The Saga of Burnt Njala
seems to be some connection problems, will get these up ASAP

I woke up to the sound of power tools this morning. It seems the chickens are getting a proper sod roof on their little home. But I digress, after a late night bus ride home to Hafnarfjodur we returned for sleep. The departure form the small market town included a bus tour of some local sights, the town of Vik, and a few other places, sort of 4-wheeling. All of a sudden there was a strange kerthump sound shortly after take off, as we started the tour ride ( it sounded rather like a tire removing itself from the wheel or axle to me) we arrived back at the gym about 2 am. I simply took off my shoes and stepped into the shower, clothes and all. I think we all needed it. I was rather tired of smelling like BBQ lamb. That and the strange yellow brown dust that covered all of me all the way through the clothes! White silk long johns are not supposed to be that color.

ROAD TRIP, on the big bus. We had a tour and telling, half in English, then he slipped into Icelandic, of the Njala's saga. I do have a few photos taken of the scenery and places. Including the rock where the two murderer's lay in wait....dunh dunh dunnnnnnh. (cue dramatic music here)
I can say I have been to places written of in the Saga. AND I saw the clouds where the volcano is hiding behind! I was unable to safely carry my requisite 6 Kilo's of ash back onto the bus, so we will have to settle for what I could get. There are still a few grains in my eyes I think, but other than those and the ones I swallowed, ate, inhaled, these will have to do. For those who think the term ash is descriptive, for this instance it it not. I have ash from Mt. Saint Helens, that was a very fine to grainy ash. This is more like the Hawaiian black sand variety of ash. Coarse and gritty, sand like. No wonder they closed airports. I imagine this stuff could scour a jet engine very quickly and just ruin your whole day.

So we were at a smaller town, I will retrieve the name of it later, for a two day market to entertain the locals. Rumor has it that last year there were maybe a couple dozen visitors. This year I would say that for the size of the town, we had a very good turn out. We were provided a whole lamb each day to roast, ostensibly as a prop. Guess who got to oversee that once they got the fire going............My reputation preceded me here. Once a cook, always a cook!
I will say that Icelandic lamb is very very tasty. For those who say they do not like lamb, I humbly suggest that if the chance arises, you at least give the Icelandic lamb a try. We used no seasoning at all, and the flavor of the meat was great. Not too greasy, then again we were roasting on a spit so the fat just cooked off and dripped into the flames, and coals. I wonder what it would take to be able to be a sole importer of Icelandic lamb to the US, It really is good stuff! No offense to the Kiwi importers of lamb, it is just that this is such tasty meat. I have eaten a lot of lamb while here.

The local folks there provided us with very tasty soups for dinner, and I find that after the seafood soups, I am not, it seems, allergic to scallops after all. Perhaps there is an issue in the handling or source of the ones I have had in the US that makes me so violently ill when I have them. Anyway, I had no problems with any of the seafood soups I have had herein Iceland. All of which have been incredibly delicious by the way. Actually all the soups have been very good. Not overly salted, and always rather freshly made, along with bread and butter. Real butter, I do not think they are allowed to have fake butter here. Or fake cheese or cheese products.
I was in the small local market looking for milk, and I know it is labeled Mjolk, but there was a carton in with the milk products that said something different. I asked a gentleman what is was and he said Cream, and that it was very good for me. I thanked him and told him while I might agree with him, my doctor might not, so I had better stick to the Mjolk.
Oh my gods, the grocery store in the small town has wool. Not just a couple skeins, an entire market shelf of it! Two or three synth-blend skeins, but mostly honest to goodness real wool-in pretty colors, Icelandic and about 350-450 IKS per skein. At 130 ISK to the dollar YOU do the math on that buy! I think I need a bigger suitcase....oh dear. What can I leave behind....

My magic seems to be going over well, with the only caveat that I have to do it more one on one due to my lack of voice and cough.
I have spoken with the other vikings about what I can do to make it better still and I have some great feedback. I think I will be working on a couple of pieces to be able to do one or two fifteen minute mini shows for future markets, both here and further abroad. I am also mulling over ideas to make a couple things that are now pocket effects, into a more stage or at least parlor sized version to be able to include more people n the viewing if not the participating. I can say that for most of my illustrations I did, I was spot on, and they knew the figures and pictures easily, which helped with the language barrier. While English is taught, many are afraid to use it, or perhaps in the smaller towns do not practice it enough to feel comfortable speaking it.
I did find that opening with Brisingamen's theft, where each helper gets to keep a bead and cord, makes for less resistance to helping me. Sad to say that even here in Iceland, they fear to be a volunteer or helper for the magic. I can only hope it is because they do not get to be a helper much for anything rather than a fear of the magician. I keep avoiding the word trick and ask if they will help me to tell a story, or take a test in the case of the matching game. I have some work to do when I get home to adjust and re-do a few things, and make a couple new items to try

'The economy here is pretty rough right now, and it shows in the lack of sales for many things. Some things are very reasonably priced, and some things are very high. I am still amazed that lobster is less than chicken on the menu. It may be the smaller lobster, but it is still very tasty.
It is also a bit of cultural awareness to know that the Icelanders are fairly practical folks and tend to not have a lot of the crap that we as Americans think we must have in our lives. That and the idea that many of them know and do make their own clothes or other household goods from the local materials.


Wed
Today we have a slow day until about 5 PM when the owner of the facility will be having a 20th anniversary party for his restaurant. We will go be mingling vikings, and then tomorrow on National day, we will be back at the market.

The video camera is giving me a bit of difficulty mostly in that I cannot get things to download onto the netbook, I am not sure if it is the usb, or the card reader adapter, but I am glad I have two big and one little card for video, as I really hope to get some good movie clips.

