Feroe Islands, a paradise in the heart of the Atlantic
Like any self-respecting tourist, it is best to know some details about the history of the place you are going to visit it. Faroe Islands would translate in the Feroese language as "Sheep Islands", and that is because shepherding was, from the beginning until today, the main source of income for natives, beyond fishing, in an area surrounded by water .
For thousands of years the Faroe Islands have been some lonely heart of the North Atlantic. The first people who arrived here were some Irish monks, in the second half of the seventh century, who were probably in search of a peaceful retreat. What is more well known and documented historically, is the Norwegian colonization, which began a hundred years later, going through the Viking period, when the islands became a shelter for these big wolves. Remains of the Viking culture is also found in certain local customs and more particularly, in the construction of the Faroese language, a mixture of Icelandic and Norwegian.
Next masters of the archipelago were the Norwegians, whose control continued until 1380, when a political union between Norway and Denmark was created, which took the form of a double monarchy.
Faroe Islands have a temperate marine climate, manifested by mostly cloudy skies and frequent storms . However, the warm currents make the Gulf islands warmer than would be expected, given the latitude. An average summer temperature is between 9 and 14 degrees Celsius. The best time to travel is during the summer, more exactly from June to August, when days are long, the weather is pleasant and most services are open to tourists.
If you are more nonconformist from nature and want to see the islands in winter, you have to prepare for storms, short and cloudy days and very few tourist facilities. Travel agencies recommend the best time to visit as the end of July, as the Olavsoka festivities unfolds, occasion for the hosts arrived here to discover the culture and participate in nature's performances and festivities.
There, you will have to forget the usual steak fries and try local specialties based on mutton and fish. The most popular specialty is old and dry mutton dried by the wind in some special shelters, which can be seen next to almost every household. If you want to follow the rules nutritionists give and have a fish diet cure, you are in the right place: from fish specialties to marinated whale meat,you just have to let curiosity take its toll. Another key component of the local diet are seabirds and their eggs. For a meal at a restaurant of three stars, it is recommended a visit to one of the best local restaurants: Hotel Føroyar , Hotel Hafnia or Merlot. Venues on the island are pretty rare, but light beer version is found in abundance. Strong drinks are sold only in restaurants and special shops .
