Reykjavík Grapevine - 14.07.2006, Side 28

Classified
Accomodation
Edda Hotel 39
Guesthouse Grundarfjörður 54
Guesthouse Móar 54
Guesthouse Salka 54
Hotel Framnes 54
Activities
Arctic Rafting 9
Blue Lagoon 43
Botanic Gardens 31
City Centre Booking Service 56
Elding Whale Watching 53
Hafsúlan Whale Watching 38
Pub Crawl 44
Reykjavik Excursions 13
Spa City 46
Town of Akranes 41
Cafes, Bars and Restaurants
2 Fiskar 28
A.Hansen 25
American Style 32
Belly’s 26
Bernhöftsbakarí 35
Café Karólína 49
Café Roma 5
Café Rósenberg 26
Fljótt og gott 14
Food Taxi 21
Galbi 29
Hressó 35
Iðnó Restaurant 20
Lobster House 46
O Sushi 36
Sægreifinn 35
Segafredo 5
Shalimar 29
Við Tjörnina 29
Viking Village 37
Vín og Skel 14
Museums and gallaries
Árnessýsla Art Museum 31
CIA 34
Gallery Fold 33
Gallery Hafnarborg 19
Ghost Museum 31
Glacier Museum 41
Laxness Museum 31
Literary Walking Tour 31
Nesjavellir Museum 51
Reykjavík Art Museum 51
The Culture House 50
The Settlement Exhibition 41
Þjóðveldisbær Museum 54
Shopping
66north 3
Álafoss Souvenir store 52
Big Picture 33
Cintamani 7
Englatár 29
Handknitting Association of Icelandv49
Húfur Sem Hlægja 18
Iceland Gift Store 17
Icewear 11
Nexus 18
Tuborg Light 15
Viking Store 10
Witchcraft Store 31
Transportation
Air Iceland55
Budget Car Rental 53
Hertz Car Rental 55
Other services
City Center Info 4
Forex 51
Mail Service 5
Ministry of Foreign Affairs 33
Road Traffic Directorate 48
Grapevine Ad Index
Only 2 hours drive from Reykjavik. Small
and friendly hotel, perfectly located in the
centre of the town, only a few minutes walk
from the beautiful harbour of Stykkishólmur.
The hotel offers a splendid view over the
harbour and Breidafjordur. If our guests
need to access Internet they can do so on a
fulltime online computer. Hotel guests can
play golf without a charge at the towns 9
holes golf course.
s. +354-433-2200
www.prinsvaliant.is
hotelbreidafjordur@prinsvaliant.is
Salka Guesthouse
Skipagata 1
600 Akureyri
tel: 461-2340
alka@nett.is
Þjóðveldisbærinn
A reconstructed viking farm from the 11´th
century. Situated in Þjórsárdalur valley,
approx. 1 1/2 hour from Reykjavík.(Take
route 1, turn off at route 30 and then again
at route 32) Opening hours every day from
10-12 and 13-18.
Tel. 488-7713
“A lot of them want to know about the Vi-
kings, so I have to explain the different way
we use the term in Iceland – there weren’t that
many ‘true’ Viking expeditions from here.”
When you hear this from a guide at a mu-
seum, you know that you’re someplace striving
to educate, not just make a buck. Rarely are
tourists exposed to anything approaching
historical accuracy regarding Vikings, but
the Settlement Museum on Aðalstræti is on a
mission.
The truthtelling starts at the title, in fact.
Taking its name from the estimated arrival
date of the first settlers in this country, 871:
Plus/Minus Two Years. It seems strangely
specific for a title, and one can’t help but
picture a long and bitter feud between two
petrified old archaeologists, culminating in
this comical compromise. Whatever the story
behind the name, it’s to the point and sparks
immediate intrigue at the same time.
When you walk down the steps towards
the main exhibition area you will notice some
historical titbits written on the wall, includ-
ing a comparison of when different islands
and continents were first known to have been
inhabited by humans. Iceland appears to be
a relatively recent discovery, in the larger
scheme of things, and you may be interested
to know that Madagascar was colonised
around the same time. Then again, you’re
probably not.
Thankfully the main event is thoroughly
engaging. An underground archaeological
dig has been brought to life with an impres-
sive range of fancy modern technology that is
liberally taken advantage of in the presenta-
tion of information. The uneven f loors attest
to where you are, but you are surrounded by
touch screens and optical illusions designed
to give you insight into what life was like
here in ancient times – before it became an
abandoned ruin or a museum. The result is
deeply impressive, at least by the standards of
similar attempts that have been made in the
past. The presentation simply has to be seen
to be believed, with f lat screens showing eerie
ghost-like visuals of long-dead people going
about their daily business in early Iceland.
Inside a special multimedia room you can use
your fingers to rotate a three-dimensional
image of an early dwelling, zooming in and
out while simultaneously getting a topical
audio tour explaining in detail the various
parts of the structure. There are also buttons
you can push to illuminate certain parts of the
actual excavation, and a virtual map where
you can touch words and concepts with your
fingertips to bring up more detailed menus. If
the holodecks on Star Trek were used to teach
early Icelandic history, this is what it would
look like.
In addition to the newfangled machinery,
the Settlement exhibit also makes use of the
most tried and tested method for conveying
key information at a museum: the walking
guide. Our guide, Jón Páll, turned out to
be an informative and enthusiastic history
student. Beyond the difficulty with the term
Viking, he explained that “People also ask
about the dating procedures, so I spend some
time explaining how the ash layer from a
volcanic eruption in 871 helps us keep track of
what happened before and after colonisation.”
Generally, he said, people are most interested
in the roots of the Icelandic people. In fact,
we soon overheard a tourist marvelling at a
teleprompter that quoted genetic research as
revealing that 80% of male settlers were Nor-
dic, but over 60% of early Icelandic women
were Celtic slaves.
“Sounds like those Vikings made a pit stop
for some pretty ladies on the way over!” said
one middle-aged woman from America, giving
a younger Icelandic girl a suggestive wink.
Reykjavík 871 +/- 2, The Settlement Museum,
Aðalstræti 16, 101 Reykjavík.
www.reykjavik871.is
Roots, Rock, Reykjavík
Past meets present at the Settlement exhibition
by gunnar hrafn jónsson
Guesthouse Móar
301 Akranes
tel: 431-1389/897-5142
e-mail:sollajoh@simnet.is
4 rooms, 9 beds + 2 summerhouses 1x1
without bath 3000ISK sleeping bag acc.
2000ISK.
Cooking facilities available
www.airiceland.is | tel 570 3030
tel 570 3030 | fax 570 3001
websales@airiceland.is | www.airiceland.is
Contact us, or any
travel agent in Iceland,
for reservations
Check out our tours
in our new 2006
brochure
The right jeep for a journey in Iceland
+354 50 50 600 • www.hertz.is
Hertz locations in Iceland: Keflavík Airport, Reykjavík, Ísafjörður, Akureyri, Höfn, Egilsstaðir
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