Reykjavík Grapevine - 21.04.2017, Síða 52

Ah, the wonderful year of 1919. The
Europeans were still dealing with
the devastating consequences of
the First World War, not knowing
that it was just a short pause for
the full blown psychotic break-
down of Adolf Hitler. Communism
was still brewing in Russia after
the bloody revolution of 1917. The
Bolsheviks were starting to ex-
ecute minor royals the same year
the older photo shown here was
taken, at the corner of Laugavegur
and Vatnsendastíg. At the bottom
of the picture you can see an old
sailing boat and the Mount Esja.
This street found itself in the
national news a few years later,
after the banks collapsed, when
anarchists squatted a house in the
street (the middle one to the left).
They refused to leave and had to
be overpowered by the police af-
ter a siege that lasted few hours.
This picture is also a good ex-
ample of Icelanders' complete lack
of talent when it come to zoning.
For some reason Icelanders built
small houses in the middle of the
city, but tower blocks by the seaside,
so nobody can see the ocean except
the billionaires who live there.
And, just for fun, the newer
picture was taken shortly af-
ter Donald Trump was elected,
and Vladimir Putin probably ex-
ecuted someone the same day.
Although it was probably not a
royal. Not even a minor one.
Squatting And
The Failure of Zoning

Words: Valur Grettisson
Photo:
Reykjavik Museum of photography
Tales tell of a country northeast
of Iceland and Greenland known as
the Land of Giants. Many have paid
dearly for attempting to explore the
land and its people, including Gorm
the Old, King of Denmark, whose
mission was hindered by heavy
rain, raging storms and other ob-
stacles. Later, Harald Hardrada em-
barked on an expedition to the land
but had to deal with dangers, decep-
tions and darkness on the way be-
fore sailing his ship into a peculiar
whirlpool, or vortex. He barely es-
caped and never reached the habitat
of the giants. Many mocked Harald
for his failure and presumed dis-
appointment, and because of this,
men from Norway and Friesland
mounted another expedition to
search for the Land of Giants. Their
luck was not much better, as they
endured countless unspeakable
punishments meted out by heav-
en, earth and sea. They also sailed
into the giant vortex, losing all
sight of the sun during the ordeal.
They finally landed on the
shore of the land and were met
with high mountains and awe-
some cliffs. There were no hous-
es or constructs to be seen, but
many caves and holes had been
dug into the earth. The ground
was covered with gold and silver,
which the crewmen began collect-
ing and taking to their ship. The
natives saw this and descended
upon them, armed with spears
and bows. The crew succeeded
in escaping, except for one man
who was left behind by accident
and promptly torn limb from limb
in the most horrific manner. It is
said that bright daylight is never
seen in this land and that a great
rumbling is constantly heard
from the sky and sea.
Gísli Oddsson, Annalium in Islandia
farrago, p. 12-13, written in 1637.
Taken from 'The Museum of Hidden
Beings' by Arngrímur Sigurðsson.
Buy the book at gpv.is/dulbk
Tröllbotnaland - Land of Giants
MONSTER OF THE MONTH
52 The Reykjavík Grapevine
Issue 06 — 2017
Photo:
Timothée Lambrecq
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