The White Falcon - 22.04.1983, Blaðsíða 12

12 SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT Keflavik, Iceland
Reykjavik—world’s northernmost capital city
Reykjavik is both the site of Iceland’s first set-
tlement and the capital of the modern republic.
The city began as the homestead of Ingolfur
Arnarsson, the first settler. According to the
Sagas, he chose the site because his high seat
pillars—pagan totems—were washed ashore at
that spot. As his gods had chosen Reykjavik, he
felt he had the best chance if he raised his farm
there.
Today, eleven centuries later, it remains cen-
tral to Icelandic life. It is the site of national
government and the center of commerce. It
houses the University of Iceland, the major hos-
pitals, the Supreme Court and all government
ministries.
Reykjavik has not forgotten its links with the
past. The National Museum near the university
displays a large collection of artifacts from the
nation’s history, while those who would like to
know how the old days felt are advised to visit
the Arbaer Folk Museum. Turf-roofed buildings,
churches and fishermen’s cottages have been
faithfully restored and generate an atmosphere
of calmness, in stark contrast to the modern
housing area in which it is situated.
The old town of Reykjavik is confined to a
small area near the pond in the city center. Nar-
row streets with good small restaurants and art
galleries, as well as shops, prove that Icelanders
are not willing to forgo any opportunity to add
culture to everyday life.
Among the morenoticeable aspectsof the Ice-
landic capital are the many book stores, open-
air sculpture parks, swimming pools and athletic
A small portion of Reykjavik, looking
grounds. Healthy outdoor pastimes are still impor-
tant while intellectual stimulation is never forgot-
ten.
The President's office and cabinet building are
often not noticed for what they are by the casual
passerby. A tip for the visitor: that old, white-
painted building near the walking street in the
frcm the statue of Leifur Erikkson.
city center is where the President and the Prime
Minister spend most of their working time. Don't
be put off by the lack of security guards on the
outside, in Iceland they're not needed. But if you
are patient and you arrive at the right time of day,
the people you see leaving and entering the build-
ing may just be the nation's leaders.
Airport town
depends on boats
not planes
Keflavik, the tcvm most associated with the NATO Base, is actually more depen-
dent on boats than aircraft.
Keflavik is the town most associated with the
NATO Base and the civilian airport. But boats are
what the town is dependent upon, not aircraft.
The fleet of 40-50 boats brings in more money for
the Keflavik inhabitants than the combined air
facilities.
Njardvik,theclosesttown,and Keflavik together
operate nine fish freezing plants and other pro-
cessing factories, making them one of the most
important fish exporters in the country. The taxes
generated by this industry are what pay for local
services.
A trip into the local community is worthwhile in
any season. The docks are unusually busy and
the fish is always fresh. The other sights are
mostly connected with the sea... a lighthouse at
Gardur, monuments to seamen who have been
lost at sea in Keflavik and Grindavik and folk
museums in Njardvik, Sandgerdi and Keflavik.
A short drive down the southern cost from the
NATO Base is very rewarding. Popular sites for
base residents to visit include the Reykjanes
lighthouse, a hot spring which can be seen spout-
ing regularly and the Black Beach—all along the
rocky road between Hafnir and Grindavik.
For the more adventurous drivers the trip can
be extended further along the coastal road from
Grindavik to Lake Kleifarvatn. There is a lot of
geothermal activity at the western end of the lake
and fair trout fishing in the lake itself.
The whole of the coastline is a haven for many
species of sea birds, and seals can often be seen
basking in the sun or swimming in the many
coves. And as sea birds and seals can be found
there, there has to be fish too. At least the sea
anglers don’t seem to have any complaints.
Icelanders dress for style while remembering comfort
As Iceland is situated so far north and has
such a windy climate it would be easy to assume
fashion reflects comfort rather than style. But
that would be a false assumption.
Teenagers in Iceland do not differ from their
peers in Europe or America. Casual wear is the
uniform of the day. Street wear suggests almost
anything goes—as long as it’s not taken too
seriously. For some girls this means tight jeans,
for others it means three-quarter-length pants
and for yet others it could mean a mini-skirt or
punk outfit.
While the day-time scene is often the night-
time scene, a word of caution ought to be added.
Disco fever still has Europe in its grip. Not the
American way, the European way. And that
means high-fashion glitter, way-out hair styles
and the latest clothing fashions appearing in
Iceland soon after their introduction in France,
Italy and Germany. Don’t despair, if you were to
buy the latest in Icelandic evening fashion, it will
be in vogue in America in two years time.
Perhaps the most fashion-conscious sector of
the Icelandic community is in the 35-55 age
group. For women, dressing up in the latest
Paris originals is still the thing to do. This formal-
ity extends to the male sector as well and it is this
age group who will wear a dark business suit for
most social occasions. And as evening wear
(tuxedos) is coming back into style this trend is
expected to last.
Neat casual clothes are suitable for most leis-
ure activities. The exceptions to this rule are
when guests come to dinner, business enter-
tainment and social spots. At these times men
should be advised to wear ties. But as fashion
today seems to be quite flexible the basic rule is
be neat—if you have to err, err on the side of
caution.