Sunday, April 30, 2017

Pictured here are my son, Ted, and Birna who works for the Handknitting Association of Iceland. Ted bought me a sweater from the Association last year and it was the wrong size. So I contacted the Association (via email) and Birna was very helpful in replacing my beautiful sweater with one that fit perfectly. When in Reykjavik this month, we stopped in and introduced ourselves to Birna to thank her for all her help. She seemed pleasantly surprised and was a treat to speak with. Thanks Birna!
Fishing is the main industry in Iceland, followed closely by tourism. Iceland has chosen not to join the European Union as they wish to be free of EU regulations that could effect catch quotas, prices, and types of fish and whales caught. While there my son and I ate Minke Whale meat and it was very tasty ... and very expensive. A small serving (about 1-2 ounces) cost 4400 kroner (about $44!). Iceland also is home to aluminum smelters powered by thermal steam and heat. The borax is shipped from Australia and smelted in Iceland because the power is so inexpensive. There are three aluminum smelters in Iceland, in Reyðarfjörður, East Iceland, owned by Alcoa, on Grundartangi near Akranes, West Iceland, owned by Norðurál Century Aluminum and in Straumsvík near Hafnarfjörður, Southwest Iceland, owned by Rio Tinto Alcan Iceland.
The Lutheran Cathedral in Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik (smoky bay) is the capitol of Iceland and has a population of about 200,000. The overall population of Iceland is about 325,000; mostly people of Scandinavian stock who came from Norway and Denmark in the 9th and 10th centuries. Lutheranism is the state religion of Iceland. The statue in front of the Cathedral is Leaf Ericson (the founder of Iceland).