The Fire Below

Travel into the Icelandic countryside and off in the distance
you´ll see spirals of steam rising from open mouths in the rocks.
On the island of Heimaey they bake bread in holes in the ground.
Jules Verne wrote Journey To The Center Of The Earth about his
adventures in Iceland, a descent into the fire below the surface.

A location in Egilsstaðir in the east has been chosen for a cloister
of Franciscan monks beginning a residency here. They arrived from
Slovakia. Evidence has recently been unearthed which shows that monks
from Ireland may have preceded the Vikings here. You dig in these
volcanic rocks long enough, you never know what you´ll find.

Unemployment hovers at 2% in Iceland and due to the shortage of
workers in some fields of expertise, government representatives have
met to lift restrictions on citizens from EU countries, allowing them to
work at full wages and benefits in Iceland before applying for a work
permit. It´s an unprecendented invitation to immigrants from countries
in the European Union.

I continue to be impressed with much of the music here. Björk and
Sígur Ros may be the most well-known beyond the island, but such
people as Emíliana Torrini, Mugison, Trabant and Eivör Pálsdottir
(Faroe Islands) are beginning to follow their success. Yesterday,
my last Saturday in Iceland, we went walking through Reykjavík and
heard a young rock band in one café patio, then listened to a jazz
trio in another. The crowds were overflowing at both sites, the sun
and music an irresistable tandem.

They have something called The Icelandic Name Commission here
which meets four times each year to determine which new names,
if any, a newborn child may be given. If the names are uncommon,
they come under review. I find this odd, but understand that it´s
part of the Icelandic way. A few new names were given official
permission at the last meeting, among them were Klementína,
þoka, Betsý, Spartakus, Hilaríus, Matti, Marri and Estefan. Well,
okay, but I´m not sure I´d call my boy Hilaríus...

My best to all of you.

DL