Iceland AMA

[Puffinshop]

I'm a naturalised Icelandic citizen, born and raised in England and living in the capital area of Iceland for over a decade. Fluent Icelandic speaker, mother of Icelandic children.

Can't offer a native Icelandic perspective but if you have any questions about Iceland please feel free

September maybe. I'd always recommend autumn over late winter, as long as you don't get into the stormy season.

It's incredibly safe if you respect the landscape and weather, never too hot and it's never that busy out in the countryside outside the main tourist spots. It's easy to get away from people, just go up a mountain.

how far would you have to go back to find a relative? I'm guessing any tow icelanders would find a common relative within 6-8 generations?

what is the public transport like? can you get to see wildlife, and mountains and things like that by public transport?

What an excellent AMA. Loving this.

What issues are there for teens in Iceland? Have you seen a change in mental health over the last decade?
How did the government manage Covid? What is the thing that everyone talks about? (Eg - Uk it’s the weather)

Love this thread! It's 9 years since we travelled around the ring road (and parts of the interior) and 19 years since my DH toured around with friends, so we will go again next year as we quite fancy seeing how it changes every 10 years!

We did that for new year. It was magical. They sing folk songs around the bonfire. Then get yourself up somewhere high so you can look down at all the fireworks.

Can I suggest watching the NYE fireworks from the Perlan - you can thank me later! 😁

I gather there aren’t really trees - do you miss them? I can’t quite imagine a life without trees around.

Thats it. I couldnt remember the name ;)

Great thread.

We’ve visited twice and loved it. However, when we visited in high summer there were hordes of tourists everywhere we visited (including us) except some of the more remote towns/villages we strayed to off the ring road. How do Icelanders feel about their tourist onslaught?

It's never 24 hour pitch dark. You always get a few hours of dusk even near the winter solstice. But it's pretty dark from November to January.

You just get through it. Some people struggle more than others. I go to bed later but sleep more and my kids definitely sleep more, not that they sleep badly in the light summers. It definitely fucks with your body clock.

I feel amazing in the spring, though, it's like coming back to life.

No, there are no midges in the city, at least not where I live. It can be horrible out in the countryside though!

Yes, the patronymic system is still used here. It's not complicated at all to remember who your family are or your genealogy. In fact Icelanders know more about their genealogy than most other nations. You can look up online exactly you are related to famous Vikings. It's all recorded back to the 10th century or so. Obviously I'm not, being a first generation immigrant, but DP and my children are.

Ah thats a great tip. Someone said to watch them at the church (not going to attempt to spell it) but Perlan would be a better city wide view I think.

Anyone any tips on where to go for a bonfire not too far to then walk to Perlan?

Well I'm English so we have things like shepherd's pie and everything I grew up with. A more Icelandic dinner would be fried haddock with remoulade or plokkfiskur - a kind of fish and potato stew.

I have always wanted to visit Iceland, but as a vegetarian assumed it would be hard to find things to eat. Is that the case?

Currently half way through our ring road trip and have spent half the evening in a hot tub overlooking the fjord at Hauganes. Loving it. The scenery and birdlife are captivating. Some places have had more people than others but there haven't been overwhelming crowds anywhere (and I'm a crowd hater). Does it get much more crowded layer in the summer?

I'm landing in Iceland tomorrow and have never been before. Going to 5 places.

What do you think is the best attraction to do?

Obviously not the OP but I found this for you if this is any help https://curioustravelbug.com/iceland-vegan-and-vegetarian-food-guide/

What do the Icelandic people think about whale hunting - for eg the culling of the fin whale (as highlighted on Spring Watch this week).

Do many people have a religion?

I did some old Norse at uni and have always wanted to visit Iceland!
Do you think there is less sexism/misogyny than in English speaking countries?

I think you'd be ok. We found we had to go out of the way to find Icelandic food in restaurants. I had the most delicious mushroom soup in the food hall in Selfoss, black crust pizza in Vik and more pizza in Hveragerdi and lots of choice in the food hall in Reykjavik. Might be different outside of the south though

Oh yeah definitely everyone would have common ancestors. I'm not sure what the average number of generations back would be for a random pair of Icelanders but since records go so far back you could always find something. 6-8 is probably a pretty good guess.

There are buses. I don't think they're that good but you can get to various places on the bus.

I ride my bike in town and drive out of town. I'd nearly always recommend tourists hire their own cars.

Do you get midges in the summer?