Greenland and Vinland

We believe Iceland was a great choice for settling, and we don't wish to go any farther. One small group from our ship continued on to Greenland and possibly Vinland after a few years here in Iceland. Few stories have come back from the settlements over there, since they are so isolated, but what we have heard is all good. It sound like a paradise full of food and resources, but we are skeptical since we've heard many rumors about Iceland that we are finding to be false. Greenland and Vinland are importing a lot of necessary supplies, and export luxuries. Their trade ships come from Norway, and often stop in Iceland. The population in the two lands are very small.

~Aldís~

The Faeroes and Iceland

Lately explorers have been traveling into the unknown, only following the rumors of lands to be explored and settled. The Faeroe Islands have a little flat land, but are good for grazing animals and suitable for some crops. Iceland has an intriguing landscape, with glaciers and sulfur springs. We have also heard it has lots of fish and animals to hunt. Auðin and I decided to settle in Iceland. We sold some of our animals and took a few with us, and left the farm to a relative of Auðin's. After many months, the ship of other settlers set sail and we made our way to Iceland and claimed some land.

~Aldís~

Scotland and the Isles; Normandy

Auðin and I discussed the idea of settling somewhere new, and have decided to go for it. We went to visit with Guðmundr and tell him our plan. He told us of some other ideas of places to go, since he knows a lot of people who have gone on raids and trips to distant lands. Jarlshof is the most common and popular place to settle in Scotland. The Western Isles have a more hybrid cuture and adaptations, such as in the building styles. On place that sounded intrigueing is the Isle of Man, because it is a well-established place for Norse to settle, since it is a very wealthy center of power. Brittany was raided a lot many years ago, but its not a favored place to settle. When Rollo closed off the Seine, Brittany and Ireland were the only places left open for attack

~Aldís~

England and Ireland

Our neighbor and good friend, Guðmundr Sturluson, came for a visit today and to encourage us to settle somewhere new. He told us of England, a country full of small kingdoms and mixed cultures. It is a very secure place to settle, and has many small villages to choose from. Another place he told us about was York. Jórvíkingar sounded very appealing in its access to luxury goods and the importance of craft manufacturing there. As for Ireland, there is always in warfare, so it does not sound like a very safe place to settle.

~Aldís~