Iceland review - 2016, Side 4

2 ICELAND REVIEW
Geothermal Baths
A unique contact with nature - come enjoy a steam bath
on top of a hot spring and afterwards relax
in the open air geothermal baths.
Local Kitchen with our popular country style lunch
and dinner buffet available daily.
Experience our Geothermal Bakery, every day
at 11:30, 13:00 and 14:30. Welcome!
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Þingvellir
Gullfoss
Geysir
Kerið
Reykjavík
Mosfellsbær
Selfoss
Akranes
Skálholt
Flúðir
Hveragerði
We’re only one hour from Reykjavik and in the
middle of the Golden Circle. Make sure to
upgrade your excursion to include a visit to us.
Geothermal Baths - Natural Steam Baths
Local Kitchen - Geothermal Bakery
Open daily 11:00 - 21:00, extended hours summertime
TEL: +354 486 1400 • www.fontana.is
Completing the Golden Circle
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4 FROM THE EDITOR
6 LITTLE TALKS AT SOLSTICE
Snapshots from the Secret Solstice music festival, held
during the longest days of the year.
8 BIG SUMMER BREAK
A short guide to the biggest Verslunarmannahelgi
celebrations, Iceland’s legendary festival weekend.
10 CULTURAL CURIOSITIES
Reviews of three recent book, music and film releases.
12 PATTERNS OF ICELAND
From the coils of mooring ropes to the rough outlines of
lava, household product design label Gola & Glóra reflects
Icelandic nature and seafaring culture.
14 FINDING HER VOICE
Iceland Review speaks to up-and-coming musician Soffía
Björg Óðinsdóttir about her original sound and growing up
in the countryside with seven siblings.
18 NEWS ROUNDUP
From further Panama Papers scandals to the possible end
of the Icelandic naming system, here are the biggest and
quirkiest news stories of May and June.
20 REWARDED FOR REPLAY
Ragnar Kjartansson, whose multi-channel video work
The Visitors is wowing the world, was named the Honorary
Artist of Reykjavík, 2016.
22 AROUND MIDNIGHT
During his favorite time of year, Páll Stefánsson crisscrosses
the country to catch landscape shots in the unique light of
the Icelandic summer night.
32 THE ACCIDENTAL PRESIDENCY
Guðni Th. Jóhannesson is the new President of Iceland.
Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir follows him on the campaign trail
days before the June 25 election.
38 FOR THE LOVE OF LOCAL
Zoë Robert and Áslaug Snorradóttir take a trip to
Vestmannaeyjar to check out the menu of the popular
restaurant Slippurinn, serving some of the best Nordic
cuisine has to offer.
44 UNDER THE RAINBOW
The students of Fellaskóli in Reykjavík speak a total of
25 languages and represent what is possibly the most
multicultural junior and secondary school in the country.
50 VIEW FROM THE TOP
Ragnar Th. Sigurðsson talks about his 40-year nature
photography career and presents some of his most stunning
drone shots.
56 CLASH OF CLANS
Örlygsstaðabardagi, at the height of the Age of the
Sturlungs in 1238, was the largest battle in Icelandic history,
where some of the country’s leading chieftains were slain.
60 THE CONSERVATIONIST
Artist Halla Gunnarsdóttir explains to Elliott Brandsma
how wildlife conservation can be promoted through visual
storytelling.
64 DOTING ON GOATS
Vala Hafstað visits Háafell, Iceland’s largest goat breeding
farm by far, and asks Jóhanna Þorvaldsdóttir about her
efforts to save the Icelandic goat from extinction.
68 DEDICATED TO DANCE
Artistic director of the San Fransisco Ballet, Helgi
Tómasson, returns to Iceland to have his ballet perform
at the Reykjavík Arts Festival. Here, he discusses his
passion for the art form.
72 OF PISTOLS, PRIORITIES AND
PROTECTING THE PUBLIC
Zoë Robert quizzes Haraldur Johannessen, National
Commissioner of the Icelandic Police, about the tasks
and troubles of the force and whether arming the police
is a good idea.
78 DYSTOPIAN VISION
What happens to a country overrun by tourists, Halldór
Lárusson asks.
84 COMPANIES BUILDING COMPANIES
Rachel Mercer checks out business accelerator Startup
Reykjavík and learns about some of its success stories.
86 AMEN
Páll Stefánsson goes on a pilgrimage to different
countryside churches.
92 FAIRY TALE (SO FAR)
The Icelandic national team in men’s football made
history when it qualified for the 2016 UEFA European
Championship—and then went on to make it to the last
16.
96 ONE, OH, ONE
Going door-to-door in 101 Reykjavík.
97 SUPPLEMENT – ADVENTURES IN
ICELAND
Learn all about action-packed tours on this sub-Arctic
island.
111 SUPPLEMENT – REYKJANES,
GEOLOGICAL WONDERLAND
From moss-covered lava landscapes and seething hot
springs, to friendly fishing towns, education centers and
an array of hotels… Look no further.
125 SUPPLEMENT – CLASSIC AND QUIRKY
COLLECTIONS
A guide to Iceland’s diverse museums, showcasing
everything from local heritage and natural history to
popular music and contemporary art.
144 – LAST PAGE
An Iceland football fan poses in front of the giant-sized
picture of one of our Euro 2016 heroes.

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