Seltjarnarnes and Gardabaer

Seltjarnarnes and Gardabaer

Seltjarnarnes

Seltjarnarnes is a small town situated on tip of the Reykjavík peninsula, with remarkable views of the Atlantic Ocean.

Since much of the town is located within a beautiful nature reserve, many locals make use of its excellent recreational areas and the extensive walking and cycling paths encircling the entire peninsula. Its unobstructed views, of the setting sun and the impressive Shaefellsjökull glacier, make it a romantic destination and magnet for travelers and photographers alike. During the winter, the areas around the coastline are perfect for viewing the magnificent Northern Lights! The best known landmark is the old lighthouse on Grotta Island, with stunning seaviews and a wealth of birdlife. Note that during the nesting season (May 1st – July 1st) Grotta is closed.

A permanent art installation, Kvika by Olöf Nordal, made of dolomite stone with a round footbath carved into the center, is located on the northern side of the peninsula next to the shark-curing shed. People visiting are throughly encouraged to bring a towel and make good use of it by taking a relaxing footbath out in the open sea-air.

In case you'd like to warm-up more than just your toes, the town's thermal pool comes highly recommended and features a lap pool, several different hot tubs, a waterslide, a steam bath and toddler pool; all supplied uniquely with geothermal seawater.

Iceland's Landscape. Photo be Olga

Gardabaer

The Gardabaer town and municipality is an important part of the capital area near Reykjavík. It's a lively town with diverse landscapes, stretching from the beautiful Heidmörk Nature Reserve to the pleasant Alftanes peninsula.

The town has a rich historical background, which can be explored in great detail at the Hoffstadir Archaeological Park, where remains of a large farm from the settlement age are on exhibition. The site dates back to the end of the 9th century when Norwegian Vikings first settled this Arctic island. While visiting you can get the official story via their touch-screen display. Free admission and open 24 hours a day.

Iceland has a long history of art and design. Some of the creative results have been preserved in the Museum of Design and Applied Art at Gardatorg – the town center. The museum's objective is to collect, study and present Icelandic design and crafts dating from the beginning of the twentieth century to the present day.

Situated on a low-lying peninsula just south of the city centre, Alftanes is a small community of about 2,500 people. One of its major attractions is the swimming pool, featuring the largest waterslide in the country and Iceland's only wave pool. If you're a fan of the outdoors, Alftanes is also a hikers' paradise with trails spanning 9 km (5, 1/2 miles) around the unique shoreline.

Those who are fascinated by the feathery residents of Reykjavík will also be pleased to discover that the shoreline is filled with clear ponds bustling with migratory birdlife.

Tale of the Heike

Tale of the Heike

(By Carl Sagan)

Let me tell you a story about one little phrase in the music of life on Earth. In the year 1185, the Emperor of Japan was a seven-year-old boy named Antoku. He was the nominal leader of a clan of samurai called the Heike, who were engaged in a long and bloody war with another samurai clan, the Genji.

Each asserted a superior ancestral claim to the imperial throne. Their decisive naval encounter, with the Emperor on board ship, occurred at Danno-ura in the Japanese Inland Sea on April 24, 1185.

The Heike were outnumbered, and outmaneuvered. Many were killed. The survivors, in massive numbers, threw themselves into the sea and drowned. The Lady Nii, grandmother of the Emperor, resolved that she and Antoku would not be captured by the enemy. What happened next is told in the Tale of the Heike:

The Emperor was seven years old that year but looked much older. He was so lovely that he seemed to shed a brilliant radiance and his long, black hair hung loose far down his back. With a look of surprise and anxiety on his face he asked the Lady Nii, “Wher are you to take me?”

She turned to the youthful sovereign, with tears streaming down her cheeks and comforted him, binding up his long hair in his dove-colored robe. Blinded with tears, the child sovereign put his beautiful small hands together. He turned first to the East to say farewell to the god of Ise and then to the West to repeat the Nembutsu (a prayer to the Amida Buddha). The Lady Nii took him tightly in her arms and with the words “In the depths of the ocean is our capitol”, sank with him at last beneath the waves.

