Comments on: MY ICELAND: The Advent http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html Tue, 07 Feb 2012 15:07:04 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11332 James Fri, 04 Dec 2009 10:19:06 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11332 I scanned today's article in MSN News of "the world's 10 foulest foods" and... it had Hákarl (Icelandic fermented shark) in number 4: http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151183749&page=7 I scanned today’s article in MSN News of “the world’s 10 foulest foods” and… it had Hákarl (Icelandic fermented shark) in number 4:
http://news.uk.msn.com/odd-news/photos/photos.aspx?cp-documentid=151183749&page=7

]]> By: Elizabeth http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11318 Elizabeth Thu, 03 Dec 2009 18:18:56 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11318 I've really enjoyed reading about the Icelandic Yule traditions in your past posts. My surname is Yule so I have a bit of an extra interest in all things Yule-related. It's an unusual surname in England but much more common in northern Scotland (where my father's ancestors came from.) I suspect somewhere along the line, many generations ago, there was a Norse ancestor who brought this surname over from Norway with him. I’ve really enjoyed reading about the Icelandic Yule traditions in your past posts. My surname is Yule so I have a bit of an extra interest in all things Yule-related. It’s an unusual surname in England but much more common in northern Scotland (where my father’s ancestors came from.) I suspect somewhere along the line, many generations ago, there was a Norse ancestor who brought this surname over from Norway with him.

]]> By: Joerg http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11183 Joerg Tue, 01 Dec 2009 07:09:23 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11183 I visited Reykjavik in last year's Christmas season and the year before and it was really amazing - even without trying the putrid skate. And as the winter is gaining momentum with snow and frost, which is adding to the atmosphere, I truly regret, that I have already used up all of my annual vacation for this year. Reading tourism brochures and watching reports about Iceland on TV might give you the impression, that Icelanders don't eat much else than rotten fish. So, it really seems to be more a touristy thing - like the trolls and elves - although I had my first (and so far only) hákarl at a Þorrablót in Germany shared by many Icelanders. I visited Reykjavik in last year’s Christmas season and the year before and it was really amazing – even without trying the putrid skate. And as the winter is gaining momentum with snow and frost, which is adding to the atmosphere, I truly regret, that I have already used up all of my annual vacation for this year.

Reading tourism brochures and watching reports about Iceland on TV might give you the impression, that Icelanders don’t eat much else than rotten fish. So, it really seems to be more a touristy thing – like the trolls and elves – although I had my first (and so far only) hákarl at a Þorrablót in Germany shared by many Icelanders.

]]> By: Sigvaldi Eggertsson http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11166 Sigvaldi Eggertsson Mon, 30 Nov 2009 18:23:52 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11166 To Petri (and Alda) there is no fascination about smelly fish, it is just that the preservation methods used in each case resulted in the fishes being smelly but (to some people) edible. Nowadays the shark is mostly consumed by tourists (it has never been widely consumed by the locals) and the skate was, until fairly recently, unknown outside the north-western part of the country. To Petri (and Alda) there is no fascination about smelly fish, it is just that the preservation methods used in each case resulted in the fishes being smelly but (to some people) edible.
Nowadays the shark is mostly consumed by tourists (it has never been widely consumed by the locals) and the skate was, until fairly recently, unknown outside the north-western part of the country.

]]> By: alda http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11151 alda Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:22:02 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11151 Thank you, everyone! James - oh believe me, it's a GOOD thing. Petri - no, very different from the shark, at least for the discerning palate. ;) - and as for the fascination, I have NO IDEA. sigga - takk og gleðilega hátíð sömuleiðis. :) Karol W - and there are global warming sceptics?? Crikey - that does not sound like the wintry Toronto I knew. -- And over here we say 'Gleðileg jól'. Thórunn - I think the theory is that this is how it originated - that the more well-to-do people gave the skate to their workers so they'd appreciate the food they got over Christmas even more. Thank you, everyone!

James – oh believe me, it’s a GOOD thing.

