Sunday, July 05, 2009

by Mary Kate Hurley

[Iceland -- the best layover ever]

One of the myriad things I'm doing this summer is researching Aelfric's Saints Lives in London at the British Library. Yes: I am actually consulting manuscripts, which is a new and exciting research prospect for me. I've been extremely lucky in terms of funding the trip: the Medieval Academy of America generously awarded me the E.K. Rand Dissertation Grant, one of several dissertation grants which they award each year.

Of course, I'll have a lot to say about the actual process of consulting the manuscripts (and I hope to blog a bit about Leeds, which I'll be attending next week, as well). But for now I have a quick question that I'd like to put to all you Norse specialists out there.

On my way over to London, I had a 10-hour layover in Reykjavik. Just enough time to trek all over the city (I was there mostly for the landscape -- museums and manuscripts are always interesting, but I was more intrigued by the land than the stuff from those who've lived on it), and then to head back for a short stay at the unofficial waiting area for Keflavik Airport travelers.

What caught my attention, however, was on the bus rides to and from Keflavik, where I found myself intrigued by these bizarre rock formations:



Now, I've tried googling them, and although I've found a few references, finding something specific about the structures is a bit difficult. So: anything strike you, dear readers? Some half-remembered fragment of a story from graduate school days past (long past or recently past...)? These seem like a lovely addition to the many other stones we've discussed here at ITM.

cross posted toITM

3 comments:

magistra said...

If you're interested, some of us are planning a bloggers meet-up at IMC. Details at Magistra et Mater: please pass on to any other bloggers you know who are coming.

Unknown said...

Hi Mary Kate,

Sorry to bother your blog but my email address for you has bounced back. You may have heard that I'm in Cambridge. I apologize for not contact you earlier but I did not realize you would be in England during the summer. If you plan to be here this fall you should contact me ksgodin@gmail.com

all the best, Kate Godin

A.G. Dahl said...

Hello, I don't mean to bother you, but do you know anything about Viking daily life. I know that Vikings are different than Anglo Saxons, but if you do know anything could you please tell me?

You see, I am currently trying to write an historical fiction book about a Viking. I just can't find any info on their daily life..... other than a tiny little bit of stuff....which I already knew.

Please get back to me.

Thanks,

Freya Hrethric