Faroe Islands- Day 7

Monday, June 8, 2017

Today is a bit bittersweet...it is our last day here in the beautiful Faroe Islands but it is also my birthday. I feel so very fortunate to say that this will be the 5th year that I have celebrated this occasion in a different country!

Tummus & his business partner David, honored me with a special gift to start off the morning-

On the way to the island of Vagar, about 1 hour drive from Torshavn, we stop at a little beach area to let the boys stretch their legs.

A typical Faroese wooden fishing boat-
the boathouses are affectionately called "Nests"

Brotherly love...

Interesting shells-

After our fun on the beach, we drive to the village of Gasadalur one of the most isolated villages until in 2004 a tunnel was built that allowed car access.  The 18 residents hope that the new access will encourage others to decide to make their home here.

A sheep farmer training his sheep dog

The tiny village of Gasadalur, on a fjord surrounded by the highest mountains on Vagar

The pattern of the waterfall on the sea looks like ice breaking!

The closest church to Gasadalur is in the village of Bour-
until the late 1800s, villagers would have to carry their dead over and down the steep mountain to for proper funeral rites

Interesting ladder at today's trail head-

Time for skipping rocks on the lake-

Our hike today is not far from the airport where we will fly out of tomorrow-

We hike until the lake meets the sea!

Breathtaking!

Tummus has travelled all over the world, lived abroad & returned home to raise his family.  He loves his country.  
One of the things he shared this week that rings true to me is that he feels in many places in the world, the sights are about what man has accomplished; 
however, you cannot observe the natural beauty of the Faroe Islands without realizing that there is ONE who is bigger than man.

Everyday's lunch spot has been spectacular- but today's is especially beautiful to me-

Tummus brought another Farosese delicacy- his own dried lamb to be eaten with dark rye bread & washed down with Faroese beer (we decided to pass on the beer while hiking along treacherous ledges!)

A long way down...

All I asked for my birthday was to have a photo of the 4 of us!

We walked straight up another hill after filling our stomachs

On this day, from here you have a view of almost all of the 18 islands-
I think we visited 10 of them while here (maybe 11)

My heart in my arms!

Don't forget the Viking!

One last stop on the way back-
the only access to this island of rock is to balance & jump on the small rocks leading to the plateau

The last village for us to visit is the unique Kirkjubour (pronounced "Chi-see-BOW-er")-
This quaint little place was once the cultural & episcopal center of the Faroes & has the country's most historical sites from the  middle ages.

The wooden farmhouse that is open to tourists was previously the bishop's residence but has been  inhabited by the Pattursson family for 17 generations! 

This intricately carved stick the boys are holding is a Faroese shepard's hook-
The farmer used it as a walking stick & if one of his sheep strayed or became stuck on a ledge, the barbed end could be stuck into the wool & twisted to allow the farmer to pull the sheep to safety. 

St. Olav's Church was built in 1111 is still in use today

My boys ended the day by treating me to a special birthday dinner at the historic restaurant, Aarstova, where we feasted on some of the best lamb we have ever tasted.

Last glance at the capital city of Torshavn & the island of Nolsoy-

We will leave with the memory of the immense beauty of the islands, but also an understanding (and slight envy) of the strong sense of community & care for their fellowman that the people who inhabit this isolated land have retained.