Meet the Brazilian couple OBSESSED with Iceland

It is safe to say that Iceland is somewhat en vogue internationally at the moment – none more so perhaps than with Fabrizio and Titiana Rossi, a Brazilian couple who visited Iceland for the first time just one year ago.

Fabrizio, 31, and his wife Titiana, 29, dream of moving to Iceland. They run a company together, design websites and Titiana also writes a popular fashion blog. They work from home so which country they live in is not so much of an issue as regards work.

Their interest in all things Icelandic was born from next to nothing – looking for recipes from Iceland for a food blog they were running. They tried some Icelandic food and liked it. Then they moved onto Icelandic music. And now Fabrizio is a passionate supporter of the Reykjavik football team Víkingur.

“After these first contacts, we began to discuss how to find our way to Iceland and experience these things – food, music, football, and more – for ourselves,” says Fabrizio.

The couple married in 2014 and were given money from Fabrizio’s family as a wedding present towards the cost of a trip to Iceland, and they made the trip in August 2015.

They stayed for just over a week and visited much of South-West and West Iceland – and to say they liked it would be a major understatement. They have nothing but positive things to say about Iceland – the kind and polite people, the beautiful countryside, the wonderful food…

So enamoured were they of everything Icelandic, in fact, that they ended up taking 80 kg of it back with them to Brazil – everything from lava to a wall-map of Iceland, flags to rotten shark, beer to books.

The couple say they have never become as passionate about any other country before. Fabrizio is already learning Icelandic and the couple reckon that they could be fully moved to Iceland by next year, if everything goes according to plan.

“Of course, we followed Euro 2016 and cried every time the Icelandic team walked onto the pitch,” Fabrizio reminisces.

“I’m very proud to say I was able to sing along to the Icelandic national anthem, although I realise that my pronunciation of some words is poor. Of course we watched every game. Our friends in Brazil see us as representatives of Iceland. Every time there is something about Iceland in the media, they let us know. We have made an effort to introduce Iceland and Icelandic products to the people we know here.”

The couple feel somewhat ill at ease with life in Brazil – including the heat! – and feel that they were somehow always meant to live in Iceland. “The culture, food, weather and everything else in Iceland seems to suit us well, while nothing here in Brazil seems to.”

Fabrizio passes to the journalist interviewing him a message for Icelanders that he has penned himself.

“I would like to see people love Iceland as we do. I have spoken to many people in Iceland and many of them do not appreciate Iceland. Some even want to leave the country because of the cold, and because they say living in Iceland is boring and that Icelanders are not good people.”

“This sounds just ridiculous to me. You Icelanders live in the best place in the world. Iceland is in the Top 10 – at least – of best countries in the world whatever list you look at.”

“The countryside is so beautiful – when we were in Iceland, it took us six hours to drive from Reykjavik to Snæfellsnes, because we had to stop to take photographs every time we saw something beautiful. Icelanders themselves are friendly, educated, well up on history, they listen to music, keep their traditions, and the food is great!”

“Please, for me, enjoy being in Iceland. For us. You do not realise how dear Iceland is to us. I say this from the bottom of my heart.”