventh-Day Adventists,
Suðurhlíð 36

Zen Buddhism in Iceland,
Reykjavíkurvegur 31
Independent Church,
Háteigsvegur 101
The Russian Orthodox Church in
Iceland, Sólvallagata 10
The Cross, Hlíðasmári 5-7
Trade Unions
The Icelandic Federation of Labour,
Sætún 1, Tel: 535 5600, www.asi.is
The Federation of State and Mu-
nicipal employees, Grettisgata 89,
Tel: 525 8300, www.bsrb.is
The Association of Academics, Bor-
gartún 6, Tel: 581 2090, www.bhm.is
Efling, Sætún 1, Tel: 510 7500,
www.efling.is
The Commercial Workers’ Union,
Kringlan 7, Tel: 510 1700, www.vr.is
Union of Public Servants, Grettis-
gata 89, Tel: 525 8340, www.sfr.is
Useful Websites
www.visitreykjavik.is (The official
tourist website of Reykjavík)
www.gayice.is (Information about
the gay scene in Iceland)
www.fjolmenningarsetur.is
(The Multicultural Centre)
www.hostel.is
(Hostel International in Iceland)
www.vinnumalastofnun.is
(Public employment services)
www.gulalinan.is (The yellow pages)
www.leigulistinn.is (Rent a flat)
www.simaskra.is
(Icelandic telephone directory)
Where to get Work and residence permit: The
Directorate of Immigration, Skógarhlíð
6, Tel: 510 5400, www.utl.is.
Insurance and benefits: The State
Social Security Institute, Laugavegur
114-116, Tel: 560 4400, www.tr.is
Icelandic citizenship: Unless you
come from a Nordic country, foreign
citizens have to have had an unre-
stricted residence permit in Iceland for
at least seven years in order to get an
Icelandic citizenship although some
exceptions exist to that general rule.
Applications are at the Ministry of
Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs,
Skuggasund, Tel: 545 9000,
www.domsmalaraduneyti.is
Unemployment benefits: Director-
ate of Labour, Public Employment
Service, Tryggvagata 17, Tel: 515 4800,
www.vinnumalastofnun.is
Icelandic social security number
(kennitala): National Register, Bor-
gartún 30, Tel: 560 9800,
www.hagstofa.is
Driver’s license: Those who have a
foreign license don’t need an Icelandic
one for the first six months. After that
time you have one month to apply for
an Icelandic driver’s license. Applica-
tions are at police stations.
Tax card: Tax office, Laugavegur 166,
Tel: 563 1100, www.rsk.is
Rent subsidies: Social Service Office,
Tryggvagata 17, Tel: 411 9000 www.
felagsthjonustan.is
Facts on Iceland
Iceland is a constitutional repub-
lic with slightly more than 300,000
inhabitants. Reykjavík has been the
country’s capital since 1786 and today
almost two-thirds of the population
live in the greater capital area.
The 17th of June 1944 Iceland
became an independent republic.
That day is the national holiday and is
celebrated all around the country.
Alþingi, the national parliament,
is the oldest assembly in the world,
established at Þingvellir in 930 but
restored in Reykjavík in 1844. The par-
liament is comprised of 63 members,
who are elected by popular vote every
four years. Icelandic citizens over 18
years of age have the legal right to
vote.
Parliamentary elections were last
held in 2003 with 33.7 percent of
votes going to the Independence
Party. The Social Democratic Alliance
got 31 percent, the Progressive Party
17.7 percent, the Leftist-Greens 8.8
percent and the Liberal Party 7.4 per-
cent. The Independence Party and the
Progressive Party formed a coalition
and together lead the government.
Iceland has 12 ministers with the
prime minister and head of govern-
ment being Geir H. Haarde, who is
also chairman of the Independence
Party. The President of Iceland is Ólafur
Ragnar Grímsson, who has been in
office since 1996. He is the Chief of
State although his duties are mostly
ceremonial.
Time Zone: GMT 0
Currency: Íslensk króna (ISK).
International Dialling Code: +354
Cultural Centres and
Tourist Offices
1. June – 9. September 2007
Olaf Otto Becker · Páll Stefánsson · RAX
automatos
Laugavegi 7 • 101 Reykjavík
Sími 561 6262 • www.kisan.is
Annick Goutal, Bonpoint,
Farmers Market, Orla Kiely, Sonia Rykiel,
Jamin Puech, Petit Bateau, Steiff ...
Don’t miss
Kisan when
in downtown
Reykjavík.
A truly unique
concept store
carrying world known brands as well
as local delights like the quality
sweaters from Farmers Market –
only place in downtown.
The soft-spoken musings of Swedish Jens Lek-
man are carving him a spot in music history
as one of Europe’s best-loved troubadours.
Bashful, sweet, and disarmingly earnest, Lek-
man sings about life and love in their purest
forms. Grapevine caught up with 26-year-old
Jens over the phone, and a nice cup of tea,
from his home in Gothenburg, Sweden, to talk
about life on the eve of his third record.

You’re playing the Nordic Horn Festival
in late August, how do you feel about
being back?
