Don't Feel Sheepish - Faroe Islands, July 2020

We heard several recommendations to check out the Faroe Islands, a series of islands belonging to Denmark but closer geographically to Norway. The recommendations were justified - the year round rain and lack of trees makes for a very unique landscape. There are waterfalls and sheep everywhere. The sheep run free and are tagged so the farmers can track them down as needed. Be careful not to run one over - if you do, you are legally obligated to find the owner and pay for the sheep.

We flew over there while the pandemic was still quite new and restrictions weren't really in place yet. The Faroe Islands were actually really well-equipped, though, and they had already converted a fish testing site into a Corona testing site, and all travelers were able to get tested and sent their results within about 6 hours of arriving.

After tracking down our rental car, we took our first tour of several of the islands, making our way to Klaksvik via hillside roads and tunnels. The town we stayed in was small and very cute. We stayed down the street from the Faroe Islands main brewery. Opening hours were not extensive, but we were able to get a tasty burger from a local cafe and some groceries down the street before things closed up for the evening. We enjoyed the view from the little apartment we rented, and even were treated to a surprise evening fireworks show across the water.

The next day, we met up with a local guide for a waterfall tour. In addition to seeing many beautiful sites, we also were treated to fascinating tidbits and insight into Faroese life and culture. At one point, we visited a beach and were greeted by a chorus of sheep as they were being herded for shearing. Plus, the tour guide treated us to some bonus sites in exchange for dinner, which was a traditional Faroese spread - heavy on fish, light on veggies.

On Sunday, we went to Torshavn to explore the capital city. Alas, not much is open on Sunday, but the town is super cute, so we enjoyed seeing the lighthouse and the old buildings and alleyways. We caught the bus to the history museum and enjoyed a tasty meal at a lovely restaurant before heading back to enjoy the view from our little apartment one last time.

The Faroe Islands are hauntingly beautiful, definitely not a baa-d place to visit (just ask the sheep!).