Sunday - 23 September - We meet in Reykjavik in the late morning and drive to Skalholt by private mini-bus. An afternoon walk around Skalholt to explore the natural environment: nearby hot springs, river, meadows. Dinner followed by storytelling and introduction to Njal's Saga
Monday - 24 September - Part I of the Saga - Today we explore the opening section of the Saga which provides all the clues on how the story will develop. Understanding the literary conventions that every Icelanders knows about from a lifetime of hearing the sagas.
Tuesday - 25 September - We journey to Thingvellir National Park, the outdoor site of the Icelandic parliament since settlement a thousand years ago. The location for some of the key events in Njal's saga in a dramatic setting between the tectonic plates of North Americ and Europe.
Wednesday - 26 September - Part II of the Saga - Today we explore the largest section of the first half of the Saga, the story of the hero Gunnar, his initial success and his eventual undoing.
Thursday - 27 September - We journey to Geysir, site of many active geysers, and then to the great waterfall at Gullfoss, and the glacier country around Gullfoss.
Friday - 28 September - Part III of the Saga - Today we explore the second half of the saga, the story of the wise counselor, Njal who survived the undoing of his friend Gunnar, but who could not save himself and his family. How reconciliation is finally achieved in the closing chapters of the saga.
Saturday - 29 September - We journey to the farmsteads of both Njal and Gunnar, and to many of the sites associated with key events in the saga. We re-live the entire Saga as we follow the trail of Njal's Saga. Along the way we retell some of the most vivid stories that we explored in our seminar sessions earlier in the week.
Sunday - 30 September - We leave Skalholt to return to Reykjavik. There you may choose to stay in this small, attractive city, or you may catch the airport bus for your continued journey.
