Here’s what happened a long time ago. The Vikings, the guys with the long boats, burly beards, and very heavy-metal hats, are the ones who gave both Iceland and Greenland their names. They were REALLY thinking when they did this. They purposefully misnamed them both so that their enemies would go to the wrong place (hopefully). They called the ice-covered land — Greenland. So yeah, the bad guys would sail there, and the Viking-Guys would be safe, at Home-Sweet-Home Iceland.
Yeah, those smart Vikings. They settled there in Iceland around 800. A long, long time ago. By 930 AD. they had founded the first Parliament on the planet. It’s still there today, working away.
I only mention the “Land of Fire & Ice” (the volcanoes and glaciers there), because of a recent article I read. Iceland has been named the “Safest Country in the World” for the 11th consecutive year. It is an award given out by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Yep. Iceland. Again.
The top ten were mostly European. Iceland (No. 1), Austria (No. 3), Portugal (No. 4), Denmark (No. 5), the Czech Republic (No. 7), and Ireland (No. 10). Then, rounding out the other four spaces were New Zealand, Canada, Singapore, and Japan.
Don’t hold your breath for the good old U.S.A. We came in 121st. Out of 163. Pathetic. Oh well. What else could go wrong? Right?
Iceland’s Police People don’t even carry guns.
It seems like a very cool place, no pun intended. They still have their same, old, well-preserved language. It is a little bit like Danish and Norwegian. But the Icelandic language remains totally unique.
But here is the best thing about Iceland. More than 50% of the population believes in the existence of Elves, and Trolls. They have all sorts of incredibly good stories and legends about these little folks. The Elves and the Trolls. Besides all of that, the Icelanders will absolutely postpone construction projects if it’s believed that something is going to be built where elves currently live.
There are more things they do, there in Iceland, to accommodate their elves. Like Magic. Just like magic.
But just remember, whether it is Iceland or Disneyland — Just because YOU don’t believe in something, doesn’t mean it isn’t true.
I mean. How many of us have never been wrong about anything? So if you don’t think Elves are true, you’d better start paying closer attention in your own backyard. Sven.
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“I can believe things that are true and things that aren’t true and I can believe things where nobody knows if they’re true or not.” — Neil Gaiman
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“The moment you doubt whether you can fly, you cease for ever to be able to do it.”
― J.M. Barrie, Peter Pan
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“Tell people there’s an invisible man in the sky who created the universe, and the vast majority will believe you. Tell them the paint is wet, and they have to touch it to be sure.”
― George Carlin
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