Iceland Archives - All Things Iceland

12 Things That Suprise First Time Visitors to Iceland

Jewells Chambers — Fri, 03 Dec 2021 15:49:39 +0000

Visiting Iceland for the first time is such an amazing adventure, but it also comes with some surprising experiences. In this podcast episode, I point out 12 things that shock first timer visitors to the country. While this will help to manage your expectations, it doesn’t mean that you won’t have some type of reaction to one or more of these things when you encounter them.

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Iceland for First-Timers Video

The 12 Things That Surprise First Timers Discussed in the Podcast Episode

The money in Iceland
Cost of alcohol and food
Icelander’s ability to speak English
Trees in Iceland exist!
Roundabouts are different here
Smell of rotten eggs coming from the hot water
Fly net for summer
One lane bridges
One lane tunnels
Using cards primarily for payment everywhere you go
Showering naked at the local swimming pools
Feels like you are on another planet

Icelandic word of the episode

Koma á óvart – surprise

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Icelandic Geologist Explains Why A Volcano Might Erupt Soon

Jewells Chambers — Sat, 13 Mar 2021 22:20:46 +0000

Ari Trausti Guðmundsson is a well-known Icelandic geologist, broadcaster, author, journalist, documentarian, lecturer, mountaineer and member of Icelandic Parliament.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him for the podcast about the thousands of earthquakes and possible volcanic eruption. He answered as many questions of my subscribers and followers that he could and I’m so gratfeful for that.

Topics Discussed with the Icelandic Geologist Ari Trausti Guðmundsson

Current predictions based on data
Movement of magma in the Reykjanes Peninsula
How is the lava flow predicted? How accurate are the predictions
Possible Gas released from the eruption
The Scale of this possible eruptions vs other eruptions in Iceland
What type of equipment is used to measure volcanoes?
Are interferograms used for measurement?
Could an eruption happen somewhere else in Iceland?
Iceland is being ripped apart
Could an eruption in Iceland impact electricity and hot water?
Are earthquakes in other parts of the world connected to the ones in Iceland?
Meaning of swarms of earthquakes vs a Big earthquake
Why tremors happen?
Would you be disappointed if an eruption doesn’t happen?
How do Icelanders deal with air pollution from volcanic eruptions?
The global impact of a large volcanic eruption in Iceland
Is Iceland overdue for a volcanic eruption?
Popular misconceptions about volcanoes
Does the weather/climate impact volcano eruptions and vice versa
Has living in a place with possible eruptions affected your outlook on life?
What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?
What to do if the volcano does erupt on Reykjanes Peninsula?

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Join The All Things Iceland Patreon Community

Some of you might be aware that one of my goals for the podcast is to travel around Iceland more to interview different people in each region. In July, I set up the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. It’s a membership platform that was founded in 2013. It allows for creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you in exchange for a monthly subscription.

Each month I am doing Ask Me Anything videos, Live Chats, and Folklore Friday each week. Sometimes I do updates about my life in Iceland. I do not share this content on any other channel. The support from my patrons on the All Things Iceland community on Patreon will help to evolve All Things Iceland. There are several membership tiers to choose from and each tier has a variety of benefits.

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here’s where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Icelandic Geologist Explains Why A Volcano Might Erupt Soon appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Thousands of Earthquakes & Bracing for a Volcanic Eruption

Jewells Chambers — Sat, 06 Mar 2021 17:13:48 +0000

Over the last week and a half, the south of Iceland has experienced tens of thousands of earthquakes and experts told us to brace for a possible volcanic eruption. All eyes are still on Reykjanes Peninsula, the place where all the action might go down. Mainstream media in other countries have picked up the story, which has resulted in people reaching out to me to know if I am safe and to hear what life is like in Iceland as we wait to see if a volcano will go off. During this episode, I’m sharing how I feel about the situation, if we are in any danger in Iceland, what experts are saying and more.

I am not an expert in Geology or Volcanology, but I hope to have one of them on soon to talk about the situation, especially if the threat of a volcano erupting continues.

In a previous episode, I interviewed Helga Kristín, a geologist and volcano expert. She shared why Iceland is so unique from a geological standpoint. If you haven’t heard that interview, I recommend checking it out.

When Did the Earthquakes in Iceland Begin?

