The Little Book of Tourists in Iceland by Alda Sigmundsdóttir

Author:Alda Sigmundsdóttir [Sigmundsdóttir, Alda]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: PublishDrive

HEEDING THE CALL

Then we have the sewage disposal conundrum in a slightly broader context.

Let’s look at the facts: Iceland is sparsely populated, it has filled up with tourists at an unprecedented rate, and there simply are not enough toilets throughout the country to serve nearly two million visitors a year. In fact, in some parts of the country you can drive for hours and not see as much as a single port-a-potty, let alone a service station with proper facilities.

We who inhabit the land of ice have learned to live with this. If we have to travel long distances and know we won’t be able to buy gas or food along the way, we fill up the tank and pack a lunch. When hunger starts to nag we find a suitable place to stop, preferably where we are sheltered from the wind, and have a little picnic. If it is raining we eat in the car. And if we have to serve the call of nature we serve the call of nature. Outside. In nature.

If we have to do number one, the business is relatively straightforward. If we have to do number two, we do number two, only we make sure it is covered with something when we leave. A rock, a piece of lava, some turf … whatever provides enough coverage so that no one will be unfortunate enough to stumble upon it, if you get my drift.

Now, all this requires a certain deftness in the disposal of toilet paper, when it is used. The number one rule is this: never ever leave bits of it just lying there on the ground. The wind will whisk it away—if not at this moment, then a few moments from now. And from there it can wind up anywhere. Understand? Anywhere.

Here is how we Icelanders have learned to do it: stuff the paper under a rock where it may decompose at its leisure. Or find a nook or crevice in the lava and shove it in there, making sure we close the space with a rock. If we happen to be hiking and the paper is relatively, um, clean, we use our hiking pole to stuff it deep into a crevice, or into soft ground.

Fast-forward to the present day. Hundreds of thousands of visitors touring the land, needing to heed the call. Suddenly, there is toilet paper everywhere. By the side of the road, along hiking trails, in woods surrounding picnic areas. White (and some not-so white) bits of paper lying, or even flying, around. Among trees, in the ruins of old houses, even in a flipping churchyard. Just lying there, waiting to attach itself to the underside of someone’s shoe, or to fly into someone’s food when they are having their lunch.

Seriously upsetting.

So who is to blame? The poor tourists who need to do their business? Icelandic authorities who haven’t made enough toilets available for the poor tourists?

Well, we could play the blame game, but that’s not terribly constructive. Yes, Iceland needs more toilets, just like it needs all kinds of infrastructure.

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