I found a really nice Icelandic sweater for my mom. I hope it fits her. Button front so if it gets too warm she can open it up a bit. It does have a hood, but when you realize the things are more or less waterproof, they are pretty handy. Don't tell her (and I know she does not do anything online) but it is the most expensive thing I have bought here. It is handmade and bought at the local hand workers co-op. I honestly do not think I have ever paid that much for a single item of clothing in my life.
There are a few of these co-ops in the country where the members make various handcrafts form the wool and other materials to support themselves and their families.

I keep getting asked why am I not going on to some of the other markets in Europe, and all I can say is maybe next year. It sounds fantastic, and a wee bit of a logistical nightmare, but what else is a challenge except a thing to be overcome and thought through eh?! Just let me get some more wool clothes made first though.
Well I think I am about to head off for a nap today, because I can!

Iceland travel tip and good manners.
In the restrooms, you will at times find the scrub brush beside the toilet. These are not intended for the janitor once a week. They are intended for each person to use if needed should your ablutions result in a residue inside the lovely white toilet bowl. Bad form to leave streaks. Keep them toilet bowls clean!


See you all pretty soon, hope you find these entertaining and informative.
k


Oops, the party after.
so. I had thought to upload the journal yesterday to the blog, but I got distracted with the shopping, and then the 20 year party started, and I was up a bit late, I mean early, I mean, I am not sure what time I came to bed, the sun was up, or had just set, or maybe risen again. You get the idea. I had a time fending off somewhat inebriated Icelanders who thought I needed company. Danced with a couple of the viking guys, as it seemed no one else knew how to do the moves, and sipped hot tea while being amused by the rest of the gang.
There were a few attempts to get me to drink strong beverages, and it was fun to have them thinking I had, After a toast, the temptress was momentarily distracted and I was able to swap the cup with the alcohol for my tea cup. Upended it, and watched the looks of amazement. Then after about ten seconds I fessed up and was called a cheater. I threatened to taste the stuff the same way I taste wine, the swish and spit method, that got a fun reaction when I simulated that one, and someone else said who cares, and drank the cup.
Anyway, it was a fun and loud night, with a band or two, and some really unusual renditions of a number of hits. I swear to all the gods, if I have to listen to Ring of Fire one more time........I did have another goat the shark meat.Tthis one was stronger but was also more smoky in odor and taste, that helped. A lot!
Everyone has been really great and very friendly. Even though I am still gimping around a bit with my knee being cranky, and my voice and cough still giving me a running in the Bette Davis or Janet Joplin sound alike contest.

National Day 17th of June

Sold a hat today, and a few of the coin sets. I fear the Iceland economy is just not what they would all like it to be. A shame really, but I am alright with it.. Good experience, and to be honest I am not really trying too hard, just being available if folks are interested, otherwise I am wandering about with the stories and magic. Speaking of which I am almost out of beads...if that happens, I guess I will have to focus on selling the hats more. I need to make luggage space anyway. I found a nice purple Icelandic wool fabric piece that I will turn into a cloak at this time. A bit chilly still for me at times when the wind comes up, the problem is just trying to figure out how to get it into the packing!

Hmmm I am feeling a bit tired, lets see if I can start a stampede to get to bed early as they are whining about my snoring. I told them to go to bed early, I would try to give them time to get to sleep before I went in, but no, some of them were up to “hanky-panky” and had to suffer my snores. Too bad! They were warned fair and square. So a little bit of edge hemming and then some nappage for me I think.

The only problem with not getting online everyday is that my email gets filled up, I had 90 mails the other day after the weekend. Sheesh!
I did get to have my first conversation in Icelandic. A little girl peeked from behind her father's legs and asked me in Icelandic what my name was. I responded in Icelandic with my name, and that I was from the US. She giggled and ducked back behind her father. I am pleased that I understood her when she poke to me. At times people will say something to me and I do not even realize it. I fear I might be seen as rude.

Friday
Slept well last night, though I am sure I was snoring for them all. I warned them, again so they cannot bitch too much.
Today was a fine morning spent at the pool in the hot pots simmering my sore bits. Still no sauna, though I did learn that the Icelandic word Nudd means massage, not nude. I almost missed lunch, which would have bummed me out if I had. We had a wonderful rice pilaf with lamb. Yummy.

A bit slow today at the market as many folks have to work today. We got a few preschool and little kid groups come through, and I had enough voice to tell the necklace story to a group of children with their teacher translating for me. I asked for helpers to tell the story and was surprised by about 6 out of 15 hands going up. I have just enough beads for one maybe two more performances of this one. I have done the Odin's eye with the coins, but they do not seem to notice the two go in, one comes out, and then the second is simply gone. I need to work on this one a bit more I think.

So I found something for the office to bring back, and had the maker sign it. One more task and it will be ready when I get home.
Also, one of the guys here makes boats in the viking style....along with other wonderful things...
www.red-badgers-equipment.de
he will even travel to make or teach you to make a boat...hint hint guys.

For some bizarre reason I just know that my voice and throat will be all back to normal on the last day. Of course. And as I fly home I will probably get another cold.

Well, two more days of market fun. We should be busy over the weekend I think. Then I will help with a day of breakdown and cleaning up before heading back to the airport and home. This really has been a fantastic trip so far, and I would like to think I have not pissed off anyone while I have been here. They have all been good natured in teasing me, and I am even starting to feel comfortable enough to tease back a little bit.
Well, I think I will mosey over and see if there is any connection in the hotel tonight. Maybe maybe not.