Torshavn, Faroe Islands

One of Europe's smallest and oldest capitals, remote Torshavn was named for mighty Thor, the Norse god of thunder and lightning. Founded in the ninth century be emigrants from what is now Norway, Torshavn is home to about 20,000 residents, roughy 40% of a total population of nearly 50,000 scattered across the 18 islands of the Faroe archpelago. A self-governing nation within the Kingdom of Denmark, the Faroes boast one of the oldest parliaments in the world. Torshavns quaint, wooden buildings - even some with sod roofs - and a fleet of colorful fishing boats along the harbo front paint an inviting landscape. Beyond town, lush green pastures provide excellent summer grazing for the island's sheep, which outnumber humans by a ratio of two to one.
We had scheduled an all-day tour which included 14 of us which was fantastic since they picked us up in a small Mercedes Benz van which was very comfortable. Our guide was very professional, however somewhat boring at times.

The grass roof is very practical as it serves as insulation.

The building pictured above is a prison! Our guide told us that it is quite empty since there is virtually no crime in the Faroe's. Everybody knows everybody!

The highlight of our tour was a stop at a sheep farmers house. We were treated to coffee, homemade cake and a very interesting talk with the farmer. He was a young man with 4 young sons and a wife who was studying for her masters degree (online). He was the 17th generation to live in this house and the homes surrounding his was inhabited by family. It's quite a heartwarming lifestyle, something so foreign to us .

The table pictured above was washed up on the shore with a seaman hanging on for dear life. He was the only survivor of a shipwreck. Many years later, he came back to visit with the people who saved his life.

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