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Hello From Iceland


amyatla

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Hi everyone,

 

I'm really just a fountain pen newbie. I've always been nitpicky about my roller pens, but nothing else was available in the area where I lived before (Canada) in stores. I found some Pilot V-Pens in a bookstore here in Reykjavík, and am kicking myself for not having started using fountain pens earlier.

 

I've always appreciated nice pens, but never realized there was a whole community of people that did! Years ago I inherited a Parker Sonnet ballpoint from my grandfather, and loved it to pieces. I've got a Sonnet fountain pen in the mail now (with a couple of Diamine inks to try), and can't wait for it to arrive! I just picked one with a steel nib though, until I've got more experience writing properly with fountains.

 

I've been interested in lettering and calligraphy for years, and now that I've found a source of pens and ink, I'm finally ready to dive in! Think I'll work on my everyday handwriting a bit first, though.

 

Glad to meet you all!

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Hello and Welcome to FPN!! Glad to have you join us!

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Welcome to FPN

 

 

Just out of curiosity, I have been fascinated by Iceland for years, first learning about it after reading a Book on the 1972 Chess Championship match held in Iceland between Bobby Fischer and Boris Spasky. And then learning more about the culture, people and the breathtaking views....

 

I was wondering, Is chess still a big thing there? Do you get chess fan pilgrims visiting because of the match?

 

 

Ren

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8703/letterminizk9.png http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7260/postminipo0.png

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Hi Renfield,

 

Chess (or skák, as it's called in Icelandic) is definitely big here, particulary on the northern island Grímsey. There's not much else to do there in the winter, so the people there get lots of practice. The best chess players in Iceland are supposed to come from Grímsey. Back in the late 1800s, an American chess player heard of their reputation and sent a bunch of supplies to the island, and left provisions for the people on it in his will. He never once visited, though.

 

This past summer, there was a campaign to put on the city buses in Reykjavík different cool things about the city. One of the decorated buses read (in translation): "Bobby Fischer survives here." His burial place and old home are usually pointed out to the tourists going through Selfoss, as well. I've honestly never heard of chess pilgrims, but I really wouldn't be surprised in the least if it happened. I'm not much of a chess player myself, so I'm not exactly in the loop on that.

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Hi Renfield,

 

Chess (or skák, as it's called in Icelandic) is definitely big here, particulary on the northern island Grímsey. There's not much else to do there in the winter, so the people there get lots of practice. The best chess players in Iceland are supposed to come from Grímsey. Back in the late 1800s, an American chess player heard of their reputation and sent a bunch of supplies to the island, and left provisions for the people on it in his will. He never once visited, though.

 

This past summer, there was a campaign to put on the city buses in Reykjavík different cool things about the city. One of the decorated buses read (in translation): "Bobby Fischer survives here." His burial place and old home are usually pointed out to the tourists going through Selfoss, as well. I've honestly never heard of chess pilgrims, but I really wouldn't be surprised in the least if it happened. I'm not much of a chess player myself, so I'm not exactly in the loop on that.

 

Amyatla

 

Thanks for the insight!

 

Iceland is on my potential list of places I want to live (assuming I win the lottery, and don't need to work). Its pretty high up on the list as well

 

Ren

http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/8703/letterminizk9.png http://img356.imageshack.us/img356/7260/postminipo0.png

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Welcome, Amyatla !

 

Thank you for saying "community", rather than "leper colony" .

 

Don't forget to give your Sonnet a degreesing flush and rinse before first ink.

Auf freiem Grund mit freiem Volke stehn.
Zum Augenblicke dürft ich sagen:
Verweile doch, du bist so schön !

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Hi Amyatta and welcome to FPN

 

Reykjavik.... Can't remember seeing another member form Iceland here, but probably there are several.

 

Any good stores in Iceland to buy stuff apart from V-pens?

 

 

Enjoy the forum

 

 

D.ick

~

KEEP SAFE, WEAR A MASK, KEEP A DISTANCE.

Freedom exists by virtue of self limitation.

~

 

 

 

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Thanks again for the warm welcomes, everyone.

 

RMN, I've not found much in the way of places to buy supplies here, but there are a few things available in Penninn/Eymundsson. They'll usually have some pen-company inks (Lamy for certain, can't remember which other 2) tucked away in drawers somewhere. They also sell Cross pens, and can special-order Lamy pens but don't keep any non-disposable fountain pens in stock. I did luck out and was able to find a dip-pen holder and nibs there once, though. Penninn usually has some nice paper, too. My favourite paper is actually a surprisingly cheap writing block from the university bookstore, though!

 

I've yet to check it out, but Lítir og Föndur on Skólavörðustíg is supposed to have some inks and papers, but doesn't show much on their website.

 

Of course, there are probably other stores around that I've simply not come across.

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Hello and Welcome!

 

Iceland is near the top of my wish list to visit, being a geologist. Anywhere there are hot springs, volcanoes and glaciers - that's the spot for me.

 

Would you be interested in trading postcards? I don't have one yet from the land of the midnight sun!

 

Glad you've joined us. Great community.

 

Jack

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Hey, another Icelander here. Penninn in Hallarmúli has the best selection of pens but it really is limited. They have Lamy and Pelican inks as well. Too bad the selection is horrible in Iceland.

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