1st instalment of details, but back in Tórshavn - Friday

Well, I guess on the Wow factor scale, (Tuesday 14^th) today’s big walk would rate a 10!!! Absolutely superb! There are not the words in my vocabulary to describe it!!

It was extremely hard for me. Those that had the right walking poles were able to get up & down the steep parts a great deal more easily than me - they also do not carry my age, weight & infirmities!!!

This big - fantastic - walk started with a hard pull up this hill! This was the "EASY" bit!

BUT, there was a reward up the top, in the shape of .......... yes, YOU know......

Whilst I did not get the whole way to the lighthouse, given the route, I would not have expected to have got nearly as far as I did. But my capacity to cope with being downright scared has it's limitations!! Also I knew I had to be able to have enough energy to get back again!

But, as usual it seems, to go back to the begining of this sector.

The trip out here to Mykines was eventful, & I was glad I was with the other two couples, as we had the problem that the helicopter schedule was different as it was a public holiday, which Greengate had forgotten to take account of & consequently, when we got to the airport, to find the bus had long gone, so it ended up with getting taxis.

The helicopter .........

dropped a woman off @ her farm en-route

& the boat ride were exhilarating - even if the weather could have been rather better - raining & cold on the boat,

but you never knew what was just around the corner! ('scuse the rain on lens!)

given this was on the "ferry" (read small boat) - not a bad shot, but will get another go on Saturday I think!)

The gulls kept up well with the speeding boat, but my shutter speed could not keep up with them!

Getting up from the harbour was never going to be easy - given that this was only the 1st 'stage'!

The “guest house” is certainly basic - if not quite primitive by South American standards (that for my daughter’s comparison!) - & we're not that impressed with having to share the tiny combined toilet & bathroom - such as it is - but really it was expected, but still uncomfortable as one can only just find room to stand & dry oneself etc..

The blue house is the one we stayed in

I was really worried, 'cos, to get up to the bedrooms was a bit like climbing a ladder, & my room was on the other side of the ‘hole’ to the bathroom, which was scary in the night as I was only inches away from what would be a very nasty fall. But I managed not to come a cropper last night, & hopefully the same tonight before we are helicopter-ed out in the morning.

Am sitting writing this on a rock - not that I can see what I’m doing at all, & it won’t get posted for some days, but hopefully, I will recover some energy, if not pain relief. I couldn’t bear to sit in my tiny little box whilst although the sun has given up for the day it is not yet too cold or wet, so have found myself this convenient rock!!!

BTW, this island has a population of 10, most of whom are part of 1 family!

Anyway, back to the walk...... this was the next section by which time the others were so far ahead, that's Connie
j-u-s-t ahead!

Then it was down a VERY steep rocky path

Lots of distractions........:

and rewards...........

Through to the 'other' side:

But, I could go no further, as it was straight down a literally slippery slope to the bridge between the islands. So,  contented myself with taking photos on the slow walk back.

Have U ever seen a tri-coloured sheep?

and a friend stayed just long enough to greet my return





But "To the The Lighthouse" - NOT

Later Went to look at the bird cliffs near the harbour & the other side of it,

then saw a ship coming in

that did indeed anchor off-shore, & watched the 1^st zodiac coming in, then 2, then 3. Yikes!

The Vikings are invading again! No not Vikings, “tourists” from the M/V Plancius (which was one of the trips I looked at, & it is on it’s way to Spitsbergen *sigh*). BUT, they only get 2 hours ashore here, so I feel I’ve done very well.

[That was all written whilst still fresh, but this is later now that I am back (safely) in the hotel in Tórshavn & adding photos!]



Nolsoy

May not be able to post for a few days, so wanted to try to give you an update, before going to other islands here in the Faroes today - where on my itinerary from the travel agent here states: "conditions are more  primitive" we'll see.....

In the meantime, went on the "guided walk" to Nolsoy yesterday - which I enjoyed. 2 other couples - a pair of Kiwis who live in Brisbane, & a German couple. It turned out that the guide's wife & 11 year old daughter also came as it was a public holiday so his wife had bought tea & home-made cake to share! A nice touch! [Everything, but everything was closed! Museum, tourist info, 'souvenir shops' etc. & the holiday also explained the partying of the night before

                            Arriving on the ferry in Nolsoy - as you can see it is a small village

We strolled around the village to start with, I do love the turf roofs:

but not so much the drying fish!!!











Then we started on the walk proper!!!

Passing some ruins - to which there is a saga attached:

Looking back:

Well spotted Anna (I'll become a "twitcher" is that the right word, yet!!!)

Had a pretty good spot for a picnic!

But I just couldn't catch the waves or the fulmars in flight!! Too busy trying not to fall over the precipice!!

