It’s my 35th birthday tomorrow and I’ve crafted my truest year yet. I’m revelling in the very first summer I’ve had free from work, university, or summer school since I was 4 years old. Rich in time, able to coax a reality out of the mist of my dreams.
The end of each day is marked by a gentle fade into dusk, not city lights and after-hours screentime and work. The loudest voice is of my own body. I wistfully let the seconds trickle through my fingers, resisting the urge to hold on a little longer to preserve my memory of each irreplaceable moment, recognising the natural order of letting go.
The intensity of the legends I’ve lived this season will fade, but I trust in both my imagination to fill in the blurred spots, and in my future to be so magnetic that I won’t want to exist in the past.
These are my first self-portraits from the Faroe Islands. I’ve enjoyed how small, sleepy and relaxed it is here. I’d wager it’s the least touristy location in Europe especially as it is the height of high season.
The villages abound with scraggly sheep, children having bike races, signs of Viking inhabitation from before the 1500s, waterfalls pouring off sea cliffs, folk tales of feats of strength and selkies, and the kindest locals ever. The type who keeps plying you with free coffee, buys you a beer at the brewery, or offers tenters a more comfortable place to sleep on a stormy night.
Accordingly, these photos are hushed, a peacefully sweet departure from the epic grandeur of Iceland.
There are absolutely expansive sea cliffs and mountain views here too - we haven’t reached most of those heights yet; they have usually been hidden in low raincloud, or, especially for the Instagram-popularised spots, come with the barrier of recently introduced expensive hiking fees (200-600 DKK, or about $40-$120 CAD per person).
At the moment we enjoy beautiful daily moments from down below, nestled in our home on wheels.
(Our one “paid” hike so far has been to Kallur Lighthouse, in some of these photos, which we hiked for sunset without being asked to pay. The farmer who owns the land just started charging for this hike last week and I don’t love the large admission fee. I do understand some sort of charge as all land in the Faroes is privately owned, and the Faroese tourism board allegedly has not been providing recompense to land owners; yet it makes an expensive destination even further out of reach for many travellers. It’s interesting that Iceland has the same private landownership situation, yet there is no paid admission.)
Hope you enjoyed a first foray into our three slow weeks in the Faroes. Thanks for reading as always.
5 comments
I love the Faroe Islands had no idea Denmark was this captivating. It reminds me of Kinlochbervie up in the mountains in Scotland and a bit like Inverness with the Loch. Amazing beautiful pictures you have on here they do the scenic views justice.
Enjoy your Birthday 💐
Sliante! 🙂
Love this, and happy early birthday 🥳 hope you year is filled with blessings.
Happy early birthday! What gorgeous photos. These images capture the mood so well (or what I imagine it to be based on your dreamy descriptions). Thank you for sharing.
Wow: “my future to be so magnetic that I won’t want to exist in the past”.
What words for thought, especially in this day and age where we’re so absorbed in what we have or haven’t done! Seeing the intentional quietness and the way you are present in these is very inspiring, and the Faroe Islands are an absolutely spot on parallel and example of that line of thought, and exceptionally beautiful to boot!
I love how you’ve managed to capture the peace and quiet, the way time seemed to stand still, the rest and magnitude of being at ease,..
It seems like a magical place to celebrate your birthday, a place to unwind and be free of social exspectations and just be able to just be in the moment and soak all of it in, focus on your thoughts and dreams and connection with nature and the people you surround yourself with.
Happy birthday, Wendy