I’m really looking forward to it. I had a little
too short a visit the last time. The flights were
a bit poorly booked; I spent over twenty hours
at Copenhagen’s airport, and very little time
in Reykjavík.
That was for Iceland Airwaves; you were
filling in for Jenny Wilson at the National
Theater Basement. It was one of the best
shows I saw that weekend, there was
such a great atmosphere. But you said
later that you had been surprised at the
reception because you thought that no
one knew you here.
Yeah.
Do you think you often underestimate
your success?
I do, yes of course, especially in countries where
I haven’t been before. I went to Brazil later on
that year, I thought no one knew me there,
and I played for a thousand people. Yeah, I’m
always surprised. Sometimes I show up and I
play for two people and a dog. That happens
sometimes too.
Can you think of a couple of recent songs
that you most enjoyed writing?
Well, there are the songs that I write to make
myself do something, like Julie for example.
I wrote that song because I didn’t know Julie
and I hadn’t done any of that stuff that I sang
about in the song. I wrote it so as to push
myself to actually walk up to her and say Hi
and say do you want to go down to the har-
bour and eat some fries, and to actually get
to know her. I do that with a lot of songs, I
write the story before it happens and then I
have to act it out because otherwise I would
be too embarrassed to play it.
How much of your writing is non-fic-
tional?
I think everything, or 99%, is non-fictional.
It’s like with my own storytelling. In real life, I
make up a lot of lies, I make up a lot of stories
but they’re always about insignificant shit, like
stuff I’ve seen on the tram or stuff that doesn’t
really matter at all. I would never make up
anything that mattered I think.
In your songs?
Or in real life.
Why?
Because it seems like my own imagination
doesn’t really match what goes on in real life.
Life imitates art in a much better way than art
imitates life.
Which is why you write the songs before
they happen?
Yeah, exactly.
In many of your songs I see a sort of wist-
ful or nostalgic longing for the past, es-
pecially, perhaps, for youth. Do you think
that fits?
Sure. Especially on the last single that I put out
this summer on the B-side. I was listening to
the singles that just arrived from the factory
and both those songs are extremely nostalgic
for a time in my life, and for some sort of in-
nocence I guess.
Do you enjoy talking about your music?
At this very moment, surprisingly, yes.
You seem to like working with fresh meth-
ods or these sort of untainted resources
like people who aren’t classically trained in
music or unusual instruments and sounds.
You’ve often sung in languages that you
don’t actually speak, like Icelandic for ex-
ample.
Yeah.
I think it gives your music a sort of fresh
or genuine quality. Can you explain that
motivation?
The thing was, I gave up on music about two
years ago. I grew tired in one way; I needed
some kind of new inspiration. And what drew
me back was definitely hearing Majer Shalal
Hash Baz, this Japanese band. They consist
of this guy called Tori Kudo. He’s an excellent
composer but he works only with people who
can’t really play. They came to Gothenburg and
I played with them and they played a cover
of Black Cab, and for the first time in my life
I heard my music from outside. They played
this song, and you could tell that it was Black
Cab but it sounded so innocent and beautiful.
For a very long time I hated myself and I hated
my band because I thought that we played too
good. I kept yelling at my musicians saying,
‘You have to learn how to play worse!’” After
a while I realised that you can’t do that; you
can’t teach a dog not to sit. So that’s why I
approached languages instead I think.
Do you see yourself as seeking something
intrinsically Swedish, or do you view
your music as transcending any specific
place?
I’m not sure actually what I’m doing. For the
latest record I wanted my music to meet the
world and I wanted to meet new people,
but instead I just stayed home and wrote ev-
erything within the thirty square feet of my
apartment.
Did you sample a lot on this record like
you’ve done on some of your earlier
songs?
Yes.
Don’t you think that by incorporating
these songs from other countries and from
artists with different cultural backgrounds,
you’re in a way travelling beyond the
thirty-some square feet of your apart-
ment?
Yeah. I would like to see myself as an explorer
or something like that.
How has your life changed since you
gained some notoriety and consequently
how has the process of writing been af-
fected?
I don’t think my process of writing has changed
very much. I found some way of writing just a
few years before I started releasing records that
I’ve been very happy with, including writing
the songs before they happen. Lyrically, I think
I’ve been more aware of the comedy in the
songs. In the past my songs were sometimes
interpreted as ironic or sarcastic, which they
were absolutely not, and now I just want to
avoid that so I’ve tried to capture the humour
in the songs but made it warmer and more
poetic in a way. I don’t avoid the fact that I’m
a musician, a recording artist in any way. I just
came to a point when I thought that it would
be dishonest to not include any mentioning
of that in my writing. It’s like I can’t pretend
that I’m just…
The same old Jens?
(Laughs) Yeah, exactly.
Not the Same Old Jens
Text by Valgerður Þóroddsdóttir Photo by Gary Olson
“For a very long time I
hated myself and I hat-
ed my band because I
thought that we played
too good. I kept yelling
at my musicians saying,
‘You have to learn how to
play worse!’”
RVK_GV_INFO_ISSUE 11_007_INTERVIEW/MUSIC_B13