Three Locations In the Center of Reykjavík

Þórarinn B. Þorláksson (1867–1924)

Uppstilling / Still Life with Apples and a Vase, 1924

Gunnlaugur Scheving (1904–1972)

Sumarnótt / Summer Night, 1959

Ásgrímur Jónsson (1876–1958)

Kvöld í Reykjavík / Evening in Reykjavík, 1916

Up until the late 20th century, Iceland was known as Europe’s Best Kept Secret. Only a few adventurers visited and were awed by its spectacular sights and beauty. Things changed as tourism developed worldwide and some people looked for something different from baking on burning beaches. What they discovered in Iceland, they spread like wildfire to countries as far apart as America and China. For Europeans, too, the flight was short and the experiences were life-changing!

In this issue, you will get an idea the nature, geological features, the culture, history and lives that formed this nation and makes it so attractive to visitors. Nothing in print will compare with an actual trip to see for yourself the beauty, the stark, rugged landscapes, the people that make up this country and the friendships that can be built.

When the Eyjafjallajökull volcano erupted and stopped air traffic for some time, it put Iceland firmly on the map. While other volcanos have erupted since then, there are so many more due to erupt and, if they do, they could change life in the northern hemisphere for years to come. So now is the time to take the opportunity to visit the country and experience it for yourself! From horse riding to caving, from boating amongst icebergs to enjoying a Réttir, or sheep round-up, from dining on mountain lamb to tasting shark meat, from seeing the Northern Lights dance across the sky in winter to watching the Midnight Sun in summer, this land is so diverse, you’ll be sharing it with friends for years to come. Welcome to the land of Iceland, that never stops surprising!

Einar Th. Thorsteinsson

Contents

PUBLISHER

PHOTOGRAPHY

Páll Stefánsson

Friðþjófur Helgason

Þorsteinn Ásgeirsson

WRITERS

Andrew Scott Fortune

Jenna Gottlieb

Hallur Hallsson

MANAGING EDITOR & GENERAL MANAGER

Einar Th. Thorsteinsson einar@icelandictimes.com

ENGLISH EDITOR

Andrew Scott Fortune

Helga Kjartansdóttir

Sigrún Pétursdóttir

Delphine Briois

Páll Stefánsson

Svava Jónsdóttir

Helga Dís Björgúlfsdóttir

TRANSLATIONS

Úna Jóhannsdóttir

SALES & MARKETING

Úna Jóhannsdóttir Una@icelandictimes.com

Einar Helgason einarhelgason@icelandictimes.com

WEBSITE

Vilhjálmur Langfeldt

FRONT COVER PHOTO

Páll Stefánsson

GRAPHIC DESIGN

Jacqueline Sanz

Icelandic is one of the European root languages, like Latin. There is no ‘c’ or ‘z’ in modern Icelandic, except in foreign words. However, it still contains some letters not found in most other languages. This basic list provides a general idea of their sounds, using familiar words rather than phonetics.

How to make use of