The couples decided to do the "big" walk to the south end of the island & get a later ferry back (will see them again today), but you can see why I decided against it, they are (if you zoom in) apparently, halfway up the steep but quote "easy" walk!!

 I opted for gentler pursuits:

To look back at where I had managed to get to, altho' U can't quite see it:

 & to wish others "Calm Seas & Prosperous Voyage"

Soon the ferry arrived (hope the eider ducks got out of the way) & it was back to Torshaven for me.

My bag had NOT arrived, but thankfully, after a huge meal (for which I had apparently already paid!) it did! Whew!! What a relief!! I could then do some washing & go off to the

Mykines, Skúvoy & Sandoy & leave a repacked bag here @ the hotel for a few days & just take the backpack!

Arrival in the Fǽroe Islands (new edit!)

[If anyone looked at this previosly, whoops!!!! No idea how all this got jumbled!!]

The Fǽroes are going to be amazing! OMG - just the descent in to the airport, & the drive in to Tórshavn! It actually took about ¾ of an hour - but I had not realised this was to be so, & my camera was not easily get-at-able so would you believe no photos, but I think I'll have another chance at that! 

But, let me go back to the begining of my day! 

I arrived at Edinburgh airport only to find my flight was not listed! Yikes!!! Eventually found someone to help, & discovered that it had all been changed some time ago, but I hadn't been notified!! This was always going to be the most problematic part of my itinerary as it was to be a very tight change of flights @ Copenhagen. Now, it was worse as it was not SAS, but a BMI flight & they would not book my bag right through, & altho' I pleaded with 3 different people they said I would have to collect it @ Copenhagen, PLUS it was now a matter of changing terminals as well!

This was a real worry, but the BMI flight attendant was very understanding, & organised for me to be 1st off.

It was wonderful looking out of a CLEAR sky over the Danish coastline - camera up in overhead locker *sigh*!

They arranged for me to be 1^st off the plane, but then - of course - the assistance wasn’t there, so ended up being last as usual. When she came, she thought there was a much easier way of doing this, which included someone else collecting my checked bag & re-tagging it, & getting it across to the other plane. Thus, I was also able to avoid security there (oh did I mention security @ Edinburgh managed to temporarily loose my expensive TSA lock from my backpack in which I carry my netbook, & took forever finding it) & then we waited & waited in a very small area to board the bus out to the plane - about 100 or so people, & it got hotter & hotter & the oxygen was getting VERY depleted. Quite uncomfortable!

I was amused though as this gorgeous looking assistance woman responded to my “shouldn’t you be elsewhere helping someone else” with “No, I’m all yours for as long as you need me!!!!!!” Imagine that!!! but, I won’t repeat my thoughts on that suggestion!!

Plane was late taking off, so worrying about the transfer proved totally unnecessary! However, on arrival at Vagar, yes, you’ve guessed it NO BAG!! It’s probably still going round on the carousel @ Copenhagen waiting for me to claim it!

Of course, as I had just left Scotland in rain & cold, the clothes in my backpack are entirely unsuitable for this warmth & we arrived too late for any shops, & it’s Sunday tomorrow!! Worse still I had changed the way I packed, & my nightshirt & extra undies are in the outside pocket of the missing bag - how stupid can I be after having been so careful up until now!!

Anyway, as I said right at the beginning, this country is going to impress enormously I think. It seems to have all the beauty of the Hebrides but on a much higher, steeper & bigger scale, AND the sun is shining!! Well, actually it’s not shining now but it is still very light & it's after 11pm! There is a dance/party going on over the road, but I'm very tired (& although there is no way to plug my heatpad in, & I need it!) I think I'll sleep! [As I am re-editing this this morning I have to say, the 'music' was still loud & clear @ 03.45!]

My itineary has been changed so I'm not entirely sure what I am doing, but the 1st change is tomorrow when I am to be picked up from another hotel for a "guided" walk on Nolsoy. Not sure what that will entail, I hope it's not with a group of eiher enthusiastic walkers or families! I like to set my own pace, & wander where I want to go. So we'll see!

Did a bit of a wander around last night, so will add a few photos:

My hotel is the last building on the left, but my room is at the back!!

The bells seem to ring constanly which is fine:

Can't really tell what sort of bird this is perched high on the steeple:

IF I have enough money I might try this cafe with it's turf roof!!!

In haste

                                          Approaching Staffa

Fingal's Cave

                               Extraordinary basalt rock


And just to prove I did clamber around & inside

AND as I was the only person there at the time had a wonderful sing!!! Fantastic acoustic!! Just ask Mendelsohnn if U ever meet him!!!!

This is the Holy Isle just off Arran

 & another from Arran

Oyster catchers waiting for the tide to go out methinks

& gotta have 1 really tame photo!!!!

the bridge @ Blackwater

Have to dash I've a couple of planes to catch to the Faroe islands!!!