The National Geographic Explorer set anchor in one of the most important sites in human history this morning, and the superlative nature of the visit was echoed throughout the heavens by a glorious celestial salute in the form of a sunrise worthy of an early wake-up call. As the fire in the sky gave way to the luminous day glow, we boarded our Zodiacs and made landfall at the very sight where the first Europeans to set foot in the Americas landed. As far as history can tell us, this completed the circumnavigation of the human race, and finally closed the circle of global migration. We first visited the visitor center to learn about L’Anse Aux Meadows, then the archeological site itself, and finally a recreation to give us a sense of what the camp might have looked like. For lunch we sped off and were treated to either a Viking feast (complete with a show) or a seafood sampler. Last in our epic day of discovery we visited Grenfell and took in some local history.
9/19/2024
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National Geographic Explorer
L’Anse aux Meadows
Today “Viking fever” overtook us all as we explored the UNESCO World Heritage Site of L’Anse aux Meadows, the only site indicating pre-Columbian contact between Europe and the Americas. Dating to circa 1000, L’Anse aux Meadows features not only the archaeological site discovered in the 1960s, but also a modern museum and a set of reconstructed Viking longhouses. We warmed up in front of the toasty fires, tried on some cloaks and helmets (without horns for historical accuracy), and played a Viking lawn game. At our next stop, the Norstead reconstructed Viking village, we continued the adventure, practicing our axe-throwing, trading with the local Viking guides for knitwear, and having our fortunes told with runes. At lunch we split into three groups, some returning to National Geographic Explorer, others sampling a variety of seafood in a multi-course meal, and the rest participating in a Viking feast and reenactment. We were invited to present our grievances for the judgement of the court, and Ethnomusicologist Jacob Edgar was found guilty of disturbing the peace and sentenced to touching his toes, to the delight of all (except him, perhaps)! Back on board, we enjoyed a selection of local sausages as National Geographic Explorer departed the gorgeous harbor of St. Anthony.