Signs that Iceland is Still a Small Nation
Reykjavik is a small town with megalomaniac tendencies, its inhabitants tend to think that they are quite the metropolitans.
While most of us have indeed spent some time abroad (if only for extended vacations in various hot spots such as the Canary Islands or Crete), there are a few things that always reveal that less than fifteen years ago beer was illegal, nobody knew what a cappucino was and pizza was only for special occasions.
1. Icelanders park like they just pulled into the farm yard.
See those neatly painted white stripes? THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON. Not a day goes by that I don't notice a remarkably bad parking job - I don't even own a car. Pulling into a marked parking spot seems to elude most Icelandic drivers. Not only do they often end up taking two or more spots, but absolutely blocking pedestrian traffic seems to be an added bonus.
2. Icelanders stop to chat in doorways.
Or stairs. Or at the top/bottom of escalators. And they do not move when you really need to get by. When you finally have their attention, they will shoot you a look that should be classified as a deadly weapon. You are, after all, disturbing their favorite pastime; gossiping.
3. Icelanders are still building Malls
And showing them to tourists. Nuff'said.
4. Icelanders think a 40 minute drive to the Airport is LONG.
Therefore, rerouting all domestic flights to the international airport is out of the question. Much better to have an airport in the middle of the city. Much better.
Nonetheless, Icelanders produced someone like me, so they can't be all bad...
While most of us have indeed spent some time abroad (if only for extended vacations in various hot spots such as the Canary Islands or Crete), there are a few things that always reveal that less than fifteen years ago beer was illegal, nobody knew what a cappucino was and pizza was only for special occasions.
1. Icelanders park like they just pulled into the farm yard.
See those neatly painted white stripes? THEY ARE THERE FOR A REASON. Not a day goes by that I don't notice a remarkably bad parking job - I don't even own a car. Pulling into a marked parking spot seems to elude most Icelandic drivers. Not only do they often end up taking two or more spots, but absolutely blocking pedestrian traffic seems to be an added bonus.
2. Icelanders stop to chat in doorways.
Or stairs. Or at the top/bottom of escalators. And they do not move when you really need to get by. When you finally have their attention, they will shoot you a look that should be classified as a deadly weapon. You are, after all, disturbing their favorite pastime; gossiping.
3. Icelanders are still building Malls
And showing them to tourists. Nuff'said.
4. Icelanders think a 40 minute drive to the Airport is LONG.
Therefore, rerouting all domestic flights to the international airport is out of the question. Much better to have an airport in the middle of the city. Much better.
Nonetheless, Icelanders produced someone like me, so they can't be all bad...
posted by disinterpreter at 8:15 PM
2 Comments:
Stressed out as I am (I haven't even had time to glance at any blogs over the last two days and have to return immediately to writing the conference paper) I just wanted to endorse the last point you made about why Iceland can't be all that bad! :)))
Thank you! You are much too kind!
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