Hello, my name is Pétur, and I would like to be your guide in Iceland. So why choose me as your guide? Am I any different from the other talented people here offering their services? Well, I'm probably the oldest of them, so I've been in the school of life for the longest time. And even though I'm 69, I try to stay in good shape by running and lifting weights. I started running 30 years ago when I noticed my weight was increasing steadily, around 0.5 kg a year, and I had to do something about it. Luckily, my body can still do it and is ready for action if needed.
I was born in Iceland, and I have lived here my whole life, except for three years in Sweden as a young boy. I'm as local as they get and financially independent, which means I can do whatever I like. I enjoy being a guide, showing guests from other countries our magnificent island with all its natural wonders. That is why I quit my 9-to-5 job and decided to become a guide. I worked as a QESH manager for the Coca-Cola Company here in Iceland. Now, some of you might wonder what QESH stands for. It stands for Quality, Environmental, Health, and Safety. I had been working there for far too long, so I decided to resign. That was twelve years ago, and I founded my own little company, with me as the only employee, and bought a Van. Since then, I've been a guide, mostly working for other travel agencies. But after my wife's wise words-"Don't put all your eggs in one basket"-I also accepted an offer to become a lead auditor, auditing quality, environmental, health, and safety management systems in various companies. Interesting job, I know well after all my years as a QESH manager. With all this, I work as a contractor about 50/50. However, this meant I didn't develop my own guiding business as I had planned. The good thing is that no one likes audits in the summertime, when most tourists visit us.
It is challenging to capture the attention of travelers visiting Iceland. Big companies in this business catch customers in their nets long before I have a chance. Now, I'm trying to change that with the help of Tours by Locals, and I'm creating tours to places I know so well. Most of my tours are similar to those offered by others. People like to visit the same places, so it's impossible to avoid that.
But one of my tours is different. I like to take you out of the crowd and into my world and let you feel what it is like to be an Icelander. I'd like to take you through the areas where I was born and raised, then to other parts of Reykjavik, including neighboring towns you might not otherwise visit. I will show you where some Icelanders have lunch, and you can eat as much as you like of typical Icelandic home food. We will visit the wonderful open-air museum featuring old houses saved from destruction and relocated from the center of Reykjavik, each with its own story. You get to learn everything about our unique geothermal open-air swimming pools and take a swim. Finally, I will invite you to my home. I´m offering you the taste of Iceland.
My qualifications:
Certified Tourist Guide and a member of the Iceland Tourist Guide Association.
Day Tour Provider, license issued by the Icelandic Tourist Board.
Permit for Passenger Transport issued by the Icelandic Transport Authority.
