planes, trains, automobiles, buses and ferries

I’m headed far, far away–

The Faroe Islands, situated where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea, is an archipelago of 18 mountainous islands located halfway between Iceland and Scotland.  Just a bit of history to “set the scene”:  The islands were first settled in year 300 AD, although no one knows by whom. The first known settlers, according to stories passed down through generations, were Irish monks in the sixth century.

The name Faroe Islands first appeared as Faereyjar (in approximately 1225), which means “Sheep Islands”. This presumably led to the national symbol, which is a ram. This name was given by the Viking age settlers from Norway in the ninth century.

Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. The islands’ population of nearly 50,000 (along with 70,000 sheep) is spread out across the 17 inhabited islands, the 18th island being  uninhabited. The islands are connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. One of the islands requires a helicopter ride for the journey.

One flight a week from Reykjavik, Iceland to Vágar, Faroe Islands on Atlantic Airways brings visitors to the islands. And one flight a week returns visitors to Reykjavik.  An undersea tunnel connects Vágar Island with Streymore Island, where my destination, Tórshavn, is located. Tórshavn is the capital and largest city in the Faroe Islands with a population of 13,000. My lodging will be on Tórshavn, but I will venture out and about to some of the other islands.

I am soon to begin my journey to this far-away land. My departure is in 24 hours. Come along!