Sheep Islands
At point 7 degrees of Eastern longitude and 62 degrees of northern latitudes lies a small island of Cholot – only two and a half square kilometers. This is one of the eighteen islands belonging to the Faroe Islands group. "Foreuya" – so approximately Fariere sounds this name, meaning nothing "Sheep Islands". And they lie "Sheep Islands", which are the peaks of the underwater rift ridge, in the Atlantic Ocean, halfway between Scotland and Iceland, while being an autonomous region of the Kingdom of Denmark.
Ferrene were known by Irish monks from about the 500th. Two centuries appeared here from Scotland, which the Vikings were then crowded. And in the 9th century Faroe Islands became a link in the system of transport communications between Scandinavia and the colonies of Vikings. From the 14th century, the islands for a long time were part of Norway, and then, in 1814, to this day, Denmark.
On the island of Colitors, since the time of Vikings, there was only one-only farm, while in 1980 the last islanders did not leave him. Fourteen years of the island remained deserted, and only the wind walked over the empty host house, the barn and the cattle pon.
But in the meantime, on a different island, a striking – the history of the next settlement of Kratop began. Then Byryn was born on this island – a spokesman for the seventeenth generation famous on the Farrers of Farmers by the name Paturson. A few years later, the young daughter of Farmer Luke from another village – Noredal – came to Kirkebu to find a job. Young people met and after a while became best friends.
They got married in 1980, and after 14 years, they took a farm in the deserted office at the time of the island of Cholling, settled here and began to live and work, recreating the traditional style of Faroesky life. In the Faroe Islands, people are accustomed to living isolated, small communities, and this autonomy manifests itself here everywhere and in everything.
You can only get to the colut. Little boat that the waves mercilessly throw from side to side, passengers barely hold on the seats, and then it is still necessary to get out of the pier on the mountain of slippery steps. But the fact that you will see will be remembered forever.
This is the most authentic image of Faroese life, which with the help of the Paturson family is trying to restore the Faroe Government. Of course, a long time to live in isolation is not easy, but if Luke and Biern manage to do business on a farm without assistance, keep energy, the vigor of the spirit and an optimistic look at life, then everything else is here, on the islands, maybe. Bierne says: "We like this way of life, like here, on the island, and we never feel lonely. It depends on how you look at life".
Sheep and special shaggy Faroe cows, as well as on the mainland, graze freely, but in the evening they fall into a special pon. There are ducks and friendly dogs, a good home for life – in short, almost everything that happens on farms somewhere in Europe. But. does not leave the feeling that you are one on the whole light, and it is impossible to get used to this feeling if you were born not on the spotlights.
Emery couple Paturson, like all Farories, is confident that the look of the island, which they stored and support every day, is important not only for the Faroe Islands, but also for all northern countries. They believe that someday the colite will become known worldwide as a unique place on Earth.
Sometimes spouses visiting the relatives of Bioron on the island stroke in the village of Kirkebu. Traditionally, the Paturson lived here on "Royal Farm", on the very seashore, next to the not finished Cathedral of St. Magnus and the Little Medieval Church of St. Olaf, the modest appearance of which makes it some kind of home and close to man. Almost all Forens – 80 percent – Lutherans, there are no extra decorations in the temples. The only liberty is in the Church of St. Olaf, thanks to which, according to legend, and appeared in the Farara, Christianity, there is one modern picturesque canvas.
At the end of the 16th century, the Cathedral, called the People "Wall", gradually stopped performing his functions. Over time, he lost the roof, windows, doors, and under the influence of wind and bad weather began to collapse. But, in spite of everything, even now it is perceived as an uncomplicable wall, envelorating the dwellings of people from a strong wind, which blows from the ocean, and rain that fills everything around.
Today, the National Faroe Museum, the Government and the Ministry of Culture are trying to keep "Wall" As the relic, trying to put it, stabilize the ruins of the cathedral and protect it from external natural impacts.
The village of Kirkebu with her romantic appearance attracts many tourists, both hiking foreigners and courageous descendants of the Vikings, which on jeeps or motorcycles bravely overcome cool turns of mountain roads, usually wet from rain and snow. Often these roads have only one lane and a few special pockets so that the cars can be broken. The driver of Ole Samuelsen tells about one of them: "It was an old, the only way to Kirkebu in Torshavn, the country’s capital, until the tunnel was opened in 1992. She is very dangerous, especially when a strong wind blows, so they built a tunnel. On the tunnel it turns out faster. But the road is still open – it is still actively used to get into the harbor. If the weather is good, you can even see another island from the road, where the airport is, as well as other islands".
Of course, everything is always driving with the included headlights – this also requires the weather, and numerous tunnels, laid in the mountains for the convenience of local residents. There are a total of about 1400 square kilometers in such a tunnels on small farera – a total of an islands area – eleven, there is even one underwater, more than five kilometers long. It happens that the tunnel leads to the village where only two or three people live. Still strange people, these fireers.
Openness, kind character and northern excerpt helps them to overcome difficulties and, ultimately, find a common language with nature. Nature is so dry that there were never trees on the islands – a permanent wind does not give rise to anything but herbs. All those few trees that are found in cities – the result of human efforts. The Government of Denmark even developed a special program for landscaping the cities of the Faroe Islands.
But still, people also tried to make elements of beauty in their life. Traditional Faroe Green Herbal Roofs, of course, enliven the landscape, but at the same time they help keep warm in the house. A good idea for Europe seeking to reduce energy consumption!
At different ends of the island, the stroke, on which the capital of the country of Torshavn is located, there are green rectangles of football fields. Sports on the Farara extremely popular. Farories participate in international football competitions, handball, volleyball. Since 1988, UEFA and FIFA member islands, in the highest football league there are ten teams. And, of course, great attention is paid to the development of children’s football. Even urban sculpture resembles residents that football is the main sport in the Faroe Islands.
Uni Arge, the player of the Faroese team told: "We played against Russia, Spain, Germany and all big countries. And received excellent results. Sometimes not very good – we had six or seven lesions. But, be that as it may, football made Faroe Islands known worldwide. When we travel, we usually say: "Oh, Faroe Islands! Do you play football!". Ferin played against Russia, I think four times. And we missed one or two goals in Moscow and two or three goals here, on the Faroe Islands. our football is magnificent. ours inspired us always, like other big football nations".
National pride is inherent in Farrooms as well as hardworking and love for nature. There is no man who could not tell the plots famous in detail "Faroezha saga", In which the Faroe Islands mentioned in the literature for the first time. Farories read a lot and are proud of their ancient language, which is on a par with Icelandic, is considered the closest to the ancient Yelorvezhsky, from which all modern Scandinavian languages occur. There are even special linguists who, on the basis of Faroese, design words and expressions to indicate new international concepts. Commitment to traditions and love for their native country collects all residents of the capital – Torskhavn city – for the holiday of the National Flag.
It is known that the Faroe Islands were part of Norway until the end of the 14th century, after which Norway owned them together with Denmark. In 1841, the islands switched completely under the jurisdiction of the Danish Crown. But the strategic position of Farer did not give rest to the neