Reykjavík Grapevine - 29.08.2014, Page 4

Dear Grapevine.
I have recently returned from another vis-
it to your beutifull country. I have family
conections there and visit regularly.
This time I was there with 9 other
members of my family and this is the very
first time I have had unplesant experi-
ances in Iceland.
It all started at the Blue Lagoon when
we all arrived for the usual ritual bathe,
my wife who is 69 and not keen an the ex-
periance decided to sit in the coffee shop
with a drink as she has done on many oc-
cations to be confronted with a member
of staff demanding 1550 kronur just to go
into the cafe. considering the exorbitant
prices we have to pay to swim in your
waste water (the prices are hicked up on
a regular basis far more than the cost of
living) this was just to much , we had also
booked into the resteraunt for a meal later
on. This fact however cut no ice with the
member of staff so I paid up. AS time went
on I got more and more angry about this
rip off and went back to see said member
of staff and demanded to see a manager,
this had the efect of a refund of my wifes
ENTRY fee to the cafe.
now we have everyone and their
granny geting in on the LETS RIP OF A
TOURIST act with special tourist prices
for cakes and lunches (article about Hof-
nina i Dalvik) and of course the landown-
ers who are trying to fleece more money
out of the tourists by charging (in some
cases illegaly) for entry to some of Ice-
lands treasured sighs.
There are many more stories like
these.
I am lead to understand that the gov-
rnment pays out large sums of money to
the landowners to manage these sights.
but of course it is easy for them to con-
stuct a turnsyle and take money of the
tourist. 800 Kronur I think was the charge
at Namskarð.
All I will say is you have the making of
a great tourist industry so take care that
you dont "Bite the hand that feeds you"
I leave you with this thought.
Are some of the landowners and tour-
ist industry the new BANKERS of Ice-
land ready to discredit this country for
their own greed.
Yours sincerely.
Les Ashton.
PS. Love your Newspaper keep up the
good work.
Dear Les,
Thanks for writing. Thanks for your kind
words—we love you too. Very much.
And thanks for fostering a sincere and
dedicated interest in our remote little island,
its people and its culture for such a long time.
You mean the world to us.
With regards to your letter: boy, what you
describe sucks. It really, really sucks.
You know, we work with a lot of folks in
the tourism industry, and from years of expe-
rience we can safely say that an overwhelm-
ing majority of them are well-meaning peo-
ple of integrity, folks who would much rather
suffer a monetary loss than risk treating their
patrons in a dishonest or disrespectful man-
ner.
Unfortunately, one always runs risk of en-
countering greedy, narcisstic, solipsitic socio-
path assholes wherever one goes.
And then, sometimes, mistakes are
made, or unfair policies are enforced by fail-
ing businesses.
While we understand your concern, and
promise to keep watch and remain vigilant,
we hope that the experiences you describe
do not taint the good memories you have al-
ready amassed.
Also, next time you’re back, enjoy a cou-
ple of burgers on us, as consolation.
LOVE
Say your piece, voice your
opinion, send your letters to:
letters@grapevine.is
Sour
grapes
& stuff
Most Awesome
Letter of the Issue
YOUR PRIZE FOR THAT MOST AWESOME LETTER OF YOURS IS:
TWO FREE MEALS AT THE ICELANDIC HAMBURGER FACTORY
Dear reader. We love you very much, especially those of you that write us letters all the time.
In fact we love you so much that we keep trying to reward you somehow for writing us those
letters. They entertain us, and they keep us informed of what our readers think. That is a
pretty great deal. Now. Whoever wrote this issue’s MOST AWESOME LETTER gets a prize.
And it’s a pretty great one. Yes, not one but TWO delicious hamburger-style meals at the
wondrous ICELANDIC HAMBURGER FACTORY, which is an Icelandic themed restaurant that
specializes in huuuuuge and mouth-watering burgers to fit every occasion (we recommend
the lamburger, unless you are a vegetarian. Lamb is not a vegetable). And if you for some
reason didn’t write this issue’s MOST AWESOME LETTER don’t panic. Their tasty burgers
aren’t that expensive, and you can always try for a MOST AWESOME letter later.
Just write us at letters@grapevine.is

Dear Editor: I am visiting your beauti-
ful country and engaged/enlightened
people by running the half marathon
last Saturday. As you may know Can-
ada has welcomed others including the
country of Newfoundland (1949) joining
it and even peoples such as separatists
from Quebec (a founding province of
Canada) being the official opposition
in parliment. Canada is quite inclusive
and shares a love of nature and man's
relationship to nature. Canadian's in
general welcome diversity and have
many former Icelanders as citizens.
We also have a love of water, winter,
farming, family, vast expanses and
the ocean. Don't just look at Norway.
Canada could be a bridge to the large
cultural market of the United States for
Icelandic music and with a province like
Iceland - a stepping stone to European
trade that is mutually profitable.

Canada eh? Norway on steriods.

John Willson
Dear John,
Thanks for reading. And thanks for writ-
ing.
You are right! Canada is amazing! And
guess what, we’ve employed like eighteen
journalists from Canada. Or at least two.
And they were both wonderful, and we
miss them all the time.
Oh, Canada. Sweet Canada.