In my last post I said something about booking a trip somewhere sunny. Instead, I booked someplace less sunny than Ireland. I took one look at my farmer’s tan, from a relatively decent Irish summer, and said you know what, I’d love to experience the overcast, cold and windy vistas of the Faroe Islands in September. And what an experience it was. Dramatic from the start.
From the hair-raising landings – bouncing off the runway on first attempt and being swept back up into the sky propelled by a large gale of wind and sideways rain – to the rugged landscapes, with waterfalls and turf roofed buildings around every turn, it truly is one of the most beautiful places I have been. I think I was as impressed with the roads as I was with the breathtaking scenery. A remote group of islands with a population of about 55K and all their roads, no matter how remote, are better than Irish roads. And don’t get me started on those magnificent sub-sea tunnels…
Tjørnuvík on Streymoy Island is a beautiful inlet with a handful of houses, a church and a black sand beach. Standing on Tjørnuvík Beach, staring out at the sea, really feels like you are a million miles from anywhere. There are no chain restaurants on the islands, nowhere feels overcrowded or very touristy and every village, no matter how small, has a cute wooden church at its heart. Apart from the gale force winds, the pace of life in the Faroe Islands is slow and steady and it feels like a really special place.
Next stop on the trip, Copenhagen, was a big change of pace. It’s a very cool city with a really nice atmosphere. We were treated to a boat trip around the city, complementary dog included, which is an excellent way to see and learn more about any city. Our guide, the talented artist Gats Casey, could have been making it all up, but we really enjoyed his banter and occasional historical “facts”. And the complementary dog, Otie, of course added to our enjoyment.
Excellent museums, beautiful architecture, sunny skies and punctual self-driven trains made for a great break in a city that I would happily visit again. After a few beers on the canal one evening, I can’t understate the excitement of sitting at the front of a driverless metro train thinking you have learned a new skill and could easily do this for a living. I’ve come to realise the older I get the more wowed I am by reliable infrastructure. Next up on my list of upcoming OAP pastimes; birdwatching, or as the young people call it nowadays, birding.
I’m hoping 2026 brings even more adventures to new countries with well-maintained roads and efficient transportation to bowl me over.
Denmark photos coming soon, but for now here’s one of those cute churches.