On Wednesday, February 24th is when we started to feel earthquakes in the south. That day we experienced an earthquake that was the magnitude of 5.7. I remember this clearly because I took a short video of it and posted it in my Instagram stories. From that day on, we started to feel earthquakes consistently but not very many of them at once. Because I live in Mosfellsbær, which is about a 15 minute drive from downtown Reykjavík, I don’t feel the earthquakes as strongly as those in the city and definitely not as strongly as people living on the Reykjanes Peninsula. It was only early this week that the frequency of earthquakes increased.

When many thousands of them started happening in a very short period of time and there was magma build up, experts started to predict that we could have a volcanic eruption. One prediction was that it could happen within a few hours. However, that didn’t happen. The seismic activity has died down but that doesn’t mean this over. Right now we are just waiting to see what else the earth communicates to us.

About the Reykjanes Peninsula

For most people, their best reference regarding the Reykjanes Peninsula is that the iconic Blue Lagoon spa is located there. Keflavík International airport is also located on this peninsula. It’s about a 40 to 50 minute drive from the airport to Reykavík. The fascinating thing to me is that this peninsula is so underrated. The diverse landscape and nature is insanely beautiful there. You can find black sand beaches, an area that looks like the highlands, geothermal hot springs and so much more. I feel like it is almost hidden in plain sight because hundreds of thousands of visitors to Iceland arrive at the airport and/or visit the Blue Lagoon and then skip the rest of the peninsula.

How are people feeling? Are people living in Iceland safe?

The feelings of people in Iceland are mixed. Some are feeling very anxious because of the earthquakes and others are feeling excited about the prospect of an eruption. Of course, there are probably some people who don’t care at all. It’s important to know that Icelandic buildings have been made to withstand large earthquakes, so that is something we don’t need to worry about.

I’m in the group of people that are excited about all of this. Geological experts and other authorities have made it clear that we are not in any danger and they are doing their best to keep us all informed. Because of that, I feel comfortable being excited about possibly experiencing my first volcanic eruption.

5 Possible Scenarios if the Volcano Were to Erupt

Below are the possible scenarios that have been outlined by experts. It is an excerpt from an Iceland Review article:

The seismic unrest will die down in the next few days or weeks.
If the seismic unrest will pick up, culminating in an earthquake up to M6 originating close to Fagradalsfjall.
The seismic unrest will pick up, culminating in an earthquake up to M6.5 originating close to Brennisteinsfjöll.
The magma intrusion continues close to Fagradalsfjall but the activity dies down and the magma solidifies.
The magma intrusion continues, culminating in a fissure eruption and lava flow that will likely not threaten inhabited areas.

The fifth scenario essentially means a volcanic eruption. However, scientists predict that even a medium-sized lava flow would not impact people because it would not reach inhabited areas.

Here you can see a live stream of the area where the earthquakes are coming from and the volcano might erupt.

What if people need to evacuate because of a volcanic eruption in Iceland?

The authorities have evacuation plans for major catastrophic events, such as a big eruption. For the most part, the instructions change depending on the region and circumstances of the event. Here is a great article from The Reykjavík Grapevine about evacuation plans that the Icelandic government has set up.

Random Fact of the Episode

There have been some other earthquakes felt recently from the area where Eyjafjallajökull is located. There are many active volcanoes in Iceland so it isn’t abnormal that this would happen but it does make for quite an interesting experience for all of us living here.

Icelandic Word of the episode

There is a running joke in Iceland that it will be so much fun to hear foreign media people try to pronounce the name of the volcano that might go off. It’s name is Þráinnsskjaldarhraun! During this episode, I teach you how to pronounce Þráinnsskjaldarhraun volcano.

Þráinn – the name of a person, potentially a character in Njáls Saga

Skjaldar – shield/armor

Hraun – lava

Join The All Things Iceland Patreon Community

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Thousands of Earthquakes & Bracing for a Volcanic Eruption appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir – Iceland’s Youngest Female Minister of Justice

Jewells Chambers — Thu, 28 Jan 2021 13:56:56 +0000

It was such a pleasant surprise to have Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir, the Minister of Justice in Iceland, as my guest this week. She leads quite a busy life as a Parliamentarian and Minister, and it was great she was able to find time to chat.

During the interview, Áslaug Arna shares the positives and negatives of being in this position of power at such a young age and as a woman. Some of the other topics we talk about are the events that led up to her becoming the Minister of Justice, gender based discrimination in the workplace (including within Parliament), about refugees seeking asylum in Iceland, and more. I gained so much insight into Iceland through this episode and I’m excited to share this interview with you.

