Reykjavík Grapevine - des. 2020, Blaðsíða 4

Reykjavík Grapevine - des. 2020, Blaðsíða 4
What Are Icelanders Talkin! About? The topics that are !ettin! people banned from the comments Words: Andie Sophia Fontaine Photos: Adobe Stock, 'Highlander' You can always tell when a particular issue in Iceland is really getting people talking when their Facebook profile photo frames start changing. One of the biggest topics being argued about right now is the proposed High- lands National Park. On the one hand, it seems like a good idea to preserve one of Europe’s largest last known wilderness areas. On the other hand, the idea has been met with concerted pushback from rural municipalities and tourism industry workers, amongst others, both of whom believe the park would encroach upon small towns and small businesses alike. While the Minister for the Environ- ment has tried to smooth things over, Parliamentary President and historic firebrand Steingrímur J. Sigfússon characterised the critics as a “whining minority” trying to get their way. And that’s why a good portion of your Icelandic friends now have Facebook profile frames which read either “I support the Highlands National Park” or “I am the whining minority”. Much like the rest of the year, coronavirus continues to be a hot topic, with one particular flash- point flaring up between swim- ming pools and gyms. Earlier this month, the Ministry of Health allowed for the relaxation of some pandemic restrictions, which included the re-opening of swimming pools—arguably more important to Icelanders than opening pubs. However, gyms remain closed, as they have been since October. Gym owners have been decidedly upset about the matter and have even threatened to sue the state over the closures. Meanwhile, public broadcast- ing service RÚV reached out to a literal chemistry professor to ask whether chlorinated water, such as that found in pools, kills the virus (it does) by way of explanation as to why one would be open but not the other. When the gyms will open again is as yet undetermined. In more optimistic coronavirus news, it looks like a vaccine will be here soon. After making a deal with Pfizer, one of the producers of a coronavirus vaccine, the Minister of Health announced that vacci- nations could begin around New Year’s eve. Some 170,000 doses will be made available over this period of time, which should be enough to cover 85,000 people—not too shabby for a country of 350,000. Those being prioritised include frontline health care workers, and individuals with conditions that make them especially vulner- able to the virus. But do Iceland- ers even want to be vaccinated against coronavirus? Turns out: yes, pretty much all of them, according to the most recent poll on the matter, which showed some 92% say they either will definitely or probably take it. 4The Reykjavík Grapevine Issue 10— 2020First NEWS You're not important enough to microchip Published by Fröken ehf. Hafnarstræti 15, 101 Reykjavík www.grapevine.is grapevine@grapevine.is Member of the Icelandic Travel Industry Association www.saf.is Printed by Landsprent ehf. in 20,000 copies. PUBLISHER Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson hilmar@grapevine.is +354 540 3601 publisher@grapevine.is EDITOR!IN!CHIEF Valur Grettisson valur@grapevine.is NEWS EDITOR Andie Sophia Fontaine andie@grapevine.is CULTURE EDITOR Hannah Jane Cohen hannah@grapevine.is PHOTO EDITOR Art Bicnick art@grapevine.is LISTINGS DIRECTOR Hannah Jane Cohen listings@grapevine.is ART DIRECTOR Sveinbjörn Pálsson sveinbjorn@grapevine.is COPY EDITOR Catharine Fulton INTERN Iona Rangeley-Wilson iona@grapevine.is Jess Distill jess@grapevine.is Megan Massey megan@grapevine.is CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Ciaran Daly Shruthi Basappa PHOTOGRAPHERS OKAY KAYA SALES DIRECTORS A"alsteinn Jörundsson adalsteinn@grapevine.is Helgi #ór Har"arson helgi@grapevine.is CONTACT US: —» Editorial +354 540 3600 editor@grapevine.is —» Advertising 354 540 3605 ads@grapevine.is —» Distribution & Subscriptions +354 540 3604 distribution@ grapevine.is —» Press releases listings@grapevine.is —» General Inquiries grapevine@grapevine.is FOUNDERS Hilmar Steinn Grétarsson, Hör"ur Kristbjörnsson, Jón Trausti Sigur"arson, Oddur Óskar Kjartansson, Valur Gunnarsson The Reykjavík Grapevine is published 21 times a year by Fröken ltd. Monthly from December through February, and fortnightly from March til October. Nothing in this magazine may be reproduced in whole or in part without the written permission of the publishers. The Reykjavík Grapevine is distributed around Reykjavík, Akureyri, Egilssta!ir, Sey!isfjör!ur, Borgarnes, Keflavík, Ísafjör!ur and at key locations along road #1, and all major tourist attractions and tourist information centres in the country. You may not like it, but at least it's not sponsored (no articles in the Reykjavík Grapevine are pay-for articles. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own, not the advertisers’). Highlander at a protest, yesterday STARTERS Icelandic landscape Lamb tartar, pickled red onions, smoked cream cheese, dill oil, vinegar snow Cured salmon Fennel cream, dill mayo, raspberries, roe and rye bread Deer tataki Pickled red onions, enoki mushrooms, crispy Jerusalem artichokes, tru!e & yuzu mayo Pan-fried giant scallops Pine tree, green pea purée, beurre noisette MAIN COURSES Duck breast Celery purée, apples, pickled fennel and cherry sauce Grilled beef tenderloin Roasted carrots with pistachios, artichoke&white chocolate purée and Christmas beer hollandaise CHRISTMAS DESSERT Cristmas “ball” Salted caramel white chocolate mousse, apple and ginger filling, spice crumble CHRISTMAS MENU 9.900 kr. APOTEK KITCHEN+BAR Austurstræti 16 101 Reykjavík 7 COURSE Book your table at apotek.is

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