Reykjavík Grapevine - 20.05.2016, Side 28

28The Reykjavík GrapevineIssue 6 — 2016
Open 11:30-22:00
saegreif inn. is
Geirsgata 8 • 101 Reykjavík • Tel. 553 1500 • seabaron8@gmail.com
An absolute
must-try!
Saegreifinn restaurant (Sea Baron) is like none other
in Iceland; a world famous lobster soup and a diverse
fish selection.
Icelanders seem to be very fond of raisins. “Rúsínan í pyl-
suendanum” is a mouthful to say. Meaning “the raisin on the
end of the got dog,” it’s the Icelandic equivalent of the phrase
“cherry on top of the sundae,” used to describe unexpected
surprises that make good things even better.
The idiom comes from the Danish phrase “rosine i pølseen-
den,” which is no surprise given Iceland and Denmark’s in-
tertwined history. Old Danish sausage recipes used to call
for putting raisins at the end, according to a poem from 1828
by Christian Winther, and presumably that must have been
some sort of a treat.
Another heartwarming phrase involving raisins is "litla rú-
sínan mín." It means “my little raisin” and parents use it to
address their little ones. You can even add it to another fa-
miliar term of endearment, “rassgat.” This literally means
“asshole,” but it’s actually used to describe something ador-
able, similar to the Japanese word “kawaii.” When you add
raisin in front of that, you get “rúsínurassgat,” or “raisin ass-
hole,” which I guess is even cuter than a regular asshole.
Every Single Word in Icelandic (www.everysingleword.is) is a
pictographic exploration of the Icelandic language. I find an in-
teresting compound word, then deconstruct and illustrate it as
icons. The goal is to express how Icelandic can be deadpan literal
and unexpectedly poetic at the same time.
Guides & Raisins

So you want to see a bit of
Iceland but also be able to af-
ford your ticket back home?
No, that’s not the most dra-
matic request we’ve ever
heard. We’ll make it happen.
Einar Jónsson’s
Sculpture Garden
What better way to start your day
than with the early 20th-century
Icelandic sculptor Einar Jónsson?
Stroll through his sculpture
garden and admire the 26 bronze
casts of Einar’s monumental work
at no cost.
Hallgrímskirkja
Upon exiting the garden, you’ll
be right next to Hallgrímskirkja,
arguably Reykjavík’s most
recognizable landmark. Take a
moment to walk inside Iceland’s
largest church—you can even
take the elevator up to the
observation tower for a gorgeous
360-degree view over the city.
(Tower admission is 900 ISK.)

Ekkisens or Harbinger
Art Gallery
If you’re feeling particularly
artistic today, make your way
to the Ekkisens or Harbinger
art galleries. These artist-run
spaces mainly showcase up-and-
comers in the art world and the
exhibitions are free!
Bæjarins Beztu Pylsur
You need sustenance for your
Icelandic odyssey, and just
because you can’t drop stacks
on stacks doesn’t mean you have
to starve. Grab lunch at this
Icelandic staple. Listen, if their
hot dogs are good enough for
Bill Clinton and Kim Kardashian,
they’re good enough for you.
Tjörnin
With hot dog in hand, walk past
Parliament (and potentially some
Icelandic protesters) on your
way to Tjörnin, the pond in the
city’s center. Enjoy the classic
Icelandic homes and buildings
that surround the pond (but try
not to wonder at their price tags,
just thinking such thoughts will
make money disappear from your
wallet).
Nauthólsvík Beach
If you fancy a swim, hop on
the bus to Nauthólsvík. It’s a
quick fifteen-minute ride to the
geothermal sand beach, which
boasts hot tubs looking out onto
the water and a lagoon in which
hot geothermal water combines
with the cool sea waves, creating
pleasant ocean temperatures.
(And, brace yourselves lads, this
too has no entrance fee!)
Appy Hour
Doesn’t a nice glass of something
sound divine right about now?
Use The Grapevine’s very own
Appy Hour app to track down the
best deals for Happy Hour and
get your drink on.
Dinner Options: Mandi,
Lemon, Sæta Svínið,
and Café Loki
Depending how much you want
to spend and how good a job
you’ve done at saving throughout
the day, we’ve got a few options
for you.
Mandi is great to snag a
quick and relatively (this is the
operative word in Iceland) cheap
kebab on the go.
Lemon is best for inexpensive,
healthy food and smoothies. Just
because we’re trying to pinch our
pennies doesn’t mean we have to
be heathens here, people!
If you’re looking for a nice
atmosphere, the newly opened
Sæta Svínið gastropub is a
moderately priced option with a
great atmosphere.
Café Loki gives you good
portions of classic Icelandic
dishes, allowing you to sample
the local cuisine.
Grótta Lighthouse and
Geothermal Foot Bath
It’s nearly “summer” (if we’re
using the term as loosely as
possible), so you’ve got plenty
of time to enjoy the day while it
remains light. Use the last bit of
sunlight to walk along the coast
to the Grótta lighthouse. Then
take a selfie with the fantastic
sunset while soaking your feet in
the geothermal nature pond. Is
there a better way to end a day,
I ask you?
A Penny Saving
Guide To Reykjavík
WORDS OF INTEREST
For The Love
Of Raisins
Nauthólsvík pool area
Hallgrímskirkja
Tjörnin