GIVEAWAY – Enter to Win One of Andri Snær’s Books!!

I’m giving away three of Andri Snær’s books, which are below.

To enter win one of the books, all you have to do is leave a positive review for the All Things Iceland podcast (you can use this link to easily do it), take a screenshot of your review, and send that screenshot to me in an email at jewells(at)fromforeigntofamiliar(dot)com. If you have already left a review for the podcast, please just send me a screenshot of that review.

The Questions I asked Áslaug Arna During the Interview

Can you talk a bit about your experience in the police force?

It seems that you started out being involved in your party, Sjálfstæðisflokkurinn (Independence party), quite young. Did you always know that you wanted to be a politician?

Were you inspired or influenced by your father, who is a supreme court lawyer in Iceland, to study law?

When appointed, you became the second youngest minister in Icelandic history and the youngest female minister. Do you feel like people assume you are too young for the job and/or inexperienced?

Back in 2017, you were on Kastljós talking about gender based discrimination in the work place. You shared that you had received unwanted sexual comments. Rather, you received it for having sexual relations with men in your party. Do you feel that gender based discrimination is still a problem in Parliament and in other workplaces in Iceland?

I remember just around the time you were appointed, there was a scandal going on with the National Police Commissioner. What was it like just starting this job and already having this national scandal to deal with?

How do you deal with so much public criticism or scrutiny when you have made a decision about something that many don’t agree with?

What do you do to relieve the inevitable stress that comes along with your job? –

Recently, you proposed a bill that would abolish the naming committee in Iceland. Why do you want to get rid of this committee? –
Aslaug Arna on opening the country up so more foreigners can live and work here

Can you explain, without going into detail about individual refugee cases, what makes it difficult for the Icelandic government to allow these people to stay in the country?

What advice do you have for people that want to get involved in politics?
What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

Join The All Things Iceland Patreon Community

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Áslaug Arna Sigurbjörnsdóttir – Iceland’s Youngest Female Minister of Justice appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Gógó Starr on the Evolution of Drag Culture in Iceland – Ep. 85

Jewells Chambers — Sun, 24 Jan 2021 11:52:20 +0000

Gógó Starr is an Icelandic drag queen that is well known in the country. Gógó made history by being the first ever drag queen fjallkonan, or woman of the mountains, which is a symbol of the Icelandic nation and a very important part of the celebrations of Iceland’s independence. The celebration of the independence of the nation happens every June 17th. Aldís Amah, who I interviewed a while back on the podcast, was the first woman of color fjallkonan in 2019. It’s a huge honor to be fjallkonan and Gógó Starr had this role in 2018. In addition to that, Gógó co-founded Drag Súgur in 2015 after winning the annual Icelandic drag contest.

The drag show became so popular that it was turned into a monthly event at Gaukurinn that is open to all adults who want to attend. Hopefully, when COVID is over, the show will resume. I especially love that the show is all about inclusivity. Gógó Starr goes into more about how inclusive it is during the interview. It was an absolute blast to do this interview.

Video Interview with Gógó Starr

Questions Asked Gógó Starr during the Interview

Drag queens, and kings and drag shows are so common in Iceland now, but what was it like when you were growing up here? Were Icelanders open to these type of performances and performers?

When did you realize that performing in drag is something you wanted to try?

When did the drag scene in Iceland really take off?

After you won the annual Icelandic Drag contest, you co-founded Drag-Súgur, a monthly drag show and variety night held at Gaukurinn in 2015. What was your motivation behind started this show?

How was Drag-súgur received in Iceland when you first started it?

In 2018, you were the fjallkonan, or the Lady of the Mountain, which is the traditional living symbol of Iceland featured every Independence Day on June 17th. What did

You’re a full-time entertainer, producer and performer in Iceland. Did you ever imagine when you first started doing drag, that you would be doing it full-time?

I love that Drag-súgur is all about inclusivity. Can you talk about who some of the “drag royalties” that perform?

Pride in Reykjavík is becoming such a big celebration each year. Can you share what you like about Pride here and why you think people should come and check it out?

What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

GIVEAWAY – Enter to Win One of Andri Snær’s Books!!

I’m giving away three of Andri Snær’s books, which are below.

Join the All Things Iceland Patreon Community

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Gógó Starr on the Evolution of Drag Culture in Iceland – Ep. 85 appeared first on All Things Iceland.

