This is the first response episode for my new segment “Ask Jewells Anything About Iceland”. Thank you to everyone who sent in questions and if you would like to submit a question, you can do it here.
Questions sent in from the listeners of the All Things Iceland Podcast
1. Can you please discuss some of the history of Ravens in Iceland. I was delighted to hear about some mischievous Ravens by Jökulsárlón Glacier Lagoon, who were working in tandem to collect and confiscate tourist's goods. Do we know when they arrived in Iceland and how has their presence impacted Icelandic culture?
There are several stories relating to Iceland that involve ravens. The first that pops into my mind has to do with Óðinn, the Norse God, that had two Ravens. They were named Huginn (thought) and Muninn (memory or mind). They flew around the world (Midgard) and brough back information to Óðinn. Because Norse people settled in Iceland, the belief and worship of Óðinn came with them.
Another story that comes to mind is of Hrafna-Flóki. He was a Norse Viking that is said to have given Iceland its name. He didn’t stay in Iceland because he encountered a very harsh winter where he almost didn’t survive. However, before he left he went on top of a mountain in the fjord and saw that the fjord was packed with ice. Due to that, he called this place the land of ice or “Iceland”.
2. Hello. We are taking a cruise out of Reykjavik with NCL and looking to arrive a few days early to explore. We will be renting a car with Go Car Rental and wanted to know the best way to get from their Reykjavik office to the cruise port in September upon our rental return? The cruise port is Skarfabakki. Thank you for your input!
The easiest way to get from Go Car Rental Iceland‘s Skógarhlíð location in Reykjavík to Skarfabakki is to take a taxi. It is about 9 minutes by car, so it will not be very expensive. The name of a taxi company to use is Hreyfill.
3. If there was only one beautiful place in Iceland you could visit which one would it be?
This is such a tough question. I know that only one place was requested but I will provide two. One is more remote and that is Eldgjá in the Icelandic highlands. The other is the Westman Islands, which is much easier to access. To learn about all of the places I enjoy around the country, including hidden gems, check out My Iceland Map.
4. Thank you for your informative entertaining podcast. Do you need to drive in order to fully enjoy Iceland? I'm a passenger princess and don't know how I would get around if I don't come with someone who drives.
You can definitely be a passenger princess and still see Iceland. I suggest taking tours that are for small groups. It is more intimate than the big buses and you see as much of the country as you want. On this website you can find many day tour and multi-day tour options.
5. How do people in Iceland view the political climate in the US???
The answer to this can be long because it involves so many layers. In short, the Icelanders I have spoken to have often been confused about what is happening politically in the US. Not that they don’t understand how the system operates but wondering why it is allowed to be the way it is. An example is that politics in the US is dominated by two parties. There is also a lot of extremism and it seems that politicians often want to pass laws or vote for laws that undermine the safety and rights of their constituents.
6. Can you please slow down and maybe even spell out that names of places you mention in your podcast? It’s a wonderful podcast but it is so difficult to understand Icelandic names without seeing them in print (and even then it’s difficult)!
I totally understand that it can be hard to listen to the podcast and not understand how to spell the words I am saying in Icelandic. One of the reasons I write a lot of notes here on my website is so that you can reference it to see what the words look like that I talk about in the episode.
7. What wildlife can I expect to see on a trip to Iceland, and where can I find them?
This list of where to find animals in Iceland is specifically for during the summer months (May – September in most cases).
- Icelandic sheep – roaming around in the countryside everywhere
- Icelandic horses – grazing in fields or on a horseback riding trip
- Icelandic cows – grazing in fields
- Goats – grazing in fields (not many of them)
- Whales – on a tour out at sea
- Reindeer in the east (roaming free)
- Puffins – Látrabjarg, Grímsey, Dyrhólaey, Westman Islands, Borgarfjörður Eystri in East Iceland, off the shore in a boat in Reykjavík.
- Seals (They live all around Iceland, but the best places to spot them are the Westfjords, the Vatnsnes Peninsular, the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, and the Jokulsarlon glacier lagoon, Hvammstangi
- Mink – probably will not see them
- Rodent – in the countryside
- Orcas – out at sea
- Porpoise – out at sea
- Icelandic sheep dog – at a farm working hard
- Arctic fox – at the Arctic Fox center in the Westfjords, Hornstrandir in the Westfjords, and sometimes roaming around
- Puffins – Borgarfjörður Eystri in East Iceland, Látrabjarg in the Westfjords, off the shore in a boat in Reykjavík, Dyrhólaey,
8. What are some “hidden gem” spots on the South Coast of Iceland?
It is getting tougher to have hidden gems on the south coast but here are three:
- Nauthúsagil
- Gluggafoss
- The path beyond the steps at Skógafoss waterfall. When you go that path in the summer you can see multiple waterfalls and hardly any people. This is a highland path but you don’t need to take it all the way into the highlands to enjoy.
9. How difficult is finding food in Iceland for people with dietary restrictions? (ex. Gluten or Dairy-Free)
Thankfully, it is not difficult. All the food markets have food like this, such as Krónan, Bónus, Hagkaup, and Nettó. Most restaurants have at least one option, if not multiple options on their menus.
10. I will be in Akureyri with my family in June on Independence Day. What can we expect to see for festivities?
The National Day of Iceland which is on June 17th is very important celebration for the people of Akureyri and everyone around the country. The town is decorated with flags and a full celebratory program. Here is a link to the 2023 program to give you an idea of what to expect.
There will be a parade, concerts, games, performances, and lots of food. I hope you and your family have a lovely time.
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