SAGA SHOP - Haust I Fall 2019

60 Icelandair Stopover Culture: Literature From Viking sagas to Nordic Noir, literature has always been central to Icelandic culture. To enhance your own travel narrative, duck into one of Iceland’s many bookstores and pick up a paged companion for your trip. The jólabókaflóð (“Christmas book flood”) is now in full flow with the latest Icelandic titles, and a good portion of them are translated into English (see page 16 for inspiration). Most of the larger towns have some kind of cozy bookstore-café arrangement, perfect for rainy days. If you’re passing through Egils- staðir in the East, stop by Bókakaffi Hlöðum for books, gift items, and a fat slice of cake. And for something special in the Westfjords, take a peek into Iceland’s oldest bookstore in Flateyri, aptly named The Old Bookstore. This elegant shop is run by the original owner’s great-grandson. (Opening hours are limited in the colder months, so drop him a line if you’re planning a visit.) A tip: You’ll enjoy your book that much more if you can spot the places that inspired it. In Mosfellsbær (close to Reykjavík), you can visit Gljúfrasteinn museum, former home of Halldór Laxness, Iceland’s Nobel laureate in literature. And if sagas are your thing, head to West Iceland to explore the Saga Trails: a variety of sites and museums located where many of the stories are set. STOPOVER ICELAND: OUR TOP PICKS With so much you can pack into an Icelandair Stopover, the options can feel over- whelming. So, we keep it simple: Four new themes and four fresh suggestions every issue. Take your pick. Happenings: Live Shows Iceland has a busy calendar of live comedy and burlesque, with a number of English shows in the mix. For a crash-course in Icelandic culture and history, make time for tourist-geared shows such as How to Become Icelandic in 60 Minutes and Icelandic Sagas – The Greatest Hits . Playing in Reykjavík’s beautiful Harpa Concert Hall, these shows deliver cultural insights with belly laughs along the way. Alternatively, take cues from the locals and head to downtown comedy venues. The Secret Cellar comedy club has nightly stand- up shows (many in English), while live venue and bar Gaukurinn hosts established come- dians, open mics, drag shows, concerts, and more. Recent years have also seen the birth of a cabaret scene in Iceland, largely spearheaded by the Reykjavík Kabarett company, which fuses burlesque, drag, magic and comedy. Also look out for Dömur og herra and Iceland’s newest burlesque troupe, Túttífrútturnar. (You’ll find them all on Facebook.) Pickings are slimmer beyond the capital, but depending on your timing, you may find inter- esting live happenings at the Freezer Hostel in Rif, Snæfellsnes, and the Akureyri Theater Company up North. (Continues on page 62.) BY SARAH DEARNE. Above: The interior of Harpa Concert Hall and Conference Center, which hosts two regular live shows in English. Photo by Catherine Rogan.