You might be interested in some previous threads on how news of the Vikings' journey to North America spread throughout certain portions of Europe:

• Did word of the New World discovered by Leif Ericson ever get to the Western Europeans? - 65 comments, over 1 year old.

• Here the commenters pull out sources from Germany and other areas to show the state of awareness in Europe of the New World before 1492.

• Did the rest of Europe know about the Vikings' discovery of America? - 8 comments, over 1 year old.

• This thread puts the above thread in context by summarizing how Scandinavian scholars did not realize that Vinland and the areas that Columbus explored were one in the same until the 16th century.

• How did the Nordic countries react to the 1490-1500s New World discoveries? - 32 comments, over 1 year old.

• Users his talk about the internal politics and goals of the Scandinvian countries contemporaneous with Columbus's discovery and why they focused on nearer shores.

• Is there any evidence that Christopher Columbus (and other 15th century explorers) knew of Lief Erickson's travels and the Viking settlements in the New World? - 4 comments, over 1 year old.

• A flaired user gives a well sourced answer that explores Columbus's mindset and preconceptions that would have shaped his interpretation of the Vinland voyages.