Petri – no, very different from the shark, at least for the discerning palate. ;) – and as for the fascination, I have NO IDEA.

sigga – takk og gleðilega hátíð sömuleiðis. :)

Karol W – and there are global warming sceptics?? Crikey – that does not sound like the wintry Toronto I knew. — And over here we say ‘Gleðileg jól’.

Thórunn – I think the theory is that this is how it originated – that the more well-to-do people gave the skate to their workers so they’d appreciate the food they got over Christmas even more.

]]> By: Thorunn Sleight http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11147 Thorunn Sleight Mon, 30 Nov 2009 08:13:47 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11147 When my mother and her brothers were growing up in the Reykjavík of the thirties and forties, they had a theory about why they were forced to eat this horrible stuff cheerfully every year. They decided that it was a sort of penance, imposed in order that they would be properly grateful and appreciative of the lovely Christmas food that would follow in the next several days - and who knows, they may have been right! When my mother and her brothers were growing up in the Reykjavík of the thirties and forties, they had a theory about why they were forced to eat this horrible stuff cheerfully every year. They decided that it was a sort of penance, imposed in order that they would be properly grateful and appreciative of the lovely Christmas food that would follow in the next several days – and who knows, they may have been right!

]]> By: Karol W. http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11139 Karol W. Mon, 30 Nov 2009 02:32:42 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11139 Alda, let me briefly paint you a picture of the end of November in your former city - Toronto. First November in some 75 years that we haven't had snow - at all, very decent temperatures of plus 10 C, green grass and lots of sun. I finished my biking season only a week ago - the latest ever. Yes, lots of lights on homes but consumers are really subdued. The last is, perhaps, not such a bad thing. The Norwegians say - God Jul. How is it in your language? Alda, let me briefly paint you a picture of the end of November in your former city – Toronto.

First November in some 75 years that we haven’t had snow – at all, very decent temperatures of plus 10 C, green grass and lots of sun. I finished my biking season only a week ago – the latest ever. Yes, lots of lights on homes but consumers are really subdued.

The last is, perhaps, not such a bad thing.

The Norwegians say – God Jul. How is it in your language?

]]> By: kevin o'connor waterford Ireland http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11137 kevin o'connor waterford Ireland Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:28:56 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11137 Merry Christmas All Icelandic Blog Fans across the wide world. Merry Christmas All Icelandic Blog Fans across the wide world.

]]> By: sylvia hikins http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11136 sylvia hikins Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:24:05 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11136 Bradsreet I think you had better come to Liverpool. Not only do we have fab Chisrmas lighting but the city has been taken over by 139 larger than life penguins each brightly decorated by artists, individuals, community groups, schools, etc. The penguins are hanging about in pairs all over the city and are having to get used to the constant flash of human cameras. There's also an ice-rink, a big wheel to rival the London Eye and a HUGE Christmas tree. I'd still like to see what it's like in Reykjavik though-are the Northern Lights dancing in the clear skies? sylvia from viking wirral Bradsreet I think you had better come to Liverpool. Not only do we have fab Chisrmas lighting but the city has been taken over by 139 larger than life penguins each brightly decorated by artists, individuals, community groups, schools, etc. The penguins are hanging about in pairs all over the city and are having to get used to the constant flash of human cameras. There’s also an ice-rink, a big wheel to rival the London Eye and a HUGE Christmas tree. I’d still like to see what it’s like in Reykjavik though-are the Northern Lights dancing in the clear skies?
sylvia from viking wirral

]]> By: Fred http://icelandweatherreport.com/2009/11/my-iceland-the-advent.html/comment-page-1#comment-11135 Fred Sun, 29 Nov 2009 23:56:27 +0000 http://icelandweatherreport.com/?p=2901#comment-11135 Alda, I really enjoy these glimpses into Icelandic culture and what life is like for Icelanders. Your political and economic reporting fills a vital need, but when it takes over, I miss the reporting on everyday life for everyday people. Alda,

I really enjoy these glimpses into Icelandic culture and what life is like for Icelanders.

Your political and economic reporting fills a vital need, but when it takes over, I miss the reporting on everyday life for everyday people.

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