The sun barely sets at all as far as palm trees…my Icelandic friend Andres Helgasson had these few words of advice, “If you get lost in a forest, just stand up!” Viking traditions are still strong here in the Færoes. The harbors are full of clinker-built, iron-riveted Viking ships in all sizes. Most surprising to me however, was the fact that home construction techniques have not changed too much since the first settlement of these island over 1000 years ago. Most houses still have thick roofs surfaced with turf. In the midwest where I grew up, wives were constantly struggling with husbands to get off the couch and mow the blasted lawn. Out here Viking women face the even more formidable task of getting old Ole off his hind-end to get up there and mow the roof! But Viking women are tough!
Richard Keldsen
Tórshavn, the Færoe Islands
July 2005