The Icelandic Canadian - 01.12.1971, Blaðsíða 38

36
THE ICELANDIC CANADIAN
WINTER 1971
lection of two thirds of the com-
positions of his father, as well as the
latest recordings of fourteen songs by
the Male Voice Choir of Reykjavik.
The gift was in memory of his uncle
Gudmundur Stefansson.
On behalf of the charter flight
group Mr. Skuli Johannsson donated
50,000 kronur to the Slysarvarnarfelag
(National Life Saving Association).
Of the 150 on the flight, which is
the largest number to travel to Iceland
in a group since 1930, a few were over
80, two were 12 and 13, one colored,
Pastor Lynell Carter, one Englishman,
Mr. E. Evans.
Dr. P. H. T. Thorlakson was ac-
companied by his three grandsons,
Hartley and David Richardson and
Derek Thorlakson, who was 12. When
asked whether he could speak Ice-
landic his reply was “Svo litiS” (a
little). His grandfather would inter-
ject “I teach them three words a day
and they forget two”. While in Ice-
land Derek signed his name the Ice-
landic way borlaksson. Hartley and
David had an interview with the
Farmers Association regarding return-
ing to Iceland next summer to work
on a sheep or cattle farm during their
vacation. While in Iceland they read
“Njal’s Saga” and are reading Grettis-
saga” in English.
There were passengers on the plane
from Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Al-
berta, British Columbia, Ontario,
Quebec, Minnesota and California. A
couple from Edmonton, Mr. and Mrs.
Lome MacPherson, used the name
Mr. and Mrs. Larus Petursson when
signing guest books.
At a luncheon given by fru borunn
Kvaran, for a number of the visitors
from America, the main course was
salmon, garnished by tomatoes and
cucumbers. One of -the guests, Mr.
Jakob Kristjansson (Kobbi) came to
the table laden with all the delicious
food noticed that ithe head of the
salmon was still there so he was so
happy to select the succulent head,
eyes and all. One of the guests from
Reykjavik said to him, “I am glad to
see that one of the Western Icelanders
can appreciate the best part of the
salmon”.
On Monday, June 28th, the day
before the group was to leave Iceland,
it was interesting to meet people who
were busy doing last minute shopping
in downtown Reykjavik. Everyone
spoke Icelandic as a matter of course.
The general topic of conversation was
shopping for -the beautifully pattern-
ed Icelandic sweaters, j eiwalry, cer-
amics, books and pans to bake ponnu-
kokur (pancakes). All agreed (that the
hospitality was of the finest.
In a brochure about Iceland it is
stated that Iceland is a country of
contrasts; a land of frost and fire,
volcanoes and glaciers, waterfalls and
geysers, dark mountains and -the mid-
night sun. While it is the land of the
Vikings, it is a -modern land of in-
novations in art, science, industry,
social welfare and literature.
One is usually asked what the high-
light of a journey would be. To me,
it was to be present at -the celebration
on the 17th of June, Iceland’s In-
dependence Day, standing on Iceland-
ic soil, hearing -the Icelandic Natioal
Anthem “O, guS vors lands”” sung
by the Male Voice Choir of Reykja-
vik. It was a heart-warming, spine
tingling sensation.