Route of the Vikings

Canadian Maritime Provinces

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North Atlantic Islands

Faroe

This isolated group of islands is part of Denmark. There are some remnants of Viking culture here including an old church. Many of the houses have sod roofs, rendering the village of Thorshavn very colorful.


Fresh Cod is readily available at the waterfront	The Viking spirit survives as fisherman head out to the open ocean in small boats.	This stone carving on the wall of a Viking church is about 800 years old.	The weather was overcast and rainy, giving this 400 year old church a bleak appearance.	Here is a typical Faroe Island sod roof house. The residents have a great sense of color harmony.

Iceland

We spent three days in Iceland, first visiting a remote fishing village named Seydisfjordur, and then the capital, Reykjavik. A highlight was a visit to the Blue Lagoon outside of the capital. The outfall from a geothermal power plant has been developed into a bathing spa. The weather was cold but the water was very warm.


The scenery in the fjord approaching Seydisfjordur was awesome.	The water was calm so a clear reflection of the village can be seen.	We found an internet cafe which was also an art gallery	The village is surrounded by cascading waterfalls.	A hike up a mountain trail yields a view of the Navigator dwarfing everything in the village.


Reykjavik's main shopping street is not very exciting.	Brightly colored buildings form a nice backdrop for an international poster exhibit.	A monument to Leif Erickson stands in front of the impressive Hallsgrim Church.	A dip in the geothermal waters at the Blue Lagoon was invigorating in 45 degree weather.	A monument to the women who did all of Reykjavik's laundry here in geothermal pools one hundred years ago.

Greenland

To encourage colonization, Erik the Red told everyone the Greenland was green. He lied. This place is grim. It isn't any wonder that some of the Vikings left and sailed to North America.


The brightly painted buildings in the village of Qaqortoq offset the bleak weather.	Here is the famous thousand year old Viking church about an hour's boat ride from town.	Pat leaves the church in cold, wet, windy conditions. Hard to believe that this is summer.	Our local guide, a native Greenlander, explains the history of the church.	The ship's crew me us at the tendering station with warm wine. Hit the spot.