Blogging Reykjavik

After publishing a picture of Höfði and the Chamber of commerce, it is only right to move on to other important buildings...





This is the University of Iceland (Main building). It is the largest University in Iceland with 7000 students. Other universities include: A University of Education, The University of Reykjavik (business, engineering), The agricultural University, the University of Akureyri ( to the north ) Bifröst which is a Business school and an Academy of Arts. So plenty to go around for a country of only 300.000. The university has all the main departments, Engineering, Medical, Social science, Linguistics, and Science etc.

- The Thor all rights reserved

One of Reykjavik's favorite pastimes, going down to the pond to feed the ducks, might be coming to an end. Feeding the ducks might not seem like such a good idea, especially if we believe the frenzy of the media. Most birds that migrate to Iceland do so through the UK and with the recent death of swans in Glasgow extra precautions might need to be taken.

However, until the authorities decide to build a fence around the pond we will still be able to feed the ducks, swans and any other bird wanting to be fed.








- The Thor all rights reserved

It looks gentle enough, the Atlantic ocean the second largest ocean in the world. It isn't always this gentle though as many Icelandic sailors have learnt through the ages...



The ocean gives and it also takes away.

Iceland's wealth is tightly linked to the ocean, having moved from being one of the poorest countries in Europe at the start of 1900 to one of the riches nations in the world at the end. This is mainly due to hard work and seafood. In particular during world war one and world war two, where food production elsewhere was lower then average. Even to this day Iceland is renowned for it's know-how and ability to fish the oceans.

So anyway here you have it at its most calm.






- The Thor all rights reserved

There is a house in Iceland.

Ok there is a surprise, but this is not just any odd house. It is a house that cost more then 1 million USD to build, is clad in cast iron! So to give it that worn out Tank / oxidized feel to it. The house was paid for and as far as I know inhabited (at least part of the year) by Damon Albarn of Blur & Gorillaz. Don't know if he lives there now and frankly I don't care. The blogging network is not a paparazzi site, if it is an interesting story we'll run it but don't expect street names or star maps.



Just have a look and wonder how on earth something like this can cost over a million big ones. I guess the interior needed to be as posh as the penthouse hotel suite that Damon lived in at least for a while when he was in Iceland.



- The Thor all rights reserved

There are two things that you will notice right away about Icelandic transport habits. One is that nobody seems to walk or use public transportation and the other is that everybody uses a car, preferably a big one...



Well really those are three observations but all very tied together. The not walking aspect of this observation is probably down to the fact that Reykjavik is very spread out and also temperatures rarely get above 15° C (59° F) And even that temperature is subtropical for Icelandic standards. The annual temperature is on average some 0-5° C (32-41° F) So not much incentive in walking. It also rains a lot in Iceland, you might argue that people could just wear Mac's or use umbrellas, and well Icelandic rain tends to be horizontal as opposed to vertical. I once tried to use an umbrella in Reykjavik and subsequently came in second at the annual kite festival in Shanghai!!



So there are three scenarios where people do move.

1. Getting from the car to the office and back
2. Getting from the car to the store and back
3. Getting from the car to the gym and back (preferably parked really close so you, god forbid, don't have to do exercise before getting into the gym)
4. Getting from the car and to your house.



So all in all a lot of car activity goes on. Don't be surprised when you come to Iceland and find that Icelanders drive just as much as Americans despite petrol being highly taxed and the liter costs way more then a Big Mac meal in some countries!

- The Thor all rights reserved

please comment below