A Japanese lady. Photo by Elena

The entire Heike battle fleet was destroyed. Only forty-three women survived. Only forty three women survived. These ladies-in waiting of the imperial court were forced to sell flowers and other favors to the fishermen near the scene of the battle. The Heike almost vanished from history. But a ragtag group of the former ladies-in waiting and their off-spring by the fisherfolk established a festival to commemorate the battle. This festival takes place on the twenty-fourth of April every year to this day. Fishermen who are descendant to the Heike dress in hemp and black headgear and proceed to the Akama shrine which contains the mausoleum of the drowned Emperor. There they watch a play portraying the events that followed the Battle of Danno-ura. For centuries after, people imagined that they could discern ghostly samurai armies vainly striving to bail the sea, to cleanse it of blood and defeat and humiliation.

The fishermen say the Heike samurai wander the bottoms of the Inland Sea still – in the form of crabs. There are crabs to be found here with curious marking on their backs, patterns and indentations that disturbingly resemble the face of a samurai. When caught, these crabs are not eaten, but are returned to the sea in commemoration of the doleful events at Danno-ura.

This legend raises a lovely problem. How does it come about that the face of a warrior is incised  on the carapace of a crab? The answer seems to be that humans made the face. The patterns on the crab’s shell are inherited. But among crabs, as among people, there are many different hereditary lines. Suppose that, by chance, among the distant ancestors of this crab, one arose before the battle of Danno-ura, fishermen may have been reluctant to eat such a crab. In throwing it back, they set in motion an evolutionary process: If you are a crab and your carapace is ordinary, they humans will eat you. Your line will leave fewer descendants. If your carapace looks a little like a face, they will throw you back. You will leave more descendants. Crabs had a substantial investment in the patterns on their carapaces. As the generations passed, of crabs and fishermen alike, the crabs with patterns that most resembled a samurai face survived preferentially until eventually there was produced not just a human face, not just a Japanese face, but the visage of fierce and scowling samurai.

All this has nothing to do with what crabs want. Selection is imposed from the outside. The more you like a samurai, the better are your chances of survival. Eventually, there come to be a great many samurai crabs.

This process is called artificial selection. In the case of Heike crab it was effected more or less unconsciously by the fishermen, and certainly without any serious contemplation by the crabs.

Icelandic Water

Icelandic Water

The Best in the World?

Icelanders have the good fortune of having access to an almost limitless and inexpensive supply of natural hot and cold water. In addition, Icelanders can be proud of the quality of drinking water, which is one of the purest in the world. The cold water from the tap is pure spring water, without any additives such as chlorine.

According to an OECD report from 2001, Icelandic drinking water is of high quality and without traces of contaminants or heavy metals. Stringent quality control measures ensure consistent quality and safety of the water.

In fact, Reykjavík Water Works, now a part of Reykjavík Energy, was the first Nordic company to receive the ISO 9001 quality standard.

Visitors to Iceland often ask why the hot water smells of rotten eggs. This is because the hot and cold water come from two different sources. It is true that the hot water sometimes smells of sulphur, which is due to the geothermal origins of the hot water, making it excellent for bathing, but not drinking. The hot water which is supplied by the geothermal power plants is best experienced in one of the many geothermal swimming pools of the city.

In order to enjoy the unique taste of the pure spring water, just remember to let the cold water run for a while from the tap before tasting, to ensure that no hot water is mixed in. The Icelandic spring water is safe, refreshing and tastes excellent. It is not without cause that Icelanders say their water is the best in the world.

Glacier Water in Iceland. Photo by Olga

Pools & Spas

Geothermal water is one of Iceland’s greatest natural resources. It’s used to heat houses and produce electricity, but most importantly, Icelanders love to swim in it. Pools and spas are a huge part of the Reykjavík lifestyle.

The country has over 170 pools – spread around the country and throughout all of the capital region’s neighbourhoods. Most swimming complexes include a lap pool, a hot tub of five and at least one steam room. If you’d like to treat yourself to Reykjavík’s loved spa culture, indulge in a trip to the local pool.

Thermal Pools included in the Reykjavík city card:

•     Arbaejarlaug – Fylkisvegur, Reykjavík
•     Breidholtslaug – Austurberg 3, 111 Reykjavík
•     Grafarvogslaug – Dalhus 2, 112 Reykjavík
•     Klebergslaug – Kjalarnes, 116 Reykjavík
•     Laugardalslaug – Sundlaugarvegur, 104 Reykjavík
•     Sundhöll Reykjavíkur – Baronstigur, 101 Reykjavík
•     Vesturbaejarlaug – Hofsvallagata, 101 Reykjavík

Other thermal pools in the Reykjavík capital area:

•     Sundhöll Hafnarfjardar – Herjolfsgata 10, Hafnarfjördur
•     Asvallalaug – Hringbraut 77, Hafnarfjördur
•     Kopavogslaug Borgarholtsbraut 17, Kopavogur
•     Salalaug – Versalir 3, 201 Kopavogur
•     Lagafellslaug – Laekjarhlid, 270 Mosfellsbaer
•     Varmarlaug – 270 Mosfellsbaer
•     Gardabaejarlaug – Bjarnastadir, 225 Alftanes
•     Sundlaug Seltjarnarness – Sudorströnd, 170 Seltjarnarnes
•     Loftleidlaug – Loftleidir hotel, 101 Reykjavík
•     Nautholsvik – Nautholsvegur, 101 Reykjavík.

Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics

Macroeconomics is the branch of economics that deals with the economy at large. Macroeconomics is concerned with how the economy of a country works, how the central bank of that country deals with its business cycles, GDP & GNP (Gross Domestic Product and Gross National Product, respectively), fiscal (taxes – government) and monetary (interest rates or money supply – central bank) policies and other related matters.

Introduction to Macroeconomics

Economics is a social science dealing with attempting to reconcile an unlimied amount of human needs with the limited number of world resources available. As such, economics can be subdivided into many disciplines, such as mircoeconomics, macroeconomics, finance, normative economics, financial econometrics and so on. Therefore, the following article covers some of the topics dicussed in macroeconomics, such as stagflation. Stagflation refers to a particularly unpropsperous economy in which high inflation is coupled with stagnant unemployment. As macroeconomics looks at economies as a whole, concetrating on central banking, nationa states, GDP, GNP and large international corporations, so unemployment is naturally an important topic in macroeconomic theory. Moreover, macroeconomic theory predicts business cycles and thus, economic recessions, as well as, economic expansions. Thus, during recessions growth is stagnant or lower, while unemployment is higher. Conversely, expansions correspond to spikes in production and lower unemployment. However, unemployment does not include everyone who is not employed. Hence, students, homemakers or persons who are not actively looking for a job (for example because they have given up), remain excluded from the national statistic for unemployed individuals. Additionally, central banks may attempt to manipulate the economy of a country through money supply. For instance, during an economic recession, a central bank may inject money into the economy, which then increases aggregate demand, which in turn stimulates the economy.

GDP equals consumption plus investment made by firms plus government expenditure plus exports minus imports. Investment in this case does not mean investing in securities or real estate (a house or a condominium is an investment, whereas a car is an expense), but investment of capital made by firms to increase, improve or maintain business operations.

GDP is calculated by adding all that has been produced within the borders of a country during a year. GNP is calculated by subtracting from that number all that was produced during that year by foreigners, and adding to the result all that was earned by the country’s citizens abroad. An important note to keep in mind is not to double and triple count, which is why second hand sales are not usually considered in the GDP computation. GDP does not measure everything; other aspects such as pollution, freedom and safety, and even happiness are important to quality of life as well.

Economics is everywhere, and understanding economics can help you make better decisions and lead a happier life. (Tyler Cowen). Photo: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

Naturally, unemployment is likewise of interest to macroeconomists. During an economic contraction (recession) firms produce less, because of smaller aggregate demand, and tend to lay workers off. Laid off workers, in turn, lose their ability to purchase goods and services, and thus consumption goes down as well. Okun’s Law states that the country’s unemployment will move ½ of the percentage change of the GDP below or above potential GDP (at full employment).

During an expansion (boom) prices rise because people spend more. The central bank of a country has the responsibility to balance the economy. To achieve that, it can raise or lower the interest rate (which is then followed by commercial banks) or decrease or increase money supply. The bank cannot do both simultaneously.

Purchasing power parity has to do with the exchange rate between states, and refers to the notion that an equivalent basket of goods may be purchased in two countries if the money were exchanged at the agreed on rate. In reality, the equivalency does not always hold. A strong Canadian dollar would increase Canada’s imports, but reduce Canada’s exports, since other countries would no longer find Canadian prices competitive. Paradoxically, a strong currency can decrease a country’s GDP. Canada’s main trading partner is the USA, roughly 80% of total trade. Therefore, Canada’s economic health is greatly influenced by what is going on south of the border.

Macroeconomic Stability

There were two oil shocks, in 1973 and 1979; the following recessions (1974-1975; 1980-1982) have led to questioning about the causal link between oil price and economic slides (Clarida, Gali, & Gertler, 2000).

