Iceland review - 2013, Qupperneq 5

4 From the editor
6 Culture Club
Books, films, music, art, photography, awards and more.
14 GoinG Solo
Vilborg Arna Gissurardóttir shares her experience of being
the 29th individual, ninth woman and first Icelander to walk
solo to the South Pole.
18 nurturinG Your own nature
Fida Abu Libdeh moved to Iceland from East Jerusalem at 16,
made her way through the Icelandic education system and now
runs a promising startup company.
20 the JÖr FaCtor
Already at 25, fashion designer Guðmundur Jörundsson has made
a name for himself in the Icelandic fashion industry. Now he’s
looking towards foreign markets.
24 her time iS up
After 35 years in parliament, Prime Minister of Iceland Jóhanna
Sigurðardóttir is stepping down. As Jóhanna looks back on her
career, the people who know her best reveal to Eygló Svala
Arnarsdóttir what she is like as a politician.
27 StaYinG alive
At the end of its four-year term, Minister of Industries Steingrímur
J. Sigfússon discusses with Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir the govern-
ment’s successes, disappointments and his concerns for the
future.
28 leaderS oF tomorrow
Meet the young leaders of Iceland’s largest political parties,
all striving for victory in the April 27 general election.
30 GlaCierS
Discover the elusive world of ice through Páll Stefánsson’s visit
to ice caves in Vatnajökull, Europe’s largest glacier.
38 oaSiS in the Snow
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir discovers how Iceland’s geothermal heat
and abundance of energy enables greenhouse farmers to grow
tomatoes, cucumbers and flowers year-round.
44 weSt FJordS waY oF liFe
Zoë Robert and photographer Áslaug Snorradóttir visit the vibrant
fishing village of Suðureyri.
47 inSpired bY ÍSaFJÖrður
Artist couple Nína Ivanova and Ómar Smári Kristinsson explain
why they decided to settle in the West Fjords’ capital.
49 ÍSaFJÖrður eSSentialS
Our picks of the best things to see, eat, buy and experience
when in Ísafjörður.
50 more truthFul hiStorY, pleaSe
Historian Guðni Th. Jóhannesson busts some resilient myths
about Icelandic Vikings and criticizes the (ab)use of history.
53 one daY in iCeland For onlY $12.50
Too good to be true… a tempting day trip in Iceland covered
in a 50-year-old issue of Iceland Review.
54 a tale oF two maCkerel
Feel your mouth water as you read these recipes inspired by
the latest immigrant to Icelandic waters.
56 water iS wet
Iceland Review takes a dip in five pools in North and East Iceland
in the middle of winter.
62 the lonG Sleep
Páll Stefánsson counts dead herring in Kolgrafafjörður.
66 in the draGon’S den
Zoë Robert investigates Iceland’s black gold rush.
68 FaCtS & FiGureS
Curious stats about a quaint nation and the island it calls home.
70 the Golden loop
Iceland’s most popular daytrip, the Golden Circle, is magical in
every season, as obvious in this ‘Special Promotion’.
80 laSt paGe
Páll Stefánsson finds himself alone in the world on a cold winter’s
morning as far away from the Republic’s capital as he could get.
ContentS
Iceland RevIew
atlantIca
ICELAND REVIEW 3