Faroe Diary
Friday July 12, 2013
The machine was delayed 24 hours due to fog at the Vagar airport. I was waiting first at the airport and later at hotel Bella Sky.
Saturday July 13, 2013
Landed in Vágar and went immediately to the airport hotel where we were served breakfast. After this we went on our trip to Mykines. The boat sails from Sřrvágarin the bottom of a long fiord. On our way we pass Tindhólmur and Gásholmur two rock islands close to the coast. The boat was rocking heavily, but I did not get seasick. After the landing we went on a short walk around the village. Later we went on a small sentry to the bird cliffs. There is not many birds because the fish has disappeared from the coast. The amount of Sand lance is diminished. I did not walk to the very end of the path.
Later we had lunch on the local café and the we were waiting for the boat to bring us back. The weather was gray with some showers. On our way back, there was a boat race in the fiord close to Sřrvágur, and we had to wait till it ended. We were passing close to the two islands, and I took some good pictures.
In the evening we left Vágar and went to Thorshavn where we were installed at hotel Streym.
Sunday July 14, 2013
Half a day trip to Nólsoy. We took the ferryboat from Thorshavn and the distance is very short only 20 min sailing. We started with a walk north of the village. It was raining constantly. The island is known for its colony of Storm petrels. It is very difficult to get close to them in the daylight, but with some luck you can hear them during the night.
We had lunch at a cafe in town, and thereafter we went back to Thorshavn. We had the time to go for a stroll in town which was very quiet during the holiday. We went through Tinganess and the old part of town with the Parliament building.
Monday July 15, 2013
Whole day trip to the northern part of Streymoy and Eysturoy. First stop was Saksun at the end of the valley Saksunadalur. Here are many birds, Oystercatchers and skuas and gulls. The village is at the end of a narrow fiord. The waters are shallow and you cannot sail from the sea to the village.
Next stop was Tjřrnuvik with the view of Risin and Kellingin, two rock formations at a distance from the shore.
Next stop again was Eiđi at Eysturoy. We went along the coast, and here were many birds.
Last stop was Gjógv. Here the hay was cut and set to dry. There were many Eiders in the fiord.
On the way back we made a stop in order to look at Risin and Kellingin from the other side.
Between Eiđi and Gjógv lies the highest top of Faroe Islands called Slćttartindur 882 m.
Tuesday July 16, 2013
Bus trip to Vestmanna and sailing along the bird cliffs. We were entering many caves an the cliffs are very tall here. It is a sad story however, that there are only a few birds. The fish has disappeared from the sea, and this has drastically reduced the number of birds. We saw mainly Guillemots and Puffins.
On our way back we stepped down at the Nordic House in the northern part of Thorshavn. After a visit to the house we went over to the Art Museum. The collection includes works by Sámal Jensen-Mykines, Wiliam Heinesen and modern Faroese painters. We continued walking through Viđarlundin the biggest forest in the Faroe Islands and a central park of Thorshavn.
Wednesday July 17, 2013
The only day with sunshine. We went south to Kirkjubřur where we had an appointment in the morning. The Squire (Kongsbonden) had either forgotten or broken the appointment because the weather was good, and he wanted to catch the sheep on the mountain. His wife tried to make up for him and she told us about the place. The old church ruin was covered up for restoration purposes.
From there we went directly to the airport at Vágar. The weather was still good, and there were no problems getting back home.