Friday, July 17, 2009

Fotevikens Museum:
The Viking Museum If you want to live like a Viking, Fotevikens is the place to be. Every summer this viking museum offers for people to come inhabit it's historical viking town, so long as they act like a viking all summer long. Click here to learn how to become a viking for a summer.


From the website:
"The Village community of Foteviken
In 2001 the development of The Viking Reserve had proceeded far enough for the establishment of a village community. In November 2001 The Village Community of Foteviken called "Byalaget" was founded. As a member of The SVEG you have the right to apply for membership in the village community. The village community congregates every month. At these meetings everybody participating are dressed in their Viking costumes of course.

As a new member of the village community, you will belong to a Viking Age household and get the possibility to learn and develop your talents and skills concerning different Viking Age techniques and activities, which you find interesting and fascinating. There are many interesting activities to participate in, like fighting, sailing a Viking ship, pottery, coining, smithery, sawing, tanning and building houses."
We stopped by for market day. The weaver we spoke to from Germany called it by far the best expereince of it's type for crafts people. I asked about Visby, Gotland and she said that place is for Japanesse tourists, that this place was the real thing for people who wanted to, whatever you call spending a summer acting like a viking. Oh. then I took a picture of her hand spun, plant dyed yarn.

She was most proud of this. I think these colors are hard to acheive.
There were kitchens set up all over with hung, cast iron pots on open fires. The folks were making a bunch of sausages. I kinda guess they probably killed the beast and stuffed its guts full of meat themselves.
Don't tell PETA. This fur trader sold bear claws, thats what those are right next to those foxes. There was also seal skin for sale.
For your viking hunting pleasure, there were many arrows, look at all these tips...and for battle, swords and armor.

6 comments:

Kangaroo said...

this looks like true fun for the whole family. at least my whole family. i would covet the yarn, the fabric, those beads... and i wouldn't see my boys for hours once they saw those swords and spears!

Rose said...

Wow. Looks like so much fun! My boy thought your pics were cool.

catching caterpillars said...

oh my gosh! how fun!!!

IlsaSheWolf said...

I want to be a Viking for a summer! I am so envious that you got to go to the Viking museum and village-- I have been reading the Eddas for the first time and I am just fascinated by the times and culture.

Andy said...

How incredibly ferocious! I LOVE the hand dyed yarns...gorgeous! And lots of European Amber...mmmmm! Looks like ya'll had a great time visiting!

Heidi said...

I don't know if it's true in Swedish, but I love that in Norwegian, "Viking" is pronounced "Wiking."