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Saturday, January 8, 2011

Velkominn!

See that tiny little flag?

I was waiting for this. Someone from Iceland visited my blog. I like that. (Hello out there!)

When I was a kid people would ask me what I wanted to be when I grew up. I said I didn't know. But I knew. Secretly, I wanted to be an Icelander. Not a doctor. Not a teacher. Not a firefighter. Not a cereal box author. Not a sandwich-artist. Not a foley artist either (but that would be cool). Not even a job apparently. I wanted to be an Icelander. Seriously.

Why you might ask? Well, I think my fascination began when I read about the country in my grandparents' National Geographic magazines and maybe that's how I discovered Iceland has 13 Santas. That's sort of a big deal for kid. But better than that, doesn't it just sound cool? Like a place where superheroes would train? Or at least vacation? (I read a lot of comics too.) Icleand still fascinates me for a variety of reasons:
  • Two words: fire and ice.
  • Two more words: active volcanoes. In fact, Iceland boasts the youngest place on Earth: one of its underwater volcanoes gave birth to an island in 1963. How many other countries make their own islands? (And islands of garbage don't count.)
  • They have names that freak my phonics like Hrafn and Eyjolfur and of course, Bjork who, btw, was way way waaaay before Lady Gaga.
  • They had the Cod War while the rest of the world just had the Cold War.
  • Despite it's name, it's warmer than England. 
  • Their police don't carry guns and according to The Geography of Bliss, Iceland is truly one of the happiest places on Earth.
  • They have no need, indeed no word, for please. But they certainly say thank you. See below
  • Chuck Norris was born there. (Yup. Completely fabricated. But that's how cool Iceland is.)
So to the person who visited my blog I must say: Velkominn!*

*If you accidentally found my blog by googling "creepy Christmas balloons" or perhaps "john wayne bahahaha" such as others have, let's just pretend it was intentional. Takk fyrir.

32 comments:

Debra She Who Seeks said...

I read once that lots of Icelanders shop in Newfoundland. They charter a plane once or twice a year, come over for a couple of days, shop like crazy and then go home. Apparently it's cheaper than going to England or Europe or having the merchandise shipped to Iceland.

Alittlesprite said...

I always wanted to be a volcanologist. Iceland sounds way cool.

Artist and Geek said...

dbs-in some ways one needs to listen to the inner child.
How cool is Iceland? 100% literacy rate and the highest publication numbers per capita in the world. (with a population of just half a million or so?) Awesome!

michael.offworld said...

Yes. It is a cool country. Viking women, beer, fish, the landscape (I'd love a good soak in a natural hot pool right now), and if there's ever a big war, I can't think of a safer place to be except maybe New Zealand. I'm sure I read a novel about that when I was in high school.

I wish it was cheaper to get there. Viking women aside, it would be a great place for a family vacation.

DB Stewart said...

@DSWS I know they have a real connection to Newfoundland via Erik the Red so, despite the distance, it makes sense.
@Alittlesprite I agree.
@A&G Thanks for the great data. And I agree--the inner child can be quite insightful (even if he thought there was a monster under his bed most nights).
@Michael In some ways it rouses my concept of New Zealand too. Maybe Lord of the Rings should have been filmed in Iceland instead (with Viking women).

SherilinR said...

those names are all kinds of jacked up when i try to say them.

ColleenQ said...

Two words: Sigur Rós! (which is actually the only Icelandic thing I know).

Mrs. Tuna said...

Sorry, it still sounds cold to me, but then so does England.

Sandra said...

Well then it might interest you to know that Manitoba has an Icelandic community complete with drunken summer festival, in Gimli.
I'm very impressed: you actually did research before you wrote a post. You're good...I don't even google 'dictionary.com' when I can't spell a word.

Unknown said...

I loved reading all of those Iceland facts! Going to talk to my travel agent about visiting there PRONTO. Kidding. Or maybe I'm not. I'll decide tomorrow.

On another note, I'm so glad you stopped by my silly blog & participated in the Mr. Roger's discussion!

DB Stewart said...

@SherilinR I know. It's awesome, isn't it?
@ColleenQ. I'm afraid to ask what that means!
@MrsTuna I'm a Canadian, that's why I forget that places are cold.
@Sandra I knew about "New Iceland" in Manitoba but I did not know about the drunken festival. It doesn't surprise me though since every culture seems to have an annual drunken festival of some sort. Mine would be Hogmanay. As for research, thank you, but Artist & Geek is way better at it than I am. I wish I could hire him.
@Kelley I understand your indecision. Maybe you should just go to Manitoba (see Sandra's comment).

