Day 4 – June 23, 2024 – Torshavn (Faroe Islands), Denmark
So last night was a bumpy night on the sea from Iceland to Denmark. The boat swayed all night long, which doesn’t bother me, but it did make it difficult getting up in the middle of the night to use the restroom! We got up later than normal, grabbed a quick bite to eat then headed to the gym. After the gym, we went to the Pool Grill and had a burger as our excursion for the Streymoy Mountain hike was scheduled for 2:25 p.m.
When we got to the meeting station, we were told they had to change the excursion due to high winds. We would still do a hike, but it would be from one town to another going over the hills. We boarded the bus to take us to the drop off point and our tour guide, whose name is yet to be remembered, talked about the towns we were going through. One of the neat things about the Faroe Islands is the tunnel that was built to connect the islands. The tunnel is about 10 km (6.2 miles) long and had a roundabout inside of it to go to the different islands. What an amazing construction feat!!!!
We got off of the bus in AEouvik (it looks like there is an A in front of the E, but we think it’s a symbol, lol!) and hiked to Nes, about 2 ½ miles. The wind was crazy, and it was understandable that they didn’t want you hiking on the mountain, you would have been blown off! It was very chilly to begin with and with that wind, it really bit into you. The hiking consisted of going up and down the hills, jumping over uneven ground with breaks, almost like tiny streams. It was more of a workout than we were expecting. We saw lots of sheep, some birds, and then heading down to the bus, we saw quite a few houses with grass on top of the roofs. We were told it is used for insulation, but it does have to be cut. Not sure I can picture someone on their roof with a lawnmower, but I’m sure there is a way it’s done. If the rooftop is low enough, they allow the sheep to go up to eat it, lol!
We were happy to get on the bus to get out of the wind and enjoyed our short trip back to Torshavn, where the ship was docked. We boarded, got cleaned up and then met for a happy hour with the parents. Dinner was again at Compass Rose and the food was good. We ate later than normal, so it was after 9 p.m. when we finished. John and I headed to the Connoisseur’s Lounge for an after-dinner drink and they had a band that was doing music from the Beatles. We stayed for about an hour then headed to the room, read for a bit and lights out. We have no excursions planned for tomorrow, so it will be a leisurely day that I’m sure will be filled. We think we may go into town (Torshavn) and walk around since we are docked for the day. Nite all 😊
ABOUT TORSHAVN – taken from the daily newsletter
Torshavn is the capital and largest city of the Faroe Islands. It is a charming and vibrant destination that blends its Viking heritage, Faroese culture, and modern amenities. It has a population of around 21,000 and it is one of the smallest capital cities in the world.
It is situated on the island of Streymoy, in the southern part of the Faroe archipelago. The city overlooks the Nolsoyarfjordur fjord, with its colorful houses nestled against a backdrop of rugged cliffs, rocky outcrops, and lush green meadows, which is typical of the Faroese terrain.
The city’s name, means “Thor’s Harbor” in Faroese, reflecting its Viking heritage. The islands were settled by Norwegian Vikings in the 9th century, and Torshavn has been the cultural and economic center of the islands since its establishment.
The earliest mention of a built-up area dates to around 1580, when a small fort called Skansin was constructed by the Faroese naval hero and trader Magnus Heinason. A small fortification was built at Tinganes, a historic site where the Faroese parliament has convened since the 9th century, making it one of the oldest parliamentary meeting places in the world.