You read in last week’s post that all of
the TPW were successful in their races, some with blistering times (Jo Ann), some
who managed to get across the line standing up (me).
While in Reykjavik, we took in a spoof of
the Icelandic Sagas, which turned out to be remarkably informative as well as
entertaining. The Sagas are the tenth,
eleventh and twelfth century histories of the farmers who settled Iceland. They were a remarkably blood-thirsty lot,
with the central theme of each saga being avenge, revenge, avenge, etc.
The seven TPW members had their own
saga. In addition to completing the
race, we managed to stay up for Iceland Culture Night, culminating in fabulous
fireworks. Over the days we were on the
island, we journeyed to Black Beach to see the puffins just before they
migrated for the winter. We saw historic
sites, beautiful waterfalls, glaciers and volcanos. We stood on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between
the European and North American tectonic plates. We tasted fermented shark (which I can’t
recommend.)
Like the Vikings, we feasted, often on oat
cakes. Unlike the Icelanders of saga, we
drew no blood. Instead we thoroughly
enjoyed our companions AND the cool weather.
