Land of the Viking

L'Anse aux Meadows (56 degrees, some sunshine, windy)

About 30 minutes from our campground is a beautiful L'Anse aux Meadows National Historic Site where the Vikings were known to have stopped about 1000 years ago. We arrived just in time to go on a ranger led tour. Kim told us interesting stories about how this place was the first settlement of the Vikings from Greenland and Iceland in North America.  They arrived 500 years before Columbus and set up sod covered huts which was probably a staging area for about 10 years for exploring the area. She showed us where the actual huts were located which have now been returned to their original state after being excavated. In another area several huts have been recreated to demonstrate their way of life.

Visitor Center

It was also very interesting to hear about how the site was discovered in 1960 by Helge Stine and later excavated by his wife Anne and a team of archeologists.    Medieval Icelandic sagas had written about this lost Viking settlement called Vinland but no one had been able to figure out where it was located.

Kim, our interpretive guide standing where the original huts were located

Recreated sod huts

John the Viking!

Sod bricks

Afterwards we had a nice lunch and visited Norstead. It is a recreated Viking port and there were interpreters in many of the buildings to tell you more about the their way of life. A replica of the ship Leif Erickson sailed on is there too. It was built in England and taken to Greenland. Twelve men set sail in 1997 along the same route Leif and his crew had taken (1500 miles) to L'Anse Aux Meadows. It took them 86 days and a documentary and book was written about their expedition. Our guide told us one member said it was a trip of a lifetime but he'd never do it again.

Statue of Leif Erickson

Recreated Viking Ship

Our interpretive guide - he was very funny and very knowledgeable

In the evening we attended another Iceberg Festival Event in Gunner's Cove at the Northern Delights Restaurant. Our dinner was great and around 8pm there was loud knock at the door. In came three mummers dressed in colorful clothing. This was a recreation of what happens all around Newfoundland during the 12 days of Christmas. The mummers wear masks and disguises and part of the fun is guessing who is behind the mask.  Everyone knows everyone in these small villages. They danced with some of the diners and there was a small band playing traditional music. We heard more about the ugly stick and how mummers  used it to ward off  mean dogs which protected the owner of the house. It was also used to rap on the door and add accompaniment to the music which was played.

Weaving was done by the women. They wove the sails used on the Viking ships

We've seen some more icebergs in the coves as we explore the small villages outside of St. Anthony. It's been a fun time. Stay tuned for more. We are planning a nice hike tomorrow.