Reykjavík Grapevine - 25.08.2017, Page 64

L I F E , T R AV E L & E N T E R TA I N M E N T I N I C E L A N D
Issue 15 × 2017
Aug 25 – Sep 7
www.grapevine.is

LAST WORDS
Printed
Cocaine for
the Rich
Words: Halldór Armand Ásgeirsson
Photo: Art Bicnick
More cocaine, please, and fewer books. That’s
how we like it. Yes, let the good times roll.
Decadence is hip again. Finally! It was only
gone for a few years, but god, how long that felt.
The uniform Range Rovers are back; the vodka-
drinking, suit-wearing teenagers are back;
fluid capital and ISDA agreements are back.
The influx of cocaine into Iceland is break-
ing all records and book sales are down a third
since 2008. This can only mean one thing: the
situation is excellent! We might actually reach
the point where a decent novel in a Reykjavik
bookstore costs more than a gram of coke from
a 21-year-old on Facebook. What a milestone
that would be. The government should tax art
and culture even more. A book with interest-
ing ideas easily costs 50 euros today. Why stop
there? Make it 150. I thought that was the goal
when taxes on books and food were raised, and
taxes on electronics cut. Tax culture and food
a bit more and maybe we can eliminate all fees
levied on smart devices.
What a beautiful world it would be, what a
glorious time to be free!
All joking aside, I get it. As a tyrant, I’d do
the same. Books are dangerous. Something in
their nature makes them enemies of power.
Two minds meet to discuss ideas in silence. To
people in power this should not be promoted
(the same cannot be said of TVs and smart-
phones). There’s a reason why books have been
banned and burned throughout the ages. Pric-
ing is the more modern way to keep ideas un-
der control. In Iceland, books and alcohol are
kept extremely expensive. For some obscure
reason, there seems to exist a silent agree-
ment, regardless of who’s in government, that
these things are not for poor people.
I look forward to the day when my book
dealer—an unshaven man in a trench coat—
shows up at my door with two smoking hatchet
men, telling me I owe him money. I’ll be thin,
pale and shaking. “I’ll get the money, Bergþór,
I swear, just give me one more fix, something
Russian from the late 19th century, you know
I’m good for it!”.
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURES
GLACIER WALKS, HIKING & CAVING
VIÐURKENND
FERÐAÞJÓNUSTA
CERTIFIED
TRAVEL SERVICE
SILVER-CLASS
ENVIRONMENTAL
UMHVERFISFLOKKUN
MOUNTAINGUIDES.IS • INFO@MOUNTAINGUIDES.IS • TEL: +354 587 9999
SUPER JEEP ADVENTURES
icelandrovers.is info@icelandrovers.is · Tel: +354 587 9999
AND PRIVATE TOURSFROM REYKJAVÍK 2017 - 18
1
www.mountain
guides.is
GLACIER WA
LKS
SÓLHEIMAJÖ
KULL & SKA
FTAFELL
DAY TOURS
2017 - 18
mountainguid
es.is
info@mounta
inguides.is · T
el: +354 587
9999
mountainguides.is
info@mountainguides.is · Tel: +354 587 9999
GLACIER WALKS, HIKING
& CAVING FROM REYKJAVÍK 2017-18
OUTDOOR
ADVENTURES
WWW.RSS.IS • +354 497 5000 • INFO@RSS.IS
USB CHARGING
IN EVERY SEAT
IN BUS
AUDIO GUIDE
PERSONAL
HOST
DAY TOURS
W E G U I D E I N 1 0 L A N G U A G E S
GREAT PRICES ON ALL THE BESTSELLING DAY TOURS
BOOK YOUR ADVENTURE NOW - AVALABLE ASSISTANCE 24/7
DAY TOURS
FROM 6.990 ISK
ICE CAVE
CLASSIC
GOLDEN
CIRCLE CLASSIC
RSS.is/GCC RSS.is/SCC RSS.is/ICC
SOUTH COAST
CLASSIC
PRICE FROM
28.990ISK
PRICE FROM
6.990ISK
PRICE FROM
9.990ISK
AVAILABILITY
EVERY DAY AT 08:00
AVAILABILITY
EVERY DAY AT 09:00
AVAILABILITY
FOUR TIMES DAILY
SUMMERSPECIAL
DISCOUNT
30%
UPTO
“Best company in Iceland”
Reviewed January 23, 2017