Reykjavík Grapevine - 02.08.2019, Blaðsíða 49

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CULTURE HILL
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Culture Hill
Culture Hill is part of Kópavogur municipality
Welcome to Culture Hill, the easy way to experience culture and nature all in one stop. The hill includes six unique cultural
attractions, all conveniently located within walking distance from the Hamraborg bus stop. Enjoy the spectacular views
and architecture at Kópavogskirkja church. Dive into nature at the Natural History Museum, fill your senses with contem-
porary art at the Gerðarsafn Art Museum and find a comfy spot to relax at the public library. Indulge in a refreshing soak,
steam or slide at Kópavogur Swimming Pool. Afterwards, grab a delicious bite from the finest ingredients at Pure Deli.
Check out the programme at the specially designed Salurinn Concert Hall.
SÆTA SVÍNIÐ // Hafnarstræti 1–3 / Tel. 555 2900 / saetasvinid.isOpen 11:30–23:30
ICELANDIC GASTROPUB
HAPPY HOUR
DRINKS & SMALL PLATES
15–18 EVERY DAY
All cocktails, beer on tap
and house wine by glass
– HALF PRICE!
STOP BY FOR THE HAPPIEST HAPPY HOUR IN TOWN ...
We also offer two small courses
on Happy Hour price!
remove the whales. On Gamlaey-
ri, though, “the sand will bury
the whales,” Arilíus says. “Na-
ture.”
Anthroposcenic
hypotheses
A colleague comments that the
scene at Gamlaeyri is “anthropo-
scenic,” riffing on the proposed
geologic epoch of the Anthropo-
cene, where evidence of humans
as a geologic force is now evi-
dent worldwide. Several hypoth-
eses for mass strandings involve
man-made causes, including
Persistent Organic Pollutants,
and increased mackerel abun-
dance due to climate change.
Anthroposcenic tourism is
gr uesome tourism. Disaster
tourism.
Hvalreki
The idiom for “w indfal l” in
Icelandic is “hvalreki,” which
translates as “whale drift.” In
prev ious cent uries, beached
w h a l e s pr ov i d e d fo o d a n d
other necessities for Iceland’s
inhabitants. Due to high levels
of mercury and PCBs in blubber,
pilot whales no longer prove as
health-sustaining for humans as
they had earlier in the country’s
history.
Sti l l, in Icelandic law, the
discovery of a beached whale on
one’s property gives the land-
owner the right to decide what
to do with the whale. The night
before, Þorgrímur received the
proposition from a jewellery
maker to purchase the teeth
of the whales. Today, he uses a
hacksaw, hammer, and crowbar
to remove the jaws of several
whales.
The f light club leaves. We
obser ve, and then leave the
landowner to finish his grim
business.
Each pilot whale has a grey
patch along its throat, shaped
like an anchor. The whales re-
main.
Some of us came to witness.
S o m e t o m o u r n . S o m e t o
document and report. Some to
collect hvalreki. All leave with
death indelibly printed on the
mind.
Stóra Hraun, close to the incident
Snæfellsjökull in the distance
Meeting a puppy at the farm