Leaving Hamburg on the local train, (not this one which is going to Lübeck) but one similar in blue and yellow colours.
After a good German breakfast at M and J´s flat, we set off to Barmbeck station just around the corner, and caught the local train to Schleswig, a journey of just over an hour. We sat on the top deck of the train carriage, and watched the little villages go past, and also endured a big rain storm, with black storm clouds and rain pounding on the windows. On arrival, we got drenched on the run from the train to Schleswig station, but the rain soon stopped pouring down, and we enjoyed some really lovely weather for the rest of the day.
Schleswig harbour on the Schlei, with the spire of St Petri Church on the skyline.
The photo was taken from the ferry that takes visitors on a 20 minute trip from the harbour to the Viking Museum on the other side of the Schlei, the stretch of water in the photo.
Schleswig (city) - The Full Wiki
The photo was taken from the ferry that takes visitors on a 20 minute trip from the harbour to the Viking Museum on the other side of the Schlei, the stretch of water in the photo.
Schleswig (city) - The Full Wiki
Viking houses at Haithabu Viking Museum.
The museum was very busy, so the staff there suggested that we visit the Viking village first, and then come back to the museum after a large party of children had left. This we did, thinking that the Viking village was just around the corner from the museum buildings. Well it wasn´t, it was a good 1.25 mile walk to the village, much further that we thought, and by the time we got there, our feet were killing us. Our feet were also killing us on the return walk of 1.25 miles!
The Viking houses were most interesting to visit, complete with people dressed as Vikings, and engaged in various activities such as spinning and cooking. The houses were very sturdy, made of thick planks of wood, with solidly thick thatched roofs and thick doors. I bet it was cold up here in the Viking winters around 850AD, and it was vitally important to have thick walls as protection from the ice and snow.
The museum was very busy, so the staff there suggested that we visit the Viking village first, and then come back to the museum after a large party of children had left. This we did, thinking that the Viking village was just around the corner from the museum buildings. Well it wasn´t, it was a good 1.25 mile walk to the village, much further that we thought, and by the time we got there, our feet were killing us. Our feet were also killing us on the return walk of 1.25 miles!
The Viking houses were most interesting to visit, complete with people dressed as Vikings, and engaged in various activities such as spinning and cooking. The houses were very sturdy, made of thick planks of wood, with solidly thick thatched roofs and thick doors. I bet it was cold up here in the Viking winters around 850AD, and it was vitally important to have thick walls as protection from the ice and snow.
A model in the museum showing the extent of the village, surrounded by huge earth defensive ramparts.
We walked along the top of part of the rampart, very similar to the ramparts at Old Sarum, and saw Viking type sheep grazing the grass, and some very large cows chewing the cud near the water´s edge.
We walked along the top of part of the rampart, very similar to the ramparts at Old Sarum, and saw Viking type sheep grazing the grass, and some very large cows chewing the cud near the water´s edge.
Rune stone, with a translation projected onto the floor.
The words were spoken in the Viking tongue and also with a modern German translation. This I found really interesting, as the old Viking tongue and modern German were not dissimilar. The museum was full of interesting exhibits, including glass making materials and tools, and of course implements for slaughtering animals and for catching fish.
I found the museum a little clinical, with many exhibits displayed against glass and plastic, instead against a more natural background. Apart from that, the whole visit was very interesting, and you can read more if you click on the link below.
The Vikings of Bjornstad - Viking Museum Haithabu
The words were spoken in the Viking tongue and also with a modern German translation. This I found really interesting, as the old Viking tongue and modern German were not dissimilar. The museum was full of interesting exhibits, including glass making materials and tools, and of course implements for slaughtering animals and for catching fish.
I found the museum a little clinical, with many exhibits displayed against glass and plastic, instead against a more natural background. Apart from that, the whole visit was very interesting, and you can read more if you click on the link below.
The Vikings of Bjornstad - Viking Museum Haithabu
In the Viking ship hall.
Information board showing the building methods used during the reconstruction of the houses.
The ferry that took us from Schleswig harbour to the Viking museum and back. The spire of St Petri can be seen to the left in the background.
M and J outside our hotel in Schleswig, the "Schleibick." ("Schlei View" the area of water in Schleswig harbour.)
It was a cosy little hotel, with an English feel about it. I had a kettle in the room, so it was nice to get up and go to bed drinking a cup of strong English tea. I arrived prepared with tea bags and sugar sachets from England.
A most enjoyable day in the sunshine with two good Hamburg friends.
It was a cosy little hotel, with an English feel about it. I had a kettle in the room, so it was nice to get up and go to bed drinking a cup of strong English tea. I arrived prepared with tea bags and sugar sachets from England.
A most enjoyable day in the sunshine with two good Hamburg friends.
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