I Continue to Love Iceland Noir

Eleven years after attending my first Iceland Noir festival (the second ever held) I still love participating in this celebratory gathering of so many wonderful members of the international crime writing community. So much so that when I had to withdraw at the last minute this year, I found myself lingering over old photographs capturing Barbara's and my memories of that magical island and the many lifelong friends we've formed there over the years. 

Back in 2014 I'd never been to Iceland before, and found Reykjavik, its people, its ambiance, and its nightlife combining to create a sense of what legendary Berlin or Paris must have been like in their heydays.  Or, less esoterically expressed, perhaps it’s just as simple as what I overheard a young American telling his girlfriend in a coffee shop, “It’s a cross between Bar Harbor, Maine and old Amsterdam.”  Whatever it is, this place has all the right vibes.

Here are some photos I took back then, though I never did get around to taking any of its vibrant, sophisticated (as compared to Mykonos) nightlife for we were too busy partaking to photograph.  

The festival itself remains a delight, filled with interesting speakers putting on their “A game” just for the joy of being here, and a knowledgeable, appreciative audience.   What more could a writer ask for?  Don’t answer, just look at the photos.

The first thing I saw after passing through immigration.

The first thing I saw upon leaving the terminal at 7AM. 

The strong, windswept, colorful, enchanting town of Reykjavik.

Off in the distance in that last photo is a church steeple, one that offers spectacular views of Reykjavik from the town's highest ground.  I found a balance in the place...and decided to leave my mark alongside the awe-inspiring site. Most though thought I should have left the beret instead.

But what of all the MIE'rs over there in 2024?  Here they come, Annamaria, Yrsa (a co-founder of the festival), Zoe, Michael, Stan, and moi.

And now it's off to book our place for 2026!

Jeff—Saturday