Nine Things that Icelanders Love

But first, I wanted to share this picture of a black bear spotted in our neighborhood. Just kiddin', it's only one of a several cats running a protection racket on Helgamagra Street.

Ok, things that Icelanders love, based on several weeks of careful observation by me:

- Cruising downtown in their Range Rovers, while casually munching ice cream cones

- Not making eye-contact

- Rolling up their pants, especially when it snows a lot

- (Related) Wearing sweatpants everywhere (and rolling them up when it snows a lot)

- Moving to Reykjavik

- Fishtailing on the icy streets at every opportunity, even when no one is watching to be impressed. They genuinely just love to fishtail on the ice. They love it for it's own sake. It's an end in itself.

- Drinking coffee and using their library voices at soccer games

- Leaving their strollers outside while they go inside for a cup of coffee and a chat with an old friend. Yes, the baby stays in the stroller, outside, in the snow, while mommy goes inside for "awhile." I'm not making this up. This has been witnessed many times.

- Flying airplanes during torrential downpours of snow and heavy wind (same impulse as fishtailing on icy streets)

- And last, but certainly not least, owning cats. They love owning cats. Everyone has a cat. That's just what they do in Iceland.

I'll keep my eye out for the tenth thing that Icelanders love, and will keep you posted ...

Love,
graham