Page 18 - Abacoa Community News - June '21

Page 18, Abacoa
The Faroe Islands, Rugged Unspoiled Beauty

By Don Kiselewski, that make up the bulk of
MCC, D.S., the islands’ remaining
Palm Beach Gardens population.
Travel Leaders Some 800,000 long-
Although it is believed finned pilot whales are
that St. Brendan and a group found in the waters around
of Irish monks first spotted the Faroes. These have
the Faroe Islands some been a food source for the
1,400 years ago, there is no islanders. Pilot whales are
unequivocal proof of their
presence. The group was The Faroe Islands
known to have sailed in these on page 19 Bryggjubakki Street at night, central Tórshavn. Photo by Vincent van Zeijst
waters, and there is proof that they landed on other islands
in the area; however, it is quite possible that they missed
the Faroe Islands completely. After all, the prevailing rain, Start Me Up Recap
fog and mist normally form a concealing shroud around the
islands. These weather conditions average 280 days a year.
The only argument for the prior visits from the outside world Report by Penny Sheltz Most of the Brian Jones-era hits were played, from Get Off
was the wild sheep that roamed the island when Landsmenn, The lawn in front of the Abacoa Amphitheater was packed My Cloud to Jumpin’ Jack Flash. Many of the Mick Taylor-
the first Norse settlers, arrived in the ninth century. Someone with happy residents and guests who attended the Rolling era hits were played including Brown Sugar and Honky Tonk
must have left them when they departed the island. These Stones tribute concert led by “Start Me Up” on a beautiful Women. The Ron Wood-era hits played included Beast of
Landsmenn were gentle farmers who feared the Viking April night. Crowds even flowed across the streets in all Burden and Miss You! They also played Start Me Up, You
hordes that terrorized the mainland of Europe. directions. Can’t Always Get What You Want, and additional 18 more
Unfortunately, the treeless Faroe Islands are not prime Hosted by Legends Radio and presented by Schumacher classic tunes. Over 40 years of classic songs that everyone
farmland, so for more than a millennium the people of the Automotive Group, the live concert series are free each month knows and loves!
Faroe Islands have relied on the sea for their sustenance. and open to the public, most who bring chairs and blankets
Likewise, their economy has risen and fallen based upon for an evening of live music in the beautiful outdoor setting.
the waters surrounding the 18 islands that make up this Start Me Up Rolling Stones tribute band recaptures some
independent nation located in the North Atlantic Ocean. of the magic of seeing The Stones in their prime, back in the
The Faroes are located 600 kilometers (372 miles) westward early ’70s, the Mick Taylor-era Stones! Start Me Up puts
of Norway and 300 kilometers (186 miles) northeast of the focus on when The Stones were a five-piece, two guitar,
Scotland, and about the same distance to Iceland, further blues-based, rock and roll band.
to the northwest. Marc Lichtenfeld was Mick Jagger and full of energy
Some 49,000* residents live on 17 of the 18 islands – singing and jumping around the stage. Anthony Steele
only Lítla Dimun is unoccupied. The town of Tórshavn on was Keith Richards and Ron Hersey was Ron Wood. Scott
the island of Streymoy, at approximately 13,000* residents, Borgmeyer played the bass guitar, Michael McCurdy played
is the capital and by far the largest community in the the keyboard, Sean Leahy was on the sax/percussion, Thomas
Faroes. What it lacks in pubs and clubs, it makes up for in Borland was on the drums and Lisa Bailey sang backup
picturesque charm. Tórshavn was named for the Norse god vocals.
Thor, one of the most powerful of the ancient deities. Havn
means “harbor” and the combination of these two words
translates to “Thor’s Port.” Tinganes, a name given to a small
peninsula that juts out from the island, is where Tórshavn
began a thousand years ago. The first Norwegian settlers
established the Alting (parliament) on this site, which makes
the town the oldest continuing national capital in Europe at
more than a thousand years old. The oldest construction in
the city dates from the 14th century and provides a unique

insight into the Faroese lifestyle, characterized with sod
roofs for insulation.
Although the Danes believe that the Faroes are as much
a part of Denmark as Copenhagen, the Faroese believe
that they are an independent nation under the protection of
Denmark. The Faroe Islands were granted home rule in 1946
and function as an independently functioning government
under the Kingdom of Denmark. They have refused to join
the “motherland” and the European Union. The Faroese have
their own flag, postage stamps, and print their own money.
An old Faroese legend says, “When the earth was created,
the foreman on the job cleaned his fingernails and what
plopped into the Atlantic Ocean became the Faroe Islands.”
Unlike other groups of islands in the world, the Faroes are
made up of long, narrow strips of land next to each other,
separated with fjords and narrow waterways. The land itself
has been laid in layers, much like a cake, which produce
steep walls right at the water’s edge. Being treeless, except
for a few that have been
nurtured in Tórshavn’s
city park, the barren
landscape defines the
true ruggedness that
shines through.
The Faroese pride
themselves on having
the cleanest marine
environment in the
North Atlantic. There
are, however, a number
of fish farms that raise
trout and other fish
crops that, because
of their confined
nature, have created
some environmental
concerns. Likewise,
camping is illegal in
the islands in order
to protect nature, and
more importantly, the The Faroese wear traditional
freshwater streams attire for Olavsoka, a national
and rivers that feed the holiday of the Faroe Islands.
100 little communities Photo by Don Kiselewski