Vaughan the Red goes on a Voyage

It seems like so long ago . . It was two weekends ago to be exact. Remember when you were in grade school and you learned that Christopher Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and he discovered America I remember that and I vividly remember the day I found out that Christopher Columbus was technically not the first voyager to discover America. The vikings?? Who what . . . no way . . . you mean to tell me that all those years we were lied to for the simplicity's sake and to sing a silly song.

Once I heard about the vikings in history class I decided that I really liked them. I always was partial to the Vikings and tried to learn as much as could about them since after all we shared the same first letter. "V" Then I found out about Eric the Red and surely that is some relation to me! Since I was Vaughan the Red. Looking back on my logic and reasoning I laugh, but alas I returned to one Viking settlement to retrace the steps of my ancestors. Perhaps not my ancestors directly, but surely in a many generations later I am what you get type of thing!

Saturday morning I set out for Roskilde, which is about a 20 min train ride from Copenhagen H. I took my Economics to study on the train and tackled PPP. The train arrived in Roskilde and my Viking Adventure Began. Please do not confuse Roskilde with Greenwood . . . there were no shiny viking ovens, ranges, or fridges that I could see in Roskilde. You may be familiar with the Roskilde Music Festival which is one of the largest in Europe.

The museum was a ways walk from the train station, so I ventured through the town. The town is not a coastal town but a fjord town. It did remind me of one of the coastal towns I have visited in England. I walked through a market and it was not too interesting, just junk but Danish junk none the less. I wound my way down the hillside to the fjord waterfront and the museum. You can see the pictures on the Picasso. I am not sure I will be able to explain to y'all how much I enjoyed my visit to the Viking Museum. The museum is basically an educational work site for archaeologists. In the yards surrounding the docks many craftsmen are building ships using the same tools that the vikings used 2000 + yrs ago. They were not wearing the same outfits fortunately. But it was so neat to go from station to station learning about all the different parts of the tree they used and how they developed the best and fastest ships this world had seen at the time!

I spent lots of time looking at the ships and admiring the water. I then joined the English tour of the museum. I was like a little kid in a candy store!! Really there is no better way to explain how I felt touring the museum.

First off let me explain a little bit more before you get totally lost. Roskilde was once the capital of Danmark back in the day when the vikings sailed. Roskilde was a very important town and many people tried to attack the city, so the people (the king) blocked the channels from invaders, but opened them for trade. How might one block a channel you ask well they sunk old viking ships to create a blockade. Very smart those Vikings, by doing that many years ago five viking ships were excavated out of Roskilde Fjord. The ships are not in their entirety mind you, but parts of the ship. They uncovered a warship, two trading ships, a fishing ship, and a ship that carried people. They have reconstructed all five ships. The last ship they reconstructed was the one with the least portion of the original remaining.

This is what I really want you to research! They reconstructed the final ship that was originally from Dublin and sailed to Roskilde and never left since it was at the bottom of the Fjord. After they reconstructed the ship the plan was to sail this ship round trip from Roskilde to Dublin. They would have crew on board, food would be prepared . . the works. They are trying to understand the Viking life on sea by making this 2007 maiden voyage. I think you should check this website out b/c I do not do it justice. I am so amazed and I was there!

http://www.havhingsten.dk/index.php?id=841&L=1

Please join me in welcoming the Seastallion back to Roskilde on Saturday! I will be in Charlotte, but still welcome home to us both!