Iceland sparkles when it is sunny says UK ambassador to Iceland

As you may have inferred from my interviews, I am addicted to Twitter. The key to getting a good experience from Twitter is putting in the time to find the best accounts to follow. The rule is simple, avoid the negative and the divisive, and follow the uplifting and insightful. Fortunately, there are many great people on Twitter, so this is easy. One of the great people to follow on Twitter is Dr. Bryony Mathew, the UK ambassador to Iceland. Like her Japanese colleague, she has raised her profile successfully amongst us Icelanders through social media. Her feed gives a good insight into what it is like to be the UK ambassador to Iceland and demonstrates the great relationship Iceland and the United Kingdom have.

Strong ties between the UK and Iceland

Icelanders are quite preoccupied with all things British. So many people follow English football religiously, and UK politics are followed with great interest. Many Icelanders have studied in the UK and benefited from British universities’ high academic standards. Many British people visit Iceland every year, and I daresay they have a positive experience; most Icelanders speak English well. Iceland and Britain have had difficulties in the cod wars, which is ancient history.

Hello Dr. Mathew, thank you for taking the time for the interview. You became the UK Ambassador to Iceland in August 2021; what were you doing before coming to Iceland?

From 2008 – to 2016, I worked at the British Embassies in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Beijing, China, and the British Trade Office in Bangalore, India. Then I moved back to the UK in 2016 and worked at the Foreign Office in London until 2021. Diplomats spend approximately two-thirds of their careers overseas and one-third at headquarters in London.

What has been the most surprising thing about Iceland in your experience?

How popular ice cream is! It might be pitch black, late at night in the middle of winter, freezing cold with horizontal hail, and what do Icelanders do? They go out for ice cream! I love the concept of ísbilturar, where families pile into the car, stop by an ice cream shop and then eat their ice-creams in the car as they do a little driving tour around town, often with kids in pyjamas ready for bed as soon as they get home.

Your Twitter feed show you are an avid runner and a hiker. What are your favorite routes to run or hike here in Reykjavik?

My favourite one in Reykjavik is definitely the loop out to Grotta. I love running along the side of the ocean with waves crashing on the rocks, passing black sand beaches, and looking out to the snow-capped mountains. It’s always windy there, so you come back feeling totally refreshed! I also really like going up Mount Esja, although that’s not an easy run!

Have you been able to travel around Iceland? If so, do you have favorite places or activities here?

I’ve been doing as much traveling as I can and have lots more trips in the pipeline; there is so much to see here. My favourite place so far is the puffin lookout right at the sound end of Heimaey in Vestmannaeyjar. I also love the hike to the hot river at Reykjadalur and then in Reykjavik I think Viðey is a really lovely place to visit. As for favourite activities, it has to be swimming. My family and I have tried out every swimming pool in the greater Reykjavik area, there are so many great places to swim here! Whenever we go somewhere new, we always go to the local pool. Our last trip was to Akranes, and we loved the geothermal pools right on the beach (Guðlaug).

What advice would you give to those visiting Iceland for the first time?

Embrace the weather. Always check for weather warnings, but if things are looking ok, then make sure you’ve packed your waterproofs, hat, scarf, and boots, and get outside and explore! Yes, the weather can be a little rough but if you’re dressed for it, and you’ve checked that where you’re going is safe, then you will have an incredible time in Icelandic nature. A bit of wind and rain just adds to the experience – remember you’re on an island in the North Atlantic! And if you’re lucky enough to get some sunshine, then you’re in for a real treat. Iceland literally sparkles when it is sunny.