The Wery, Wery Bad Wikings

6/19/12

The second part of our day took us to the town of Roskilde, the old Viking capital. We began with a tour of the Viking ship museum, led by a history student at the local university. I was curious as to how the Danes viewed their Viking heritage. The Vikings definitely have a bad rap in western history—the uncivilized, pagan marauders who were known primary as looters/rapists/pillagers and then more positively as the first Europeans to reach North America several centuries before Columbus. Though I have to admit it was hard to view them as intimidating when I discovered the Danes pronounce the name as “Wikings.” I mean, seriously, how can you be scared by a group that sounds like baby talk? I did ask the guide how the Vikings were presented in the Danish view of history—if they were presented with this violent image or if it was a more complicated view. He responded that the vast majority of Vikings were farmers and traders, and that image is what they tend to focus on. I was a little surprised that he seemed to downplay the nasty side of the history, but I can imagine that I would probably do the same to a foreigner who questioned how many of the men who crafted our constitutional liberties also held men as chattel on their slave plantations. 

The museum had a dress-up and photo op section.

Looking up the mast of a Viking ship replica

After the tour, we were free to wander the town. It was great to see another location in Denmark other than Copenhagen. I loved the feel of Roskilde—it seemed more authentic, less touristy, but extremely hospitable as well. We wandered the shops on the pedestrian mall, ate lunch at a bagel shop version of a Subway (my least favorite meal of the trip), toured Roskilde Cathedral where most of Danish royalty is buried, bought some souvenirs (a Viking shield for my son that I had to carry strapped on my backpack like Captain America), and made our way back to the city. 

Double-decker bike rack outside the train station

The pedestrian street in Roskilde

One of the many domes inside Roskilde Cathedral

Posing with statue, symbol for the Gospel of Matthew

As I continue to encounter more Danes, I am struck by two things: how well everyone speaks English and how nice everyone is to me. There has been no language barrier at all, and not just within the tourist/service industries. Individuals that I have spoken with on the street, in stores, and in restaurants have been immediately helpful and easy to speak with. It all creates a sense of comfort being here.