Today was my 18th Presentation in Iceland about us Vestur-Íslendingar (Western Icelanders) and was held in a beautiful hall at Háskóli Íslands -- many thanks to everyone there --- they made the environment and equipment perfect. This is my 8th time in Iceland. In 2012, as part of the "International Visits Program," there were 12 presentation in just that one year - so that is how I made it to 18 so fast.
Today, the President of Iceland - Ólafur Ragnar Grímsson, the former President of Iceland - Vigdís Finnbogadóttir, the advisor to the current Prime Minister, Jóhannes Þór, the retired Consul General Atli Asmundsson and Þrúður Helgadóttir, past Speaker of the Alþingi, the President of the University - Kristín Ingólfsdóttir, plus many parliamentarians and retired government dignitaries of Iceland including my friend, Elin Hirst and the Canadian Ambassador, Stewart Wheeler, were all there.
So many people who I have met over the years like Oddný who designed my National Costume and Dóra who designed my jewelry. There are way too many people to mention. If you were there .... thank you so very much! I am sorry if I was whisked away before greeting you. It was crazy!
Wow! It was amazing the number of people who attended but it was overwhelming with the media. Our friend of North America, Steinþór Guðbjartsson, was there and he was so gracious to write a nice story for the Morgunblaðið yesterday but the news stations had cameras and needed interviews --- hopefully I did an okay job in the interviews because I was a little bit frazzled after all the spotlight.
Thank you to my friends that took some nice photos, Kent Lárus Björnsson and Jón Adólph Steinólfsson.
Special thanks to the people who make this all happen ... the Þjóðræknisfélag Íslendinga (Halldór, Eydís, Elín, Almar, Rögnvaldur, Ásta Sól, Svavar, and all), to Atli og Þrúður, and to all the people of Iceland that attend the lectures - it is so great to connect with each of you.
A special thanks to my friend and colleague, Hálfdan Helgason, without his database ... we would have none of this great work on genealogy in North America. And last but most of all .... thank you to my wonderful family that supports my Icelandic Adventures back in North America and here in Iceland.
