Beer in Faroe Islands

Föroya Bjór Gull, 5.3%, Faroe Islands

Föroya Bjór Pilsner, 4.6%, Faroe Islands
Föroya Bjór Classic Dark Lager (not pictured)

Tarvur Restorffs,  4.6%, Faroe Islands

Okkara Pilsner, 4.6%, Faroe Islands
Okkara Klassik, 4.6%, Faroe Islands
Okkara Gull, 5.8%, Faroe Islands

Trip Tip: Hostel and guest house

As we did in Iceland, we decided to stay at a hostel/guest house on the island. When looking for them, I started to question the difference in between them, and so I decided to look into what they are and on what occasion we should use them over one another. 

A dormitory room at a hostel in Torshavn, Faroe Island

The idea and the network of hostel was founded by a German elementary teacher, Richard Schirrmann (1874-1961). While on his outdoor expedition with children, a storm put them in a danger and had to find a shelter. After being denied by farms, they were fortunate enough to be invited into a school, empty due to a summer vacation. Through this experience, he has decided, for the safety for children traveling, he would gather a network to prepare inexpensive accommodations throughout the country.

Although the definition of hostel is: a budget-oriented, sociable, shared accommodation for travelers, it is sometimes referred to the mentality of hospitality, and inter-cultural community of people who uses/owns this type of accommodation, rather than the physical structure and certain features. Facility usually is a dormitory type, both coed and separated in between 4 - 8 people, and sometimes has community space such as kitchen and living room.    

A guest house in Westfjords, Iceland

Guest house, sometimes considered similar to a hostel, B&B, or inn, is an inexpensive lodging for travelers. Some guest houses has smaller rooms for a couple/few guests, as well as more common dormitory type rooms, and community space is also available.

After reading them, it was still difficult to differentiate these two types of accommodations, other than hostel encourages to have a membership for discounts, and each has their own network community. In my opinion, guest houses tends to have cozy atmosphere of a home, however, this could completely be wrong as I have only seen a few.

Communal space at a hostel in Isafjordur, Iceland

One thing they have in common, is that these are such great place to meet and exchange. Whether culture, food, information, laughter, or Facebook info for further friendship, these exchange can enrich the traveling experience, which cannot be achieved by following the guidebook/internet information. From a young solo traveler with no money, to a retired couple on their annual honeymoon, every type of people from all over the world come, stay, and share stories and info on his/her own must-sees, and you will likely not have an access to such an experience if stayed at a clean, private hotel room.

"Faroe" means sheeps in Færøerne

Leaving the port of Seyðisfjörður, located on 64 degrees north, the ferry travels south east for eighteen hours to reach Streymoy Island, where the capital of Faroe Islands, Tórshavn, is. Located in north to British islands and half way in between Iceland and Norway, 18 small islands, each like mountains rising out of the sea surface, form a shape of arrow head. In the valley of these mountains are where people settles, with colorful houses like Lego blocks piled on top of each other.  

 

Maybe it is because we came from Iceland, but my first impression of the islands was, warm without wind even though it was about 8C (barely over 40F). The second was that the color of town is much different from our first stop. It was nearly impossible to find straight roads in Torshavn, and since town was built along the hill side, houses appear to be on top of one another, as oppose to streets of Reykjavik where the center of the city must have been drawn with rulers. Green-grass roofs, much like ones we saw in the country side of Iceland, certainly enrich the pallet of the town, along with trees and grass patches everywhere. Although the day we arrived was unfortunately cloudy, we decided to walk around aimlessly and get lost in this cozy town.    

Islands overlapping one another

  

Although being the constituent country of the Kingdom of Denmark, Faroe Islands have been autonomous since 1948, the government of this country has been granted with somewhat of control. One significant examples is declining to join European Community (now EU) when Denmark decided to join in 1973. This was likely due to their concern of having to downsize the fishing industry, which still is the largest industry of this region, if became a part of the community. 

We decided to take buses to Runavik on Esturoy island, the second largest island, and walk around. We actually came to this town as we were told there would be a fastival, but when we arrived they were still setting up the tents, and it seemed more like a town fair than a festival, so we decided to pass up. This was our second time being disappointed by so called, "festival", as the Fisherman's Festival while in Isafjord was nothing but a tour of the fish processing factory. We will continue to wait for our chance of singing and dancing.