Five days in the Faroe Islands! – Fund for Education Abroad

First off, thrifting hiking boots before this trip was the greatest executive decision I have ever made. With the climate being wet, misty rain, fog, and chilly… rain jackets, layering and hiking boots were key roles in being comfortable during my time here.

Prior to arrival, all I expected of the Faroe Islands was the rolling green hills. After the trip, I was able to gain an understanding and have a deeper appreciation of the culture here.

When my class arrived Monday, we went to the Múlafossur waterfall and got to start of our taste bud adventure with trying “the greatest salmon in the world” with a Danish twist of open-faced sandwiches. Tuesday was comprised of visiting a Faroese supermarket to learn common foods eaten at the islands. With the limited ability of growing crops and raising certain livestock due to the unrelenting climate and uniqueness of the soil, sheep is the most common home raised meat in the islands. We followed the supermarket visit by going fishing on the Norðlysið, a beautiful sailboat built during WWII. On what we were told was one of the lucky clear skies of the season, we sailed around another island and performed a traditional way of fishing by manually pulling on a line back and forth about two meters above the ocean floor. As a class, we cooked the fish we caught and had a wonderful communal dinner! On Wednesday, some of us went on a two hour hike back to the city from an older farm to see the sights from above which were challenging in the strong winds, but so worth it. For dinner, we got a fine-dining experience through Ræst, a restaurant that combines modern culture with traditional Faroese dishes that was absolutely delicious and surprising (menu below). Thursday, we took a ferry to Sandoy island which is the only island in the country that is known for the ability to grow vegetables due to the unique texture of the soil. We met with local farmers and planted rows of onions that will likely bloom in August to September! They treated us to an amazing homemade lunch as their thanks and set us on our way back to the capital, Tórshavn. For dinner we went to Roks, which was another fine dining experience that was sooooo yummy! Friday began with visiting the second largest dairy farm in the Faroe Islands and meeting their 52 cows. We got to see a milking machine and learn of the processes the family use to be successful despite the climate.

This experience has let me gain much perspective on the Faroese culture, a deeper love for nature, and an expanded taste palate. As it was chilly and foggy, it did not take away the beauty of this country.