Ten ways to survive the snowpocalypse
The beauty of the all-encompassing white blanket of snow. Mbl.is/ Eva Björk Ægisdóttir
Well, yes, it may be just like living in Denver or Minneapolis but the current 43 centimetres of snowfall and further storm predictions may make you feel like you've landed in Siberia by mistake. Here are a few tips on how to get through this all without having a nervous breakdown.
1. Appreciate the beauty of it all
You're witnessing natures forces at work. A thick layer of snow is a lot better than total, bleak, all-encompassing December darkness. Snow brightens everything up and there's that weird, dull calm in the air when snow dampens ambient sounds.
Take your time. Snow slows things down. Mbl.is/ Kristján Kristjánsson
2. Plan ahead, put in extra hours
Walking a small child to playschool may have taken five minutes before, now it could take half an hour. Those huge mountainous snow piles are hard on tiny legs. If going by bus: it may run late, and if by car: traffic is slow and you may get stuck. Get up earlier than usual, make more time for travelling.
A familiar sight: people helping each other out in the snow. Mbl.is/ Kristinn Ingvarsson
3. Be nice to people
The snowfall has made people nicer. They help you to dislodge your car. They smile at your kids. They shovel snow for each other. They even give you a lift. Be nice and you'll get plenty of karma points back. You may even meet a really cute guy/girl who helps you dig your car out.
Head downtown for some warming "glögg" - mulled wine. Mbl.is/ Friðrik Tryggvason
4. Socialise
The weather is so enchanting that it's perfect for going for a walk down to the city centre dressed in your warmest clothing to enjoy a beer, glass of warm wine or an egg nog. It's cosy and will get you into that Christmas spirit.
Escape from the cold by doing some Christmas shopping. Photo/ mbl.is
5. Shop
If the weather is really awful, you could always go to the shopping malls, Kringlan or Smáralind. They may be totally lacking in cosy factor but they offer tonnes of shops and obviously you'll escape the cold for a couple of hours.
Ice hockey practice on Lake Tjörnin. Rax / Ragnar Axelsson
6.Enjoy winter sports
Ok, it's not skiing season yet, but you could go ice skating at the downtown skating rink on Ingólfstorg or on Lake Tjörnin. There are plenty of small hills in Reykjavik for toboggan rides. A firm favourite is the "rassaþota" which literally means "bum jet." This is a tiny plastic contraption for sliding on your bum down slopes in the snow. You can buy them at Bónus for almost nothing and they're extraordinarily good fun.
Ok, this hot tub is in North Iceland but you get the picture. Mbl.is/ Kristján Kristjánsson
7. Go to the pool
We always, always recommend going to the pool. You don't even have to swim, just soak in the goodness of thermal water in a hot tub and enjoy the sauna. Swimming when it's snowy outside is really magical and you'll feel invigorated.
For winter style think Anna Karenina. Screenshot/ YouTube
8. Make your home into a haven
Do something small every day to brighten up your home so you don't have to stress about cleaning before Christmas at the last minute. Buy a couple of scented Christmas candles, throw a few branches of pine into a vase, buy that ready-made gingerbread dough to make instant biscuits to make your home smell wonderful.
Be romantic! Mbl.is/ Ómar Óskarsson
9. Not dressing for the cold is not cool
There's nothing naffer than people stumbling about in flimsy clothes at night obviously putting style before comfort. Sliding around in high heels or fancy shoes is not cool. There are ways to look beautifully stylish in the snow. Get your style inspiration from the Russian Tzars.
10. Kiss
Well, we don't really need to say anything more about that one except what could be more romantic than a winter kiss.
PS. Those great people at the Reykjavik Grapevine came up with the snowpocalypse description for this bout of snow and we love it.
