After breakfast this morning, we'll depart Stykkisholmur for the Eiriksstadir Museum, once the site of the home of Erik the Red, father of the legendary Viking Leif Eiriksson. Known as "Leif the Lucky," Erik's famous son visited North America around 1000 AD, well ahead of Christopher Columbus. The family occupied this farmstead until Leif was six years old, at which time they were exiled and went to Greenland. We'll learn more about their story from historic interpreters at this living museum.
Then we'll visit a local horse farm to meet affable Icelandic horses first brought to the country by Viking settlers. Icelandic horses are a common sight across the countryside. A unique breed, they've adapted to the local climate with a thick, heavy coat. Though small in size, their strength is formidable, and they're known for their cheery disposition, bravery, intelligence, and smooth gait. We'll learn more about these horses, and their place in Icelandic culture, as we hear firsthand from the family that owns the horse farm. We'll also enjoy lunch at the horse farm.
Afterwards we'll continue to Akureyri, Iceland's second largest urban area. Situated on the northern fjords just 40 miles from the Arctic Circle, Akureyri is improbably sunny and enjoys a mild climate in spite of its location.
This man had us in stitches recounting the history of the famed Leif Erickson...
While this woman defended the castle!
And then a tour and lunch at a horse farm. In the interest of keeping the Icelandic breed of horses pure, and not introducing any diseases, no horses can be imported... and if a horse leaves the country, it may not ever return. Since these horses are such social animals, it is illegal to own just one... you must have at least two. And the horses are left alone for the first four years of their lives so they can develop with their own individual personalities and termperaments. And they are never broken... only gently trained. When being ridden for any distance, an extra horse is taken along for each rider so the horses can be spelled along the trip. As short as they are, they are stout and can carry a person of any size.
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