Published: Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Everett's mayor explores his family's roots in Iceland
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Photo by Jim Stephanson
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson fishes for cod on a boat near the northern fishing village of Dalvik on the Eyjafjordur, a long fjord. Stephanson's grandfather and great-grandfather were born there.
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Jim Stephanson/ For The Herald
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson on a boat near the northern fishing village of Dalvik on the Eyjafjordur. Stephanson´s grandfather and great grandfather were born there.
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Jim Stephanson / For The Herald
Gullfoss, the Golden Falls, in southwestern Iceland at 10 p.m.
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Jim Stephanson/ For The Herald
City of Reykjavik, the world's northern most capital. With a population of about 115,000 Reykjavik is slightly larger than Everett.
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Brothers Jim (left) and Ray Stephanson with their father, Ray Stephanson Sr., 85, enjoying the midnight sun at a Reykjavik hotel.
Everett Mayor Ray Stephanson tasted smoked puffin; dipped in geothermal seawater at the Blue Lagoon, a popular spa near Reykjavik, Iceland; and strolled through the Althing, the world's oldest parliament.
While on vacation in June, Stephanson traveled with three generations of his family, exploring his roots in Iceland.
The Scandinavian island nation, slightly smaller than Kentucky, was once counted among the poorest countries in Europe. Today, its residents are some of the wealthiest and best-educated people in the world.
Stephanson recounted his trip to the Herald, discussing Iceland's National Day, home-cooked meals and his only tattoo.
Herald Writer David Chircop
Photos by Jim Stephanson
"I can recall my parents speaking Icelandic when I was young -- particularly at times when they didn't want us to understand what they were talking about. Because most Icelanders speak English, it's very easy to communicate when visiting the area.
"Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. Icelanders are very trustworthy and hospitable. Most speak several languages including fluent English. They are very hard-working, honest and good-natured. In fact, police officers do not even carry weapons.
"When we visited my second cousin, Rosa, in Akureyri, she fed us a large spread of traditional Icelandic food, which included lamb souffle, dried herring, rhubarb, steamed vegetables and homemade whole-grain breads.
"We celebrated National Day on June 17 in Reykjavik, where nearly all of the 100,000 residents came out for street fairs, competitions and a variety of outdoor events. We celebrated the summer solstice in Akureyri on June 20 by staying up all night. Remember, this is a country where the sun never sets in the summer.
"I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Immigration in the town of Hofsos, Iceland. The museum has impeccable and well-documented genealogy records. We learned that on my father's side, the descendents of both my grandmother and grandfather were some of the original settlers of Iceland in the 800s. We also visited the farms in the town of Akureyri in the northern territory of Iceland where my grandfather and great-grandfather were born.
"I decided to get a tattoo for my 60th birthday (first and only tattoo) of Iceland's flag. It represents my heritage. I'm 100 percent Icelandic. My grandparents on my father's side came to America at the turn of the last century. And, my grandparents on my mother's side came to America in the 1920s.
"I would recommend a visit to Iceland to anyone interested. It's a beautiful country. Last year, more than 470,000 people visited the country (population: 300,000). Best time to visit: mid-June to mid-August. Temperatures: 60s and 70s."
Ray Stephanson
Iceland? More like Priceland
The United Nations recently named Iceland the most desirable place in the world to live. It's also famously expensive.
Consider this krona to U.S. dollar conversion:
A glass of beer: $10.
Cod and chips: $35
A gallon of gas: $8
You say hello, I say hallo
Ray Stephanson picked up several key Icelandic terms during his trip, including:
Brennivin: local schnapps "black death"
Foss: waterfall
Hallo: Hello
Jai: Yes
Nei: No
Skal: Cheers!
Takk: Thank you
While on vacation in June, Stephanson traveled with three generations of his family, exploring his roots in Iceland.
The Scandinavian island nation, slightly smaller than Kentucky, was once counted among the poorest countries in Europe. Today, its residents are some of the wealthiest and best-educated people in the world.
Stephanson recounted his trip to the Herald, discussing Iceland's National Day, home-cooked meals and his only tattoo.
Herald Writer David Chircop
Photos by Jim Stephanson
"I can recall my parents speaking Icelandic when I was young -- particularly at times when they didn't want us to understand what they were talking about. Because most Icelanders speak English, it's very easy to communicate when visiting the area.
"Iceland is one of the safest countries in the world. Icelanders are very trustworthy and hospitable. Most speak several languages including fluent English. They are very hard-working, honest and good-natured. In fact, police officers do not even carry weapons.
"When we visited my second cousin, Rosa, in Akureyri, she fed us a large spread of traditional Icelandic food, which included lamb souffle, dried herring, rhubarb, steamed vegetables and homemade whole-grain breads.
"We celebrated National Day on June 17 in Reykjavik, where nearly all of the 100,000 residents came out for street fairs, competitions and a variety of outdoor events. We celebrated the summer solstice in Akureyri on June 20 by staying up all night. Remember, this is a country where the sun never sets in the summer.
"I had the opportunity to visit the Museum of Immigration in the town of Hofsos, Iceland. The museum has impeccable and well-documented genealogy records. We learned that on my father's side, the descendents of both my grandmother and grandfather were some of the original settlers of Iceland in the 800s. We also visited the farms in the town of Akureyri in the northern territory of Iceland where my grandfather and great-grandfather were born.
"I decided to get a tattoo for my 60th birthday (first and only tattoo) of Iceland's flag. It represents my heritage. I'm 100 percent Icelandic. My grandparents on my father's side came to America at the turn of the last century. And, my grandparents on my mother's side came to America in the 1920s.
"I would recommend a visit to Iceland to anyone interested. It's a beautiful country. Last year, more than 470,000 people visited the country (population: 300,000). Best time to visit: mid-June to mid-August. Temperatures: 60s and 70s."
Ray Stephanson
Iceland? More like Priceland
The United Nations recently named Iceland the most desirable place in the world to live. It's also famously expensive.
Consider this krona to U.S. dollar conversion:
A glass of beer: $10.
Cod and chips: $35
A gallon of gas: $8
You say hello, I say hallo
Ray Stephanson picked up several key Icelandic terms during his trip, including:
Brennivin: local schnapps "black death"
Foss: waterfall
Hallo: Hello
Jai: Yes
Nei: No
Skal: Cheers!
Takk: Thank you
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