Portland and Reykjavik should be friends

There was a surreal familiarity about Reykjavik, as if I was not in fact so many miles from home, but rather just in a very pedestrian-friendly, fish-loving neighborhood of Portland with over priced clothing shops.  Okay, so maybe I just wanted it to be a little known Portland neighborhood (Portlandia sketch?), but legitimately, there were some significant similarities.

For one thing–the most reliable meteorological phenomenon in Iceland is not in fact snow, as it’s name might lead you to believe, but rather rain–just like Portland!  Grey, gloomy, windy rain is the order of the day in Reykjavik. Luckily for us, we were blessed with particularly strange weather and enjoyed mostly clear, partly cloudy skies each day we were there.

Secondly, there are hipsters EVERYWHERE.  In fact, hipsterism may have originated in Iceland.  No one has the cooler-than-though-aloofness perfected more than the Icelanders.  The critical difference (in my very limited experience) was that this aloofness was merely an initial impression.  Unlike with Portland hipsters whose coolness is directly correlated to their dismissiveness, Iceland hipsters quickly gave way to friendly, playful camaraderie (particularly if there was alcohol involved).

Thirdly, Icelanders, like Portlanders, are absolutely, utterly in every way, convinced that they live in the best place on earth.  They have the best water (true!  Though we’re a close second), best beer (not so true), mountains, bars, food, horses, you name it.  The intensity of this belief goes beyond simply loyalty.

And another thing–Iceland has a tremendous music scene.  A country of no more than 300,000 people (less than the size of Portland) holds annual music festivals, the winners of which are propelled through the European music scene, not to mention all of the music to be found in the cafes and pubs around town.  Icelandic music is nothing short of unique–and wonderful.  We Portlanders, too, are obsessive about our music and homegrown talent (even if much of that talent seems to be transplanted from elsewhere).

Just initial observations, certainly, but enough to make me want to return to spend some more time cultivating this very seemingly natural friendship . . .