HeyJaredLetter from Iceland
Bringing you a deeper understanding of Iceland and the Icelanders.
- Indexed issues, last 90 days
- 12
- Latest publication
- Sep 29, 2026
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- Earliest in this view
- Jul 15, 2026
Latest issues
Making tourists pay (opens the original)
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For years now, Icelandic authorities have been debating how to handle the cost of building and improving tourist infrastructure. The explosion of mass tourism over the last decade and a half has posed some, well, challenges for Iceland, including how to protect our delicate natural environment, ensure the safety of our visitors, build the proper infrastructure (toilets, anyone?), strengthen health care and law enforcement to meet the additional two-million-plus people who come here annually, and
To sovereign or not to sovereign (opens the original)
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I cannot lie: I raised an eyebrow last Friday when it was announced that Denmark and Greenland had reached an agreement with the USA over Greenland.My first reaction was WHOA and I waited for the deluge of commentary from people I follow who concern themselves with these matters. I even tuned in to a current affairs show that I used to listen to all the time but gave up around the time I stopped watching the news every day for the sake of my mental health. But, no, not even a mention of it in th
The locker room milestone (opens the original)
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I had the cutest exchange at the local pool yesterday. I was alone in the women’s change room when this little girl came in—I’d guess she was around 7. “Hi!” she says to me, all smiles.“Hi!” I said.“I’m here with my dad and I’m in here alone for the first time,” she announced, beaming with pride. “He’s not allowed in here,” she added, helpfully.“Wow, that’s great!” I said, “do you need any help?”“No that’s okay.”It only occurred to me then that this is a rite of passag
The definition of insanity (opens the original)
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Hello, and welcome new subscribers! I am grateful to have the chance to share my perspective on Iceland with you. I’ve been writing about this country for foreign audiences since 1994, and am the author of ten books about Iceland. (You can learn more about me by clicking here.) Each week I publish a post (sometimes more than one) and make a point of having a significant portion accessible to everyone. Paid supporters get deeper insights, more personal reflections, and perks like discounts off my
Life under oligarchy, or why Icelanders voted not to reopen negotiations with the European Union (opens the original)
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In 1490, the Icelandic parliament, Alþingi, passed laws that made it illegal for Icelanders to work for foreigners. The reason: foreign vessels (British and German, mostly) that fished off the coast of Iceland needed hands to process their catch for the voyage back home, and they were prepared to pay good wages. Consequently, fishing camps began forming at the coastline, populated by Icelanders who had discovered they could earn money through their labour.The Alþingi of that era consisted of wea
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