A Pioneering & Inspiring Human Rights Lawyer in Iceland

Jewells Chambers — Sat, 16 Jan 2021 08:34:59 +0000

Claudia Ashanie Wilson is a human rights lawyer and activist who moved from her home country Jamaica to Iceland in 2001. When Claudia came to Iceland she didn’t speak Icelandic nor had she previous been to law school. Through a lot of hard work, she became fluent in Icelandic. She received her Masters Degree in 2014 in international law from the Reykjavík University. Claudia passed the Icelandic bar examinations to become a district court attorney in Iceland. By passing the bar, she became the first non-European person to do that in Iceland.

Since her move to Iceland, Claudia has been very active in human rights initiatives both by in governmental and non-governmental organizations. She has served as Vice President for the Women of Multicultural Ethnicity Network (W.O.M.E.N.) in Iceland, Social Activities Coordinator for asylum seekers on behalf of the Red Cross, and was appointed by the Ministry of Welfare to the Welfare Watch of Iceland.

She currently sits on the board of representatives for SOS Children’s Villages in Iceland, the boards of Amnesty International, Iceland Chapter and the Icelandic Equality Fund.

Claudia recently became a partner at the law firm Réttur Aðalsteinsson & Partners, where she has worked since 2013. She is also a guest lecturer at United Nations University Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme (UNU-GEST), the School of Business and at the University of Iceland as well as the School of Law at University of Iceland and Reykjavík University.

Questions I Asked Claudia During the Interview

Where are you originally from and how did you end up in Iceland?

What was it like adjusting to life here? Iceland is quite different from Jamaica. Did you have any culture shock? Was it a difficult adjustment?

What was it like learning Icelandic?

What inspired you to study law here?

Did you have any idea that you would be making history just by graduating from law school in Iceland?

Recently, you made partner at your law firm Réttur. Congratulations again! What kind of human rights cases do you take on?

Did you experience any discrimination or racism when you first came or even in present times?

You have been named one of Iceland’s most influential women in the 2020 issue of “June 19 Magazine”. Congrats! Representation is such an important part of people feeling empowered anywhere they live. Do you feel like Iceland is understanding that and is trying to showcase the diverse, amazing people, like yourself, that live here?

You are involved with different organizations here, such as the Iceland Chapter of Amnesty International, W.O.M.E.N. and others. Why is it important for you to be involved with these organizations?

What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

GIVEAWAY – Enter to Win One of Andri Snær’s Books!!

I’m giving away three of Andri Snær’s books, which are below.

Join the All Things Iceland Patreon Community

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post A Pioneering & Inspiring Human Rights Lawyer in Iceland appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Gunnar’s Spectacular Journey From A Stressful Job to Exploring Iceland

Jewells Chambers — Sun, 15 Nov 2020 16:11:18 +0000

Gunnar Freyr, a talented Icelandic photographer and videographer, makes a living traveling around Iceland, and sometimes Greenland. On Instagram he is known as Icelandic_explorer and has over 360,000 followers. His images and videos capture the Icelandic landscape in such a mesmerizing way.

During the chat, Gunnar Freyr shares how he left a very stressful office job and made a career as a creator. In addition, he talks about places he recommends for first timers to the country, advice he had for people that also want to be content creators, and gives tips on how to capture the northern lights with your smartphone or camera. It was quite fun to chat with him and I hope you enjoy this interview.

Questions I asked Gunnar Freyr

What was the journey like for you to become a full-time creator traveling around Iceland taking amazing photos and videos?
Even though you’re Icelandic, Icelandic, I’m wondering if there is any other reason you decided to focus on Iceland as the place you mostly take photos and videos of?
What kind of challenges have you faced while out in Iceland doing your work?
Can you share one of your epic adventure stories?
What are your favorite places in Iceland to visit?
What things do you recommend for first time visitors to Iceland to do?
Many people want to get great photos and videos of Icelandic nature, especially the northern lights. What tips and gear suggestions do you have for those people?
Is there a place in Iceland you haven’t been to yet that you really want to visit?
What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

If you are enjoying the All Things Iceland podcast, please leave a review on whatever platform you are listening to it on, if you haven’t already. I love sharing my passion for Iceland and your review can help another person to find the show and learn more about this awesome country.