Fran Hill said...

Above all else, it would be so satisfying to live in a place called Iceland which was warmer than England. I like that.

Sultan said...

Ok I am sold. I want to go to Iceland now.

Unknown said...

Hi dbs, I thought you might like this post I made. Couldn't agree more about Iceland. It is a truly magical place.

http://e-clecticism.blogspot.com/2010/08/inspired-by-iceland.html

Nicole Leigh Shaw said...

I like saying "Icelandic" aloud. Deeply inspirational? Not much. But it's still fun to say.

Artist and Geek said...

dbs-thanks for the promotion. Man, that was fast. Only in blogoland.:)

Didya know that in Ireland, where names are easier to pronounce, artists and writers enjoy tax exemptions? I remember weird stuff...

You see? WV was "bable"!

Artist and Geek said...

P.S. dbs-Iceland should hire you for its tourism promotion, cause we're all going.

DB Stewart said...

@Fran I do too.
@LoC It could be a real adventure.
@jono That was such a gift. Thank you very much!
@Nicole The trick is to say it like you are about to take flight.
@A&G That's why I love Ireland too. Speaking of loving Ireland, have you heard of the Giant's Causeway? (I remember weird stuff too.) Did you watch Jono's video? Everyone says Iceland is expensive but who cares after that clip?

Artist and Geek said...

dbs-thanks. And thanks Jono. Fun! Stayed away from the "Wailing" videos :(.
Yeah, Iceland just moved up on my list. Don't they get most of their Energy needs from geothermal? Sigh. Check. Yup.

Giant's Causeway. Click. Jump. Ah, yes. The "giant fossil tree stump forest." (It's not, but I used to think it was.)Thanks.

Chelle said...

Every time I glance at the title of this entry on my blogroll, it reads, "Velcromint" in my brain.

Just saying.

Unknown said...

@dbs and @a&g, you're both welcome. Glad you enjoyed it.

BTW, if you want to talk about Ireland, I can do that too. I did live there for fifteen years. :-)

Go raibh míle maith agat, agus maidin mhaith!

Unknown said...

I was always fascinated by how they named Iceland and Greenland. And I love Bjork. And now I have so many more reasons to love Iceland. Thank you dbs...

Didactic Pirate said...

See, this is why I come here. I learn something new from you every day.

DB Stewart said...

@Chelle It's because you are the master of unusual titles. Your brain just goes there.
@jono I want your life.
@paul Yeah, "Greenland"...that's messed up.
@DP Thanks but I defer to you. That's why I gave you the Got Guide Blog award.

Unknown said...

I wouldn't say messed up, just tricky stuff. If you don't want someone somewhere, just say it's frigid death. :)

t i m said...

sold. "i want to go to there", plus its not too far from the UK where I reside come to think of it.

I go everywhre via triabn since I'm not a flier, but I've a sneaky suspicion trains don't go that far, I shall certainly investigate.

DB Stewart said...

@paul "frigid death" is now my code-phrase for where I currently live.
@tim You should definitely go but as for a train, uh...maybe just listen to "Hey Soul Sister" as you fly there.

Mrs4444 said...

"cereal box author" LOL!! I hope you get to visit one day :)

Al Penwasser said...

I lived in Iceland from June 2003 to January 2005, so finding this was a real treat. I loved Iceland. It had a stark beauty that took my breath away. I would love to visit again.

DB Stewart said...

@Mrs 4444 I hope so too.
@AP *jealous face*

Al Penwasser said...

In fact, you've inspired me to post an essay I wrote for Navy Times several years ago. It dealt with Iceland. Incidentally, I worked with a Canadian officer while there. Among other things, he invited me to his house for Canadian Thanksgiving (having Thanksgiving in October always made much more sense then trying to eat outside. In Massachusetts. In November).
Oh, yeah, he let me eat.

Al Penwasser said...

@paulsifer42: Erik the Red called the island he discovered "Greenland." One of the world's first real-estate sharks, he wanted to entice people to settle on his new island so he could be the "big cheese." Didn't really work out all that well. But, it worked out better than his son trying to establish a colony in North America. Apparently, the locals-what they called 'Skrellings'-didn't like the Vikings. They were apparently Packers fans.

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