can't touch that day

Monday Monday

9 am local time, 2 am your time. I am up, showered, dressed and ready to be a relaxed person on a visit to somewhere new today.
I have been invited to tea at Lilja's house. I am not sure what time my ride will be by for me, but I am not too worried about it. I am really ready to just relax a little bit. The market is officially over, and while there are still things to clean up and put away (I will try to help a bit with that task) I am really ready to just go easy for a day.
I noticed a cruise ship in the harbor this morning offloading tourists. Too bad they were not here yesterday for the last day of the market. Oh well.
So. After much chatting with the Icelanders about what they can and cannot get easily, I have a better idea of what to bring next year. Can't help thinking about it, I mean I have been here for most of two weeks in my viking clothes, (not quite as bad as it sounds, considering that I hand washed everything at least once!) I enjoyed my time with the locals, and imported vikings...I met some great folks, and have gained a much better perspective of some areas of the world, and how other people think about Americans.
Well, while on my foray's about today, there is rumor of a second hand store that might have some nice woolen items at good prices. Things like hand knit socks and such. I plan to look into it if I can find it on my own.
Tea should be nice and relaxing, and after that, who knows.
Tomorrow is looking like a little road trip with a couple locals and one of the other ladies from the event (she comes form Norway) to go see Thingvilleir and Geysir, and a possible stop at another woolen goods store for more yarn. I am certain there will be a corner or two of the backpack that could hold another skein or twelve.
Then off to the airport in time to get through security, check in and with luck get a window seat this time.

Almost home, and it feels a little bittersweet. The weather, while not the most I might have hoped for has, according to the locals, been very nice. For my part, I am looking forward to getting home, and having a few more choices in clothing! I also know that I will miss being here. There is still a great deal left to see in this country. Next time I think I want to take a couple of the pre-market days to hear further north to see some of that area, and maybe over to the westfjords, just to see the sights. I have been given many suggestions for places to see and visit.

Candace asked me what the “Market” was all about.
Well, I can say that I have been to two markets now, more or less.
The little one in Gimli, Canada, and now this one. This one is much more of a market than Gimli was, but I am told that this market is very relaxed compared to the ones in mainland Europe.

The market- and overview.
We set up a number of tents for the local artisans and merchant vikings to use. Some also came form greater distances, England, Poland, Germany, etc. The property owner has a couple of small storage style buildings that are used by a couple of local, one Greelander, artisans as a combo workshop and sales booth during the market. So, we set up all the tents, erect a boundary fence around the whole affair, set up some “play areas” and the food/beverage tent. The play zones consist of an archery range, an axe throwing space, and the battlegrounds. There is also a stage made up of stacked pallets, with a tented cover, and a set of stocks for naughty vikings.
The Faroese brought their goods, and set up a fire with a pot of dyestuffs and dyed wool yarn on site both to sell and work with. There were woodcarvers making additional items to sell. One local woman who does exquisite ceramics was busy hand building her wares and putting her designs upon them at her tent. The Spakona seer woman was busy in her tent almost the entire time, and did a scary accurate palm reading on me. She spoke no English and we all know how little Icelandic I speak.
There were a couple of ladies who were belly dancers, and they managed to find a drum so I did a little drumming for them a few times each day for entertainment. A gentleman was doing juggling and a bit of fire and glass work, Storytellers and musicians for added entertainment. The fighters did about three battle shows each day, and then had a smaller area where they did practice and warm up to the delight of the kids. Some of them are like rock stars here, and the kids wanted their autographs after the battles.
So, I guess one could call it a smaller version of a renn faire. The locals pay an admission fee, I do not know how much, to get in, wander about, spend their money, etc. The merchants have no fee to pay, and where they are able, a tent or space is provided for them. I managed to tell a few of my stories with magic for small groups and individuals to be part of the overall entertainment and atmosphere. I walked about at times with my hats on a branched stick hawking them as a means to support my poor crippled mother. Sometimes I spread my cloth on the ground and relaxed sitting with my hats and other bits of trade goods. We are provided the use of a large gymnasium building for sleeping in (bring a flashlight) and showers/toilets (extra rolls of paper a must) and given a hot lunch and dinner. We also get a little discount at the food stand on some things, like the lamb wraps, my favorite! They provide a coffee and tea service for use throughout the day, and in the evenings there is at times beer provided tot he vikings. The property used is the parking lot and surrounding areas of a hotel restaurant right along the waterfront. Hotel Viking, and Fjorukrain Restaurant. The gates opened at 1pm, after we finished lunch, and closed again at about 8 -8:30 in the evening. There were two days off, but we were invited to another local smaller town to do a 2 day set up there. I opted to go, and that is where I did the lamb on a spit cooking thing. And found nice yarn in the local grocery store.....well worth the trip!

They ask us to be reasonable accurate in our clothing items, interact with the “tourists” and not destroy the place!
Other markets I am told have a little different focus, and are designed to get going rather early in the day with sometimes more, sometimes less support structure built in. More focus on fighting, or fighting being more of a competition rather than an exhibition show with a little scripted story. Some are strictly bring your own tent and cooking needs, could be difficult if you are traveling a great distance. Others are able to provide some form of sleeping shelter with advance notice, and have utensils and cooking implements available for use. Each market bears looking into and contacting someone who has been to it and can provide guidance. I did my best to find such resources while here.
See you all soon!