Join Me on Patreon

Some of you might be aware that one of my goals for the podcast is to travel around Iceland more to interview different people in each region. In July, I set up the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. Patreon is a membership platform that was founded in 2013. It allows for creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you in exchange for a monthly subscription.

If you would like to join the community, go to patreon.com/allthingsiceland. I look forward to having you join.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Gunnar’s Spectacular Journey From A Stressful Job to Exploring Iceland appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Geologist, Helga Krístin, Explains Why Icelandic Landscapes Are Unique

Jewells Chambers — Sat, 15 Aug 2020 22:50:02 +0000

This week I chatted with Icelandic Geology expert Helga Kristín Torfadóttir. She is currently pursuing her PhD in volcanology and petrology, with a focus on structures of magma chambers. Additionally, she is a glacier guide, a model and drives really big cars. What an awesome combination!

I came across Helga on Instagram, where her handle is @geology_with_helga and I was instantly stunned by her awesome photos, especially the one of her in a space suit, and her informative posts. I think she uses the platform well to make geology fun. I’ve learned a lot about geology in Iceland.

There have been times when I have also just watched her videos even when I wasn’t necessarily understanding everything but her passion for the topic made it interesting to watch. Plus, she is out in nature often, so you are getting to tag along with an expert as she is explaining how certain landscapes have been formed. I’m excited for the time when a volcano erupts here because she’ll be onsite giving us all the details. If you are on Instagram, I highly recommend following her.

Questions I Asked Helga about Icelandic Geology & More

What made you interested in studying Geology and volcanology?

Can you share some background information on the geology in Iceland and what makes it unique?

You are PhD candidate, what is the focus of your research and dissertation?

During your research and field study, have you ever found something that unexpected or surprising to you?

For people that are interested in seeing some of the country’s spectacular geology, where do you recommend that they visit?

Do you have a favorite place or places in Iceland that you like to go?

There have been many earthquakes and magma build up happening around different volcanoes around the country. While I know it is impossible to know when there will be another eruption, do you think one will happen soon? If so, which one or ones do you think are most likely to erupt?

You have an awesome Instagram account called Geology with Helga, where you teach about geology. You have awesome photos of you in an astronaut suit, which is awesome. I’m just curious about what the story is behind the astronaut suit?

Also, what inspired you to start an Instagram page about geology?

I saw in your Instagram stories that you recently trekked the famous Laugavegur trail with your boyfriend and adorable dog Móberg. I think the first or second night was quite intense because it became so cold where you were camping. Overall, it was a ton of fun to learn about the landscape as you were hiking. Is that something that you are normally thinking and talking about when you go on trips like that?
What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

Join All Things Iceland on Patreon

Before I jump into the interview, I would like to give a shout out to Melton and Mark. They recently became members of the Ásgarður tier in the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. Each month, members in that tier get a shout-out on the podcast. They also get to take part in Live Group Chats with me and so much more.

Additionally, I have started doing Folklore Friday on Patreon, which means that I share a fascinating Icelandic folklore story each week. That content is available to all patrons in the community. If you want to join, check out patreon.com/allthingsiceland

I hope you enjoyed this episode of All Things Iceland. Make sure to share this interview if you found it interesting and leave a 5-star review.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post Geologist, Helga Krístin, Explains Why Icelandic Landscapes Are Unique appeared first on All Things Iceland.

James McDaniel on Being a Horticulturist in Iceland – Ep. 68

Jewells Chambers — Wed, 05 Aug 2020 22:29:09 +0000

This week I had the pleasure of chatting with James McDaniel about Horticulture in Iceland. For anyone that is not familiar with that word, horticulture is the art or practice of garden cultivation and management. Ever since learning about greenhouses in Iceland and just about different plants growing here in general, I have been looking forward to the day when I can talk to someone about this on the show.

Background About James McDaniel

James is a horticulturist that is focused on geothermal horticulture, sustainable production in extreme climates, and emerging technologies for food production. Currently, he is at the Agricultural University of Iceland (AUI) working with fertilizer experiments for an Icelandic startup named Atmonia.

The goal is to develop new environmentally friendly methods for fertilizer production. Just as a side note, the Agricultural University of Iceland is where we recorded the interview.

Some of James’ past work includes organic agriculture consumer trends research in Beijing, sustainable gardening for small markets in the United States, seed germination techniques using Martian regolith simulants, test trials of geothermal runoff from residential apartments for local food production in Iceland, as well as LED grow-light trials for the Innovation Center of Iceland.

