Durmstrang in Scandinavia?

[jekatiska]

No: HPFGUIDX 87932

>  "Berit Jakobsen" wrote:
> 
> > I still find it very odd that Durmstrang's in Norway or Sweden. Both 
> > the name of the school (German-sounding) and the name of its students 
> > (Slavic-sounding) are very foreign to the Scandinavian language. Well 
> > well...

Jekatiska:

I agree. Whatever way you look at it, the names do not fit 
Scandinavia. But this could only be JKR's misconception of 
Scandinavia. _Geographically_ Scandinavia means Sweden, Norway and 
Denmark; linguistically Iceland, and politically Iceland and Finland 
are included. This last group of countries is really called "The 
Nordic Countries", but most foreigners are unaware of this and 
simply refer to it as "Scandinavia". It's a lot easier, but leads to 
a lot of misunderstandings.

Even of we ignore the Scandinavia bit, the Murmansk area or Finland 
will not do, because there are no mountains. And the Murmansk region 
or the Kola is in quite a bad state due to pollution. Not much 
forests to speak of, as far as I know.

But how about Spitsbergen? It's part of Norway and way up in the 
Barents Sea, where it would be difficult to find. And the place 
names up there sound less Scandinavian, too. Lots of mountains and  
no daylight in winter. My vote goes for Spitsbergen.

As for other wizarding schools, I suspect there are more than just 
the three in Europe. Although the wizarding community in Europe is 
not enormous, I doubt that three schools would be enough for them. I 
mean, Hogwarts students are all British, aren't they? Or as far as 
we know. I think it is implied in GoF. And Beaubatonx students are 
French, right? But where do all the Spanish, Italian, Greek, German, 
Polish, Dutch etc. etc. etc. witches and wizards go to? ;)
 
> Arya wrote:
  
> For me, it's the fact that they arrive in a that huge ship that rings of being 
> some traditional Viking Longship vessel.

Viking ships typically didn't have much of a deck and certainly no 
cabins or accommodation suitable for a modern schoolkid (or anyone 
at all living in this day and age). And you certainly wouldn't want 
to live on one for months on end. I had the impression of a much 
later type of vessel, with an elaborate captain's cabin for 
Karkaroff and hammocks or bunks for the kids. I could be wrong, of 
course. But judging from several mistakes in the book, I suspect JKR 
is not an expert on sailing ships. (I will not bore you with 
details ;)

> Hmm, I wonder how Hogwarts would have arrived at a Triwizard Tournament if 
> it were hosted at one of the other schools....in a giant lemon drop chariot?

Why, that should be quite obvious: thestral-drawn carriages. ;)

Jekatiska