Atlantica - 01.09.2003, Qupperneq 44

Q&A
WHAT IS IT LIKE BEING A TELEVISION CELEBRITY IN
ICELAND?
TKÁ: It’s a small country. Everyone knows who
you are, but it’s not difficult. It is quite strange
though when everybody suddenly knows your
name and your face. I was brought up in Skógar
(south Iceland), which is a really small place and
I knew everybody and everybody knew me. I
think it’s kind of a nice feeling.
WHAT HAS BEEN THE BEST PLACE THAT YOU’VE VIS-
ITED ON YOUR SHOW?
MMR: Definitely Kulusuk, Greenland. I think
Greenland was the most surprising place. It was
a totally different experience. It was raw, and
the people there are very nice.
TKÁ: For me, Seydisfjördur, east Iceland. I was
working there on a movie last winter, too. It’s a
small place, but there’s so much culture – all
kinds of singers, actors and happenings all the
time. When we were there, they had a Chinese
singer in the church.
YOU HAVE TO SEND SOMEBODY INTO THE ICELANDIC
COUNTRYSIDE FOR 24 HOURS. WHERE DO YOU SEND
THEM?
MMR: I would send them to Ísafjördur (West
Fjords) to go on a kayak.
TKÁ: I would send them to Skógar to meet
Thórdur Tómasson in the old museum. He built
the museum there and he knows everything
about Iceland’s history and everything about our
folklore. He always sings for the tourists. He’s a
legend.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO SPOIL YOURSELF FOR A DAY?
TKÁ: I walk Keilir – a mountain on the Reykjanes
peninsula – and then go to the Blue Lagoon
after.
MMR: I go to a summerhouse, buy an ice cream
on the way, and on the way back, I go to Vid
Fjörubordid in Stokkseyri to have lobster.
WHAT IS REYKJAVÍK’S BEST-KEPT SECRET?
MMR: This is a big question. It’s such a small
town, so everybody knows everything. I think the
French hot dogs – with the hot dog inside the
bread - that they sell outside of the Laugardalur
swimming pool may be the best secret. You can
only get them there.
TKÁ: The asparagus baguette with ham and
cream cheese from the bakery
Bakarameistarinn Sudurveri near the Kringlan
shopping mall.
WHEN YOU GO TO THE FLEA MARKET KOLAPORTID
DOWNTOWN, WHAT DO YOU ALWAYS WALK AWAY
WITH?
TKÁ & MMR: Chocolate liquorice.
MMR: It’s a sure thing. You don’t leave without it.
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE NEIGHBOURHOOD IN
REYKJAVÍK?
TKÁ & MMR: 101!
TKÁ: You don’t have to drive anywhere in 101.
You can walk to the coffee shop, or to the store.
I’ve always lived in 101 when I’ve lived in
Reykjavík. There’s so much life here.
MMR: I like the Thingholt neighbourhood in 101
by the church. I used to live in the suburbs, and I
think it’s so relaxing to take the bus. You don’t
have to drive 20 minutes to go someplace.
COULD YOU EVER LIVE OUTSIDE REYKJAVÍK?
TKÁ: If I finish studying theology at the
University and become a priest, maybe I’ll move
somewhere in the country.
MMR: I don’t think I would like to move outside
of Reykjavík if I stay in Iceland. I grew up in a
city and I think I’ll always live in a city. I like hav-
ing people around me.
WHAT MAKES ICELAND SPECIAL?
MMR: I think it’s the air. When you are abroad,
and you come home, you are like (breathes in
deeply)…
TKÁ: You can breathe deep down into your
lungs. It’s refreshing.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING THAT YOU CAN GET IN
ICELAND THAT YOU CAN’T GET ANYWHERE ELSE IN
THE WORLD?
TKÁ & MMR: The water.
The Nitty-Gritty
LAMB OR FISH?
TKÁ: Lamb.
MMR: Lamb.
BJÖRK OR SIGUR RÓS?
TKÁ: Björk.
MMR: Sigur Rós.
NORTH ICELAND OR SOUTH ICELAND?
TKÁ: South.
MMR: North.
VÍKING OR THULE?
TKÁ: Thule.
MMR: Víking. When I drank beer in the old days
(Maríkó turned 22 in August), I always drank
Víking.
Krista Mahr is a freelance writer from California.
42 A T L A N T I C A
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Geared up with matching tracksuits and one big hand mike, the girl duo
of popular summer television series Hjartsláttur á ferd og flugi
(Heartbeat) takes Reykjavíkers around the country to get in touch with
the sights and the people of Iceland. Atlantica takes a whirlwind tour of
Iceland’s finest through the expert eyes of summer’s favourite flavours,
Thóra Karítas Árnadóttir and Maríkó Margrét Ragnarsdóttir.
42 A T L A N T I C AL I Q&A
The Atlantica
INQUISITION
031-042 I-siteE ATL 503-rm 19.8.2003 18:33 Page 42