Random Fact About James

Another fascinating fact about James is that he studied Mandarin Chinese for many years and worked as translator/interpreter for the language. During the interview we get into how he ended up in Iceland, the work he has been doing and more.

Additionally, James showed me the space that he uses to grow plants for his research projects. With his permission, I captured a short video of that space and some of the plants there. I recently shared a short clip of the space with the members of the All Things community on Patreon.

You can connect with James via Instagram.

Questions I asked James McDaniel During the Interview

Can you give us a little background about you. Where are you from and what made you interested in studying horticulture?

Why come to Iceland to study it? How long have you been here?

What are you focusing your studies on while in school here?

What is the horticulture industry like in Iceland?

Do you see yourself working here in this industry?

When you came to Iceland, was there anything about the culture that was unfamiliar or surprising to you?

What has it been like adjusting to life here?

I saw on your Instagram bio that you speak Mandarin, which is cool and kind of random. Do you also speak Icelandic?
What is your favorite Icelandic word or phrase?

Join the All Things Iceland Patreon Community

I learned a lot talking to James and I hope you enjoy this interview. Before we jump into it, I want to give a shout-out to Danielle, she is in the Ásgarður tier in the All Things Iceland community on Patreon. Patrons in that tier get a shout out once a month on the podcast. That is just one of many benefits.

If you’re not familiar with Patreon, in short it is a membership platform that allows creators like me to provide exclusive content to listeners like you. Such as the behind the scenes video I shot of the work James is currently doing. To learn more and join the community, check it out here.

Let’s be social! Here is where you can connect with me:

Þakka þér kærlega fyrir að hlusta (og að lesa) og sjáumst fljótlega

Thank you kindly for listening (and reading) and see you soon!

The post James McDaniel on Being a Horticulturist in Iceland – Ep. 68 appeared first on All Things Iceland.

Axlar-Björn, Iceland’s Only Serial Killer: Ep.62

Jewells Chambers — Wed, 13 May 2020 06:33:13 +0000

I know this seems like a really random topic but I have been fascinated by this story ever since I learned about Björn Pétursson (Axlar-Björn) some months ago. The Iceland we know of today has been ranked as one the most peaceful countries in the world since the Global Peace Index was launched 13 years ago. However, this country definitely has had some gruesome murders in its past. Many of those murders were linked to disputes, such as those in some of the Sagas. Björn was an exception.

It is important to point out that even though Björn Pétursson was a real person that was a convicted serial killer, the many sources that recount his life and murders sometimes conflict. They are also considered to have some elements of folklore weaved in, so just keep that in mind as I go through this episode.

Warning about the content – not suitable for young children or those who feel uneasy hearing about the details of a gruesome murder.

Was Axlar-Björn Destined to be a Serial Killer?

While there are many reasons why a person might become a serial killer, it seems that Björn was destined to be so before he was even born. Björn’s parents, Pétur and Sigríður, lived on the stunning Snæfellnes peninsula back in the 16th century. His father worked as a ploughman for a Ormur, a man who owned the farm Knörr. Pétur and Sigríður already had two children before Sigríður became pregnant with Björn. During her pregnancy, she had nightmares and craved the test of human blood.

I’ve never been pregnant but I think it is safe to assume that craving human blood is not normal. What is even more interesting about this story is that her husband Pétur wanted to appease his wife so he offered her to drink his blood to satisfy her craving. While that did do the trick, Sigríður was getting a very uneasy feeling. At some point she confessed to a female farmhand that she believes that the child she is carrying will be some kind of monster.

Björn was born in 1555 and he seemed like a pretty normal kid. At the age of four, his parents sent him to live with Ormur. Pétur and Ormur were good friends and because Ormur had a lot of money and influence, it seemed like a good opportunity for Björn to live with him. During those times it was common practice to have your child fostered by wealthier people because it can be difficult for a less fortunate family to feed and take care of all of their children. Björn adjusted to his new home and even became buddies with Guðmundur, Ormur’s son.

A Dream that Changed His Life Forever

It wasn’t until Björn was a teenager that the monster inside of him started to bubble to the surface. Like some teens, he developed a bad temper and was quite closed off. However, a turning point for him is when he missed mass one Sunday and fell asleep. During his dream, a man offered him a plate with pieces of raw meat. Without hesitation, he scarfed down the meat pieces. He only became nauseous after the eighteenth bite! This mysterious man in his dream then told him to go Mount Axlarhyrna because there Björn will find an instrument waiting for him. The man added that this instrument will serve him well in the years to come.

