The Best Islands in the World

Torshavn with Nolsoy in the background.

I don't know if you have noticed all the articles that have been boasting that there island is ranked higher then another island. I just read another one about Shetland Islands on the BBC. Everyone is building up their own island. The one thing that all of them only mention in passing is that the Faroe Islands is at the top. The National Geographic article that everyone is using to build there island up has the Faroe Islands above them all.

National Geographic Traveler

Check it out we are the best and we should be proud of it.

Nolsoy

Boy do I miss the Faroe Islands.

Faroese Wool

The Faroe Islands is know as the Sheep Islands so it is no wonder that Faroese wool is some of the best in the world. It has been a part of the Faroe Islands since the first vikings settle there. Today it has moved from the traditional Scandinavian style sweater to a modern fashion statement.

Here is an article about the Faroese wool and how it has jumped into the high fashion of today.

In the remote Faroe Islands, wool becomes a fashion statement

If you have never worn Faroese wool you are missing out on the BEST. It is not only beautiful but it is some of warmest that I have ever known.

Here are some links to some of the designers and manufactures mentioned in the article.

Borgnýardóttir

Sirri

Gudrun & Gudrun's

I hope you get to experience some of their products.

TÝR a Faroese Metal Band

If any of you are into Metal and happen to be in Denmark or Germany in Jam you should check out this band. TÝR has a unique sound that is a mix of heavy metal and Faroese folk. Some call it Viking Metal. They have a few concert dates in January.

Jan. 24 - Odense, DEN - Badstuen
Jan. 25 - Lübeck, GER - Treibsand
Jan. 26 - Osnabrück, GER - N8 (Winternoise Festival)

If you are interested in hearing some of their songs, here is their MySpace page, which has a few of their songs. I am not much into metal but I do like "Hail to the Hammer"

TÝR MySpace

Battle over a Rock

It is amazing the battle over a little rock in the middle of the Atlantic ocean will bring. The rock is called Rockall.

Rockall

Currently 4 countries are fighting for the rights to this rock. Why?? Well it isn't because anyone can live there. It is only 27 meters in diameter. (88 feet) No it is about OIL. All of them want the rights to the possible oil that surrounds the rock in the Atlantic. Denmark is claiming its rights to it through it's territory of the Faroe Islands. It will be interesting to see what the conclusion of this will be. I know the search for oil in the North Atlantic is a priority for the Faroe Islands. It will bring a new source of income to the islands which now get most of it from the fishing industry.

I will try and keep you updated on any conclusion to this.

Here is the link to one of the stories out there on this topic.

MSN Article

Nolsoy

Ok this is my second post. I thought I would give you a link to the island and village where my family comes from. The island is Nolsoy. It is just east of the capital Torshavn. If you search images of the capital you will see many that show the island in the background. The one mountain Høgoyggj distinctive when you see it.

My family has lived there for probably a 1000 years. There are many stories and legends about the family so it is hard to tell which is true and which is not. Here is one of them that is also on the page of Nolsoy.

Korndalur and Prinsessutoftir

Originally, Nólsoy had to farms: One farm near the spot where the village church is now, and one farm in Korndalur - Corn Valley. Korndalur was inhabitated from around 1300 until around 1750, when the last inhabitants moved to the village.

In Korndalur there are still remainders of houses from past ages. One of these is called the Princess’s Ruin; according to legend a Scottish princess whose father didn't approve of her boyfriend, fled with the boyfriend and settled on Nólsoy. Several years later the Scottish king heard where his daughter could be found, and came here to kill her. But when he saw the good life of the young family, and met his grandchild, he changed his mind and was reunited with his daughter.

What I do know is that Nugga (the family home) was the first home to move to the current location of the village. Here is an image of the church that I was baptized in and Nugga. (it is the home furthest to the right) This is from the 50 kroner bill. Also the man on the front of the bill is Nólsoyar Páll who is known as a national hero in the Faroe Islands for breaking the Danish trade monopoly on the islands in the 19th century. He is a ancestor of mine too.








Anyway here is the link to the Nolsoy's tourist website. This one is in English but it is also available in Faroese and Danish.

http://www.visitnolsoy.fo/UK/index.asp?

Hope you enjoy reading about this little island.