What the Vikings really did in Turkey
May 6th, 2008 | By Lene Johansen | Category: BlogI have told my U.S. friends that this whole raping and pillaging thing was just a big misunderstanding, Vikings did not do that! See, Norwegians are very introvert and live so far apart, they are not very social. If you walk 5 miles to visit your neighbor, and you know you have to walk 5 miles to get back, you are not likely to be very chatty.
When the Vikings got to Britain or wherever they were going, they were just very shy and curious about all the pretty people they met. But because they were shy, they had a few drinks to get their courage up, and they probably had a bit to many and it all got a bit out of hand. At least that is how I tell the story.
Turns out that was wrong too, it turns out that the Vikings were trading cod. They went all the way to Turkey to trade cod. I come from a proud lineage of free traders!
The amazing Ms. Miranda Hvinden, Honorary Norwegian, Medievalist, and Microbiologist Extraordiniare sent me this link with more cod-based anthropology:
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/court_and_social/article3738383.ece
And while we are on the subject of cod, I will reccomend Eamonn’s Dublin Chipper on King Street in Alexandria, which has awesome fish & chips. The inscription on the door it says “Thanks be to Cod”.
http://www.eamonnsdublinchipper.com/
As a Norwegian who grew up in a coastal community with strong fishery roots, I can only say: In Cod, we trust!