At his first opportunity, Björn went to the top of the mountain and there he found an ax. Not long after this, a young boy who worked as a farmhand at Knörr, the same farm in which Björn was born, disappeared. Years later, Björn confessed to killing the boy with the axe and burying him in a big pile of manure. Björn would go on to use the ax to kill many of his victims, who were mostly travellers or farmhands looking for work.

Protection from a Wealthy Friend

Ormur, the wealthy farmer, eventually passed away and left everything to his son Guðmundur. Guðmundur became even wealthier than his father and he decided to build Björn, who was pretty much his brother, a farm in an area called Öxl. Because the Icelandic language has four cases to decline words, the place Öxl, when in the genitive form, turns into Axlar. When Icelanders talk about Björn, they normally say Axlar-Björn and I will continue to use that throughout the episode.

Axlar-Björn ended up marrying Þórdís and they settled into living on the farm, which had a stunning view. The beauty of the farm’s placement on Snæfellsnes Peninsula is probably what attracted travelers and farmhands to it.

There was suspicion from locals that lived in the area that Axlar-Björn might be responsible for the disappearances of travelers. It was believed that in addition to killing people, Axlar-Björn and his wife were stealing the belongings of those they murdered. Horses and other valuables that they couldn’t afford kept popping up in their possession. The only thing keeping people from taking the allegations further is that Axlar-Björn was being protected by his wealthy friend Guðmundur.

Axlar-Björn was Finally Brought to Justice

While the sources vary on the number, it seems safe to say that he brutally murdered between 9 and 18 people before being brought to justice. It is said that he chopped up the bodies and buried them on the farm. What led to Axlar-Björn’s arrest is still a bit of a mystery because the sources do not agree.

Some claim that his lavish lifestyle and the disappearance of travelers in the region didn’t add up. His neighbors finally decided to contact authorities. Another source claims that a much more gruesome tale brought him down. In 1596, a woman and her three children arrived at the farm because they needed shelter. Axlar-Björn is said to have lured the children away one by one and killed them. The frightened mother hid and was able to run away to let authorities know about what happened to her kids.

After being arrested, Axlar-Björn confessed to killing nine people. However, authorities found more bodies than that when they searched his property. In a twisted lie, Axlar-Björn claimed that he had found the bodies there. Instead of contacting authorities, he decided to bury them in a certain spot. Not surprisingly, he wasn’t believed. I guess he didn’t want to face the charges alone, so he named his wife Þórdís as an accessory to the crimes. In an interesting twist to the story, she happened to be pregnant with their child at the time they were caught.

A Gruesome Execution

The both of them were found guilty and were sentenced to death in 1596 at Laugarbrekka. Just as Axlar-Björn’s murders were horrible, so was his execution. One account says that the executioner used a sledgehammer to shatter his limbs while he was still alive. Following that, his limbs and head were cut off and strung to poles. His wife had a front row seat to his death. At one point, his privates were cut off and tossed into his wife’s lap.

People were so afraid that his ghost might come back to hunt them. So, they took the pieces of his body and buried them under three different cairns. Ordinarily, a cairn is a pile of rocks used to mark a path for travelers as they journeyed around the country and not for burying bodies.

Did Axlar-Björn Have a Criminal Gene?

Þórdís was supposed to be executed too, but it seems that she was allowed to live because she was pregnant. She ended up giving birth to their son later that year and named him Sveinn skotti Björnsson. I don’t know if it is nature, nurture or both that resulted in their son being a criminal later in life. Regardless, he was hanged to death in 1648 after being found guilty of rape. Before Sveinn died he had a son named Gísli hrókur Sveinsson, and the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Gísli was also hanged for his crimes in Dyrhólaey. Sounds like quite the family.

Random Fact of the Episode

One surprising thing I found out is that there is still a farm called Öxl on Snæfellsnes Peninsula . It is on the same spot where the murders took place so many centuries ago. I don’t know if it is open to the public to visit but you can drive by there during a visit. One place you can definitely go is the last remaining cairn where pieces of Axlar-Björn were buried. If you park by Hellnavegur road, you will see the cairn nearby. Kind of creepy but also quite fascinating.

Icelandic word of the episode

Axlar Björn = Shoulder bear

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