There Is something to be said about being curious and open to new experiences. While going to a Herring museum wouldn't have been on my list of things to explore, I'm sure glad I went.
In Siglufjörður, we visited the Herring Era Museum, established by three teachers and the community to preserve the history of the Herring era. Through live performances and tours, we learned about the Herring industry and how it influenced the economy and the fish stocks. The performance included dancing, songs, and a salting demonstration. The Herring Girls were strong women who were the heart of the industry working long hours in difficult conditions.
Our visit included a pickled Herring and Brennivin tasting. Brennivin is like a schnapps steeped with caraway. Why caraway? Because it grows in Iceland's harsh climates!
Before my expedition, I read about Iceland. I started with non-fiction, and as I got closer to my expedition, I switched to fiction with the Dark Iceland series set in Siglufjörður by Ragnar Jónasson. As we explored the town, I connected to the story, reminding me of Dr. Dan Rothermol and the importance of text-to-world connections for understanding. As I develop my action project for my fellowship, it will be important that I build-in opportunities for my students to make those connections, even when exploring locally.
Performers and travelers dancing together
Barrel of Herring
Memorial to the Herring girls
You can see the reflection of one of the museums in the water.
Siglufjörður
Back on board the ship, while making our way to Akureyri, we had a lecture on the Rekyjanes eruption. You can view live action here.
In Akureyri, we walked to Lystigardur, a little botanical garden with the most lovely poppy collection, among the oldest in the country.
The Icelanders are known to be knitters. What fun it was to discover these knitted trashcan covers throughout Akureyri. We saw an owl, a cat, and a frog.
Our evening ended with a musical performance by Svavar Knútur a gifted entertainer. We all stayed up past our bedtimes, listening to his music and laughing at his Icelandic humor. By the way, it was still light out at 11:30 PM when I went to bed. You can listen to a short snippet of one of his songs in the video below.