Newfoundland and Labrador

[Liam]

Recently Mrs. Liam and I went on a tour of Newfoundland - land of icebergs, whales, fishing villages, light houses, and wonderful people. I was kilted every day, despite some brisk winds - especially on the whale watching boat. Here are a few of the pics I took.

[Richrail]

Very nice pictures, looks like a grand time.

[Dughlas mor]

Nice pictures, Liam. I`m guessing that`s a recreation of a Viking house in the last one?

[Bruce Scott]

Deleted - question already asked by Dughlas mor

[Liam]

Nice pictures, Liam. I`m guessing that`s a recreation of a Viking house in the last one?

An archeological site on the Northern most part of Nfld. L'Anse aux Meadows where evidence of a 11th century Viking settlement has been found. This of course is a recreation.

[Julia Elliott]

This was the last thing I expected to see when I logged on this evening.. Pictures from my beautiful home province.. And lovely pictures they are you were brave to go kilted as I know from talking to several family members that it has not been the warmest summer ..some even report having their wood stoves going. so happy you enjoyed it.

My hope is that sometime in the next year I will make myself a little something from the Newfoundland tartan.

[Dughlas mor]

Thanks for that, Liam. I understand that they didn`t last too long there, apparently the locals were a bit less than welcoming. Interesting, the similarity between that house and a Hebridean "black house."

[Liam]

This was the last thing I expected to see when I logged on this evening.. Pictures from my beautiful home province.. And lovely pictures they are you were brave to go kilted as I know from talking to several family members that it has not been the warmest summer ..some even report having their wood stoves going. so happy you enjoyed it.

My hope is that sometime in the next year I will make myself a little something from the Newfoundland tartan.

Julia... I have met many transplanted Newfoundlanders in Fort McMurray and almost all long to return. The wood stoves were burning and the wood piles well stocked every where we went. The Newfoundland tartan was in evidence in many places. We thoroughly enjoyed our visit to your home Province and hope to return again.
Long may you big jib draw!

[Liam]

Thanks for that, Liam. I understand that they didn`t last too long there, apparently the locals were a bit less than welcoming. Interesting, the similarity between that house and a Hebridean "black house."

Of course the re creators took considerable artistic licence and no doubt modelled the recreated houses on those of the Norse elsewhere.
I don't know of the indigenous people - the Beothics were not welcoming. I suspect it was the climate.

[Dughlas mor]

The Norse sagas refer to the native inhabitants of Vinland as Skraelings, meaning, more or less, "savages." Exactly who they were is unknown today, though they were probably an Inuit tribe. Whoever they were, they were fierce fighters, as they gave the Vikings quite a run for their money with their stone age weapons. Apparently they were very competent bowmen. It is thought that the Norsemen abandoned their Vinland settlement because of worsening weather conditions and constant pressure from the Skraelings.