The authors discuss the pre-Volcker and Volcker-Greenspan eras (post late 1979), and test a New Keynesian model (reaction function). The backward-oriented Keynesian model is insensitive to fluctuation projections, elaborated on later in the manuscript. However, this may be acting through the intermediary of the resulting austere monetary policy. Along these lines, inflation was on the rise in the years preceding the oil crises. Price stickiness refers to prices that are slow motion in alteration. A self-fulfilling fluctuation is the phenomenon of upward trends in real interest rates as a consequence of a build-up of inflation. The anticipation forces downturns the rates South.

In economics, one of the most important concepts is “opportunity cost”- the idea that once you spend your money on something, you can’t spend it again on something else (Malcolm Turnbull. Photo: Megan Jorgensen (Elena)

The authors render that with inflation lag below unity, the projected inflation Lower interest rates boost aggregate (total) demand inducing inflation to climb. The final picture proves the expectation hypothesis, similar to psychological concept of self-fulfilling prophecy, when our preconceptions of strangers make us behave in ways that elicit reactions from others than in turn confirm our initial mental schema.

The contrasting principle is the sunspot generalization effect. Supply shock affect inflation only when the gap is close to unity, theoretical application of the feedback rule. The argument stands that the Federal Reserve has been more tough on inflation in the Volcker-Greenspan epoch.

Reference

    Clarida, R., Gali, J., & Gertler, M. (2000). Monetary policy rules and macroeconomic stability: Evidence and some theory. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, February, 147-180.

Restaurants in Reykjavík

Restaurants in Reykjavík

Reykjavík has an excellent selection of top class restaurants, most of which are located in and around the city center.

Globalization has reached the city and can be seen in the wide range of tastes and flavours here. So if you like Asian, Japanese, Italian, Nordic, French or fusion cuisine, or would like to try something Icelandic, then head downtown and take your pick. Responding to the demand for vegetarian and vegan cuisine, more and more restaurants also offer meatless dishes on their menus.

You will find here a list of different dining experiences, ranging from fine dining at the top restaurants in the city to budget dining for those on the go. The combination of fresh ingredients and raw passion make it easy for chefs to create mouth-watering eating experiences in Iceland. Using only the best raw materials available, such as Icelandic mountain lamb, freshly-caught fish or newly-picked herbs, our chefs can create anything from a simple traditional dish to a masterpiece on a plate.

Good to know:

•     You can ask for a children’s menu, when dining out with little ones.
•     Tipping is not customary in Iceland since service is included in the price.
•     All restaurants, cafés and bars in Iceland are non smoking.

Fine dining is a must when on holiday and Iceland is no exception. Many of the restaurants in this category employ award-winning chefs, who have won praises for their cooking skills and innovative ideas. Fine dining includes top quality service, cosy ambience, unique menus and an excellent selection of wine.

Essensia

Hverfisgata 4-6, 101 R, tel: 517 0030

An authentic Italian – Mediterranean restaurant, also offering a good menu of tapas plates. A great selection of wines and cocktails. Make yourself at home. Great honest food, snazzy Italian design and a relaxed Nordic-meets-Mediterranean atmosphere – your search for the perfect Reykjavik restaurant stops right here. This stylish new kitchen, with a fabulous view, has been wowing discerning diners who are in the know for a few months. Now the secret’s out. Joyful plates for sharing The success of Essensia and its gorgeously Italian menu is all about a love of food, friends and full-on flavours. The dishes combine an Icelandic purity – a simple selection of fresh local ingredients – with the warmth and confidence of Mediterranean cuisine. Perfect by design Essensia is the bambino of head chef and owner Hakon Örvarsson, an award-winning chef (“Bocuse d’Or” no less!) with a vision. He has set out to create a comfort zone, where people come together to talk, eat and relax. Where Icelandic ingredients meet the flavors, simplicity and style of Italian Cuisine.

Fish. Photo by Olga

Kitchen & Wine at 101 Hotel

Hverfisgata 10, 101 R, tel: 580 0101

The restaurant is one of the trendiest places in town and serves great food, combining modern Icelandic and international cuisine. The lounge offers the opportunity to relax with a drink from a wide selection of cocktails, wine and spirits

Lobster House

Amtmannstígur 1, 101 R, tel: 561 3303

Gourmet nouvelle cuisine with exquisite courses, specializing in delicious lobster dishes. The historical premises create an ambience of warmth and elegance.If you want to enjoy gourmet French cuisine with a Nordic touch, then The Lobsterhouse is the right place for you. Our langoustine, is widely known for it’s great taste and is one of our most favored dishes. Dining with us is an experience full of warmth and history. The Lobsterhouse seats over seventy people and has banquet rooms available for smaller groups. Saved by the hippies: The Lobsterhouse was built in 1838 and is located at Bernhöftstorfa in down town Reykjavík. The house was built by Stefán Gunnlaugsson, a State Treasurer. By 1970, the houses in Berntöftstorfa were scheduled to be demolished for government offices. Before this came to be, a battle began for the preservation of the buildings. Customers say “Lovely spot, fine dining, excellent service. Food was amazing! We had the horse, puffin, and pork belly. It was all outstanding! Ambiance is fabulous. I am super happy to review this place.” (Trip Advisor). “Absolutely wonderful place, food was amazing. I had lobster and was cooked perfectly. Service was excellent. Highly recommend.”(Trip Advisor)

Seafood Grill

Skólavörðustígur 14

tel: 571 1100

An upmarket restaurant specializing in delicious fish dishes. Boasts an award- winning chef who serves up delicacies with ease. It was in 2010 that a young lad from Húsavík, a little fishing town in the north, was awarded the title “Chef of the year 2010”. The young chef, Gústav, and Master chef, Lárus Gunnar Jónasson spent months traveling around Iceland looking for the real taste of Icelandic food. Along the way they found a few things that are now key items decorating their new restaurant. An old freezing plant from Ísafjörður in the West Fjords, now serves as a backdrop for the bar at Restaurant Sjávargrillið. All around the restaurant you will find driftwood that the two friends, Lárus and Gústav, found on their travels. On the road Gústav came up with a menu like no other: Gústav’s Interpretation of the collective grill taste of his homeland, Iceland. Take a look at our menu. It will be our pleasure to fire up the old grill when you honor us with a visit. After years of study, strings of awards and having led kitchens of some of Reykjavík’s most esteemed restaurants, Gústav still sees him self as a kid from up north, with a life long passion for fish.

Skólabrú

Pósthússtræti 17, tel: 511 1690

Situated next to the Icelandic parliament in a charming old building. Specializes in Icelandic and international cuisine. Offers a variety of Icelandic lamb and seafood courses among other delicious dishes. Come enjoy the fuscious food based on the Icelandic cultural heritage and local culinary traditions.

Fish Company / Fiskfélagið

Grófartorg, Vesturgata 2a, tel: 552 5300

Variety of meat and fish courses with emphasis on the fish.

Geiri Smart

Hverfisgata 30, tel: 528 7050

Upmarket restaurant with a creative menu in a sophisticated environment.

Grillmarkaðurinn

Lækjargata 2a, tel: 571 7777

Offers a menu based on locally sourced Icelandic ingredients.

Kol Restaurant

Skólavörðustígur 40, tel: 517 7474

Kol offers trendy fresh food, made of quality produce.

Lækjarbrekka

Bankastræti 2

tel: 551 4430

Icelandic cuisine, most popular for their seafood and lamb.

ROK Restaurant

Frakkastigur 26a

tel: 544 4443

ROK offers classic Icelandic food, such as fish pie and cured lamb.

Local Food and Gourmet and the Countryside

Many visitors to the countryside are astounded by the quality of restaurants in the tiny villages and farms. In fact, many have been praised for their world-class meals and personal service.

Fresh rivers, nearby farms and fertile hillsides are the treasure chest from which country chefs get their ingredients.

Freshly-picked berries and herbs just add to the excellence of country catering.

Stríkið in Akureyri has an award-winning chef who serves up local delicacies such as duck and goose from nearby islets. Local food is often marketed under logos such as “Food Chest Skagafjörður” in the north-west of Iceland, guaranteeing that produce comes straight from the farm or a local fishing boat. “Vestfirðir – Local Food“ in the west fjords is the mark for fresh ocean products and in East Iceland where reindeer and goose make its way to the table, there is a movement called “Austfirskar Krásir”, guaranteeing freshness and quality. South Iceland is the most fertile area in the country, famous for its dairy products. Here, geothermal energy has made greenhouse farming possible, producing the majority of Icelandic organic vegetables. Rich fishing grounds have given rise to seafood restaurants such as Fjöruborðið in Stokkseyri, famous for its delicious lobster feast. In Eyrarbakki, Hafið Bláa and Rauða Húsið are also popular seafood restaurants. Salthúsið in Grindavík offers delicious seafood dishes, with salted cod, bacalao, being a firm favourite.