February 2012
10 posts
5 tags
“In the not incredibly popular area of Akranes we found this little...”
– Comment about Akranes Hostel from Karin A from Germany on Tripadvisor - December 2011
8 tags
7 tags
Vibeke Falden: På fransk blog // On French blog →
A nice review of Vibeke Falden’s gig at our Reykjavík Downtown Hostel
vibekefalden:
Så er jeg nået helt til Frankrig! Min husbond fandt en anmeldelse af min oktober koncert til Iceland Airwaves i Reykjavik på denne blog:
http://theofflinepeople.blogspot.com/2011_10_01_archive.html
Jeg blev overrasket over så flotte ord! Og glad, selvfølgelig. Du kan se den engelske…
3 tags
10 tags
7 tags
6 tags
Something for the kids - Bjössaróló in Borgarnes
Bjössarólo was built by idealist Björn H Guðmundsson (Bjössi), a master carpanter who lived in Borgarnes. He began constructing the playground in 1979 and maintained it himself, continually adding to it until he was well into his seventies. He built the whole playground from items that had been thrown out or were to be discarded and it’s a great place to visit with your kids. Our favorites are...
6 tags
Learn how to get most out of your camera at...
Before heading out to see beautiful Iceland, come learn about the best settings for taking pictures of geysers, waterfalls, northern lights, and landscapes. You have come all the way to Iceland, why not spend about an hour or so learning how to get the most out of any camera.
The Reykjavík Downtown Hostel has teamed up with a professional Reykjavík based/Seattle bred photographer, Craig...
January 2012
10 posts
3 tags
3 tags
5 tags
7 tags
2 tags
5 tags
6 tags
December 2011
12 posts
4 tags
5 tags
“This has been my day’s highlight! If I hadn’t found out by surprise,...”
– A very happy man called Jérôme after attending our Ólafur Arnalds Live in the Lobby event.
6 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#7 Gingerbread cookies
Need we say more?
6 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#6 Christmas songs
A lot of Icelandic Christmas songs are songs that we have borrowed from our friends abroad. Like the one below which is actually an Italian Eurovision song from 1987. In fact, a lot of the Christmas songs played on Icelandic radio are originally Italian and were not written as Christmas songs at all. I guess we should thank Italy - grazie!
We didn’t just borrow our...
8 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#5 The Christmas Concerts
December is without a doubt the busiest month on the musical social calendar in Iceland. Artists use the opportunity to follow up new releases, Icelandic music superstars put on massive Christmas spectacles and in every café, church and restaurant artists come and entertain the patrons with some lovely holiday tunes.
The annual Frostrósir concert has become a part of...
9 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#4 Laufabrauð
If you have ever been in Iceland around Christmas you may have noticed beautifully decorated thin cake-like breads that are available all over the place. These breads are called Laufabrauð, leaf bread in English, and are an important part Christmas for many Icelandic families.
The Laufabrauð originates in the north of Iceland and it’s thin shape is probably linked to the...
12 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#3 The Yule Cat
One of the strangest things connected with Icelandic Christmas must be the legend of the Yule Cat (Jólakötturinn). The Yule Cat is a big black cat with glaring eyes and whiskers sharp as bristels. It is believed to belong to Grýla, mother to the Yule Lads, and it eats anyone who doesn‘t get a new item of clothing for Christmas.
We told you that this was strange!
In the olden...
10 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#2 Egils Malt and Appelsín
Egils brewery was founded in 1913 and the first beverage they ever produced was the Malt Extrakt or Malt for short. In 1955 they came up with a new product, Appelsín orange soda, which to date is one of the most popular soft drinks in Iceland.
Shortly after Egils introduced Appelsín the tradition of mixing the two drinks together came about. Nobody knows who did it...
7 tags
12 tags
The HI Iceland Advent Calendar - 24 reasons we...
#1 The Nordic House Christmas Calendar
Every day from December 1st till Christmas, at exactly 12:34, something new and exciting happens in the Nordic House in Reykjavík as a part of their very popular Christmas calendar.
At the end of November the Nordic House announces which artists will participate that year and then at the morning of each day, just like when you were a kid and would open...
November 2011
8 posts
5 tags
6 tags
Gingerbread and Christmas carols - Come and be...
Every year the staff at Reykjavík City Hostel hosts a wonderful family gathering for all the HI Iceland staff in Reykjavík. Children and grown ups alike come together for an afternoon of gingerbread baking, Christmas card making and some quality time at the hostel.
This year the staff wants to invite you to join our multinational team as a part of the Inspired by Iceland invites. You can come...
5 tags
5 tags
Join Auður and Hrannar for dinner on New Years Eve...
Meet Auður and her boyfriend Hrannar. Auður is our webmaster and social media enthusiast who works at our office in Borgartún. Among other things, she is responsible for this blog and is painfully aware that she’s talking about herself in third person right now. Auður and Hrannar want to invite you to their home in Reykjavík for a New Years Eve dinner. They promise good food, front row...
6 tags
Learn how to make Rhubarb Crumble - Come and be...
Do you remember Ásta Kristín, our quality manager and eco-elf?
Ásta Kristín loves to bake and every now and again she brings the girls at the office some delicious home baked treats. Now she wants to invite all of you to her home, teach you how to make a Rhubarb Crumble and give you a recipe so you can make one at home. Now doesn’t that just sound mouthwateringly wonderful?
Ásta...
5 tags
Espresso arrives in Reykjavík, 1958
We recommend you check out this fantastic blog that publishes old photos from Reykjavík. This photo is from the first espresso bar in Reykjavík.
Both our hostels in Reykjavík, Reykjavík City and Reykjavík Downtown, have great coffee bars with trained baristas that can whip up amazing coffee an tea in no time. So even though you are not staying with us, you can swing by and enjoy a cup of coffee...
4 tags
7 tags
October 2011
25 posts
10 tags
8 tags
6 tags
Iceland Airwaves photoset
5 tags
“I stayed at the Downtown Hostel for three nights and as many reviewers have...”
– Tripadvidor comment by tbrn on Reykjavík Downtown Hostel in October 2011
12 tags
8 tags
7 tags
Mini Photo Tour from our friends in Houston
Oh, we wouldn’t mind visiting this hostel. Mental note: Find an excuse to go to Houston!
houstonhostlr:
HI from Houston!
We ‘Lovett’ when you show us love. Send the front desk some flowers :(
Chat with our French bull dog Pierre :)
Hang out on the hammick.
Feel zero gravity while you tan or not.
Why are all the clocks the same?
Nice, clean, comfy rooms. We try :)
...
11 tags
11 tags
10 tags
