5 Reasons To Visit Archives

I have spent a big part of my childhood on Faroe Islands. I’ve been there 14 times in total and been to most of the major 18 Faroese islands, but there’s always a new adventure waiting in ‘Europe’s best kept secret.’

Even after having been to 100+ countries, Faroe Islands is still a very special place to me. Having Faroese roots, the nature and the fact that a big part of my family is living on the Faroe Islands, makes the country like a second home to me. I’m still fascinated every time I arrive in Vágar Airport and drive through the country’s incredible landscape, when I come back to visit my grandfather.

What is Faroe Islands?

The Faroe Islands is a self-governing archipelago with 50,000 people, part of the Kingdom of Denmark, but with its own flag, laws, government and passport.

It comprises 18 rocky, volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean, connected by road tunnels, ferries, causeways and bridges. The islands’ mountains are characterised by steep cliffs, tall mountains, narrow fjords and grassy heathland with thousands of sheeps and seabirds.

The Faroe Islands are synonymous with fishing. With my father and big Faroese cousin in Torshavn, Faroe Islands

The Faroese language derives from Old Norse, which was spoken by the Norsemen who settled the islands 1200 years ago and is very different to the Danish language in Denmark.

There’s absolutely no chance of confusing the Faroe Islands with Denmark – or any other Scandinavian country, for that matter. It truly is a place that stands out all on its own.

1. The scenery

There are no arguments anyone can make that will convince me that the Faroe Islands don’t have some of the most stunning scenery in the world. It’s just a visually striking place, with green mountains and shaggy sheep; crashing waterfalls and colorful little villages.

My dad and I walking around in Gjógv, Eysturoy, Faroe Islands

View from the small village Bøur, Vágar, Faroe Islands

2. Ease of travel

Yes, the Faroes are in the middle of the Atlantic ocean, but you can get easy flight connections these days from places like Copenhagen, Bergen, Reykjavik, and more. (I fly from Copenhagen every time and prefer flying Atlantic Airways.)

The weather can be dramatic here on Faroe Islands. Clear skies and then strong wind and heavy rain right after

When I was a kid, you couldn’t drive to most places, but you had to take ferries or cross mountains on foot, but now it’s incredibly easy to get around with a rental car. Signs are easy to read, tunnels and bridges connect the main islands and make travel times short, and roads are all paved and well-maintained. (Some roads are admittedly very narrow and winding, but the quality of them is still very good.)

Faroe Islands means “Sheep Islands.” There are more sheep in the country than people!

3. Incredibly welcoming people

In which other country in the world do people not lock their doors when they leave their home? And in which other country do you just walk in without knocking on the door when visiting family?

The last one is a bit too much for me, but it’s the truth of Faroe Islands. One of the safest countries on the planet and Faroese people are very welcoming and relaxed, and enjoy getting together and talk for hours. The Faroese people are hardy (you have to be when you live in a place with such changeable weather!) and hard-working, but also love good food and drink. They are also very passionate about their home.

Enjoying fish soup with my Faroese family in Runavik, Faroe Islands

Faroese people have an extremely strong family bond and they live very close to each other.

4. Puffins

The island of Mykines is only a 45-minute ferry ride from the island of Vagar, and in the summer the entire island is covered in birds – including thousands of puffins!

The Atlantic puffin is my favourite seabird. So awesome!

(And really, do you need any other reason to visit?)

5. Social Media Hasn’t Ruined It

I’ve been to Iceland and they’re struggling to figure out what to do with more tourists than they can handle.

The Faroe Islands don’t currently have that problem. Even though the landscapes are incredible, the fact that the country remain relatively obscure means that there aren’t really a ton of tourists there. I visited Faroe Islands in each of the last 4 years, and no matter where I go, I only share the views with a couple of other people. (Keep in mind that I usually go in May, and not in July/August where it is tourist season)

The small village of 64 people, Tjørnuvik, Faroe Islands

My Faroese grandfather always told me May is the best month to visit Faroe Islands (weather, tourists, beauty) and he knows better than anyone!

With my ‘abbi’ (grandfather) in Faroese. He spoke 7 languages fluently, but is now 86 years old!

There is nothing like a fresh sunny morning in the Faroe Islands during spring time.

If you want to visit a place that social media attention hasn’t ruined, head to the Faroe Islands. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.

– Gustav

gus1thego.com

1: The landscapes are incredibly scenic

Arid plains, spectacular mountains, lush green areas, and vast lakes define Ethiopia’s scenic landscapes. The country boasts 70% of the mountains on the African continent. Whether you are in the Semien Mountains or the Danakil Depression, every corner of the country offers a view pleasant to the eyes.

2: Tasty food with extensive choices

From the raw meat delicacy to an extensive vegetable dish, Ethiopia’s cuisine is as diverse as it is flavorful and one you should experience. Meals are usually served on a common platter to encourage dining together. Injera, the country’s staple food, makes a frequent appearance on the dining table. People eat using their right hand and use injera to scoop up food served alongside it.

3: You can go back in time

It’s still 2011 in Ethiopia! The Ethiopian calendar follows the ancient Coptic calendar, which makes it fall seven to eight years behind the Gregorian calendar. The difference in the two calendars comes in the calculations to determine the Annunciation date of the birth of Jesus Christ.

4: Home to over 80 ethnic groups

Ethiopia is a melting pot of different cultures, with over 80 ethnic groups and languages spoken. After a look at the different traditions, you will hardly feel like you have visited just one country. The Hamer Tribe, the Banna tribe, the Mursi people, and tribes of the Omo valley are a few of the many ethnic groups with spectacular, traditional ways of living. Staying with the Banna tribe was an experience of a life-time!

5. The Wildlife

Ethiopia, as well as having beautiful scenery, also has beautiful wildlife. Ethiopia has many national parks, such as Awash National Park, Abijatta Shalla Lakes National Park, Mago National Park, and more. These parks, along with the lakes of the Great Rift Valley, are home to rare species of birds and animals, such as the Mountain Nyala, the African antelope, the Walia Ibex, the mountain horned goats, and the Ethiopian wolf.

Gustav in the surburbs of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Compared with many African countries, Ethiopia is remarkably safe – most of the time. Serious or violent crime is rare; against travellers it’s extremely rare. Outside the capital, the risk of petty crime drops still further. So, as much as it is safe to travel around Ethiopia, you need to realise that sometimes not-so-nice situations may happen – as they can and do happen in any city in the world. Just be ready for them, so you’re not disappointed.

I really enjoyed my 10 days in Ethiopia. Hopefully not my last time here.