Leknes... Loften

Loften/Leknes is an island. This is a port where we have to tender.   Later this will be a bit of a problem. Hint Rain.

Our excursion tour in this port will take us to a Viking Long house, beach, and an overlook.

It is a pretty island with some really creative architects. One building was just bazar looking.

First stop is the Viking Long House. We will take a guided tour, see the museum, and visit the gift shop.

The original house was built in around 500 AD and was modified several times. Final version was the largest long house that has ever been found. The reconstruction is based on the final house built in the year 900 AD.

As we enter the Long House, we are greeted by our Viking guide.  Women commonly managed the houses and kept the oral history of the clan.  She had us pick a seat on one of the benches which were covered by reindeer fur.

After her presentation and answering lots of questions, we were able to look around the house.  It is huge.  This is a reconstruction of the remains of the real house that is a nearby archeological site. The house was enormous and it measured over 270 feet long, 30 feet wide and tall.  This reconstruction was constructed to exactly what they found. 

These houses contained everything of the village chief, from his home, meeting hall, kitchen, horses, armory, and treasury.

As we leave, we walked through the museum of items found here.  There was an actual Viking ax head.

The view from the parking lot of the long house was impressive and I am sure that was the point.  Anyone approaching the house was to think. Power!

The next stop was a beach.  Very different from our beaches in Pensacola.  These are surrounded by mountains.

Shells

Back toward the port but first a stop for an overlook.

Back in the port we are getting some rain and with the bay getting rough the tenders are slowed some.  There are some huge cod fish here.  Examples were hanging to dry near our dock.

Being Norway, a long company name is normal.

We should have a sunset today as we will pass south of the arctic circle.  Four days of sunlight with no darkness is a weird thing to experience.  I cannot imagine living long term in a place that goes through "endless' nights or days