50/50

Yesterday I finally made it out to my aunt's house in Sandgerdi, and over to Fanney's house as well. And of course everyone wanted to hear how Pálmar is doing. So I shared with Ósk my pet theory that some of Pálmar's "behavior problems" were related to issues of him trying to overcome messages from his body that he needed to sleep or eat or go to the bathroom. In other wards that his mind was always trying to control his body. Ósk, who has had health problems of her own, understood this, and sympathized with it, but also, somewhat to my surprise, also understood it as a false dichotomy created by modern Western society.  And indeed it is. We ought to listen to our body, and not fight it all the time.  I guess that is why I am not that big of a fan of the Olympics, even though it is always interesting to watch. But it is a relief when the closing ceremony finally rolls round. 

Today, a group of us got together during one of the breaks in the conference to discuss holding a material culture in the sagas workshop. I am excited about it!

I am in Aarhus now, heading out to Lindholm hoje and Fyrkat today, two famous Viking Age sites. One is a precise earthen stronghold, and the other an alluring, mysterious burial ground in use for hundreds, if not thousands of years. I will take as many pictures as I can, and try to set them in here later.

I am spending a few days in Reykjavík before flying to a conference in Denmark. Usually when I am in Iceland, I am further south, closer to the airport. So I am trying to take advantage of this rare opportunity to have a free place to stay within walking distance of the main part of Reykjavík. Last night for instance I went out (starting at midnight in good Icelandic fashion) and it was really a relief not to have to worry about how to get home safely. This morning I decided the best cure for my aching body and head was to go swimming, and it turns out the oldest public swimming pool is just across the way from where I am staying. I had heard about Sundhöll before, but never been in there, so I was pretty excited to get a chance to go. It really is an architectural gem, and extremely designed and built. The locker room area was especially nice: patrons each get there own tiny little changing room, with a key so they can just keep there stuff there. I am not used to that level of priv...