Hi!
My name is Ólöf Bjarnadóttir and if you let me, I will be your guide on your trip to Iceland.
I was born and rased in Iceland and I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. This small buisiness venture is an ambitious idea cooked up by myself and my husband Sverrir (and fully supported by our 3 teenagers). Our goal is to show you how we experience Iceland and what it’s like to be Icelandic.
Why would you want me to be your guide?
Well, I love all things Iceland, but there is more:
I am a licenced guide, I hold a BA degree in Theology and Comparative Religions from the University of Iceland and a MA degree in Old Norse Religions from the same university (yes, that makes me a legitimate expert in the Viking Age).
As a part time teacher at the University of Iceland since 2018 I teach annual 5 and 10 ETC courses on BA and MA levels at the department of Folkloristics called “Being Icelandic: Icelandic Folktales, Beliefs and Popular Culture Past and Present” Where the aim is to give exchange students at the university an opportunity to learn about the history and culture of Iceland. And “Old Nordic Religion” Where the aim is to trace the origins and development of religious expression in Scandinavia from the Stone Age to the Early Medieval Period in the north.
I have also lectured to visiting students on these subjects and taught shorter courses on the Old Norse Religion, its origin and extant sources; and the Development of the Image and Role of the Virgin Mary in the Christian Religion at the CEUI (Continuing Education University of Iceland).
I have extensive knowledge of the development of Icelandic society, religion, and language from the settlement in 870 AD to modern day and can tell you all about the folktales and folk traditions this island has inspired. This will help you understand the customs and traditions of Icelanders throughout the ages which are, after all, what being Icelandic is all about.
Private tour and personal service
If you book a tour with me, I’m the one who will take you on the tour and depending on the group size, Sverrir may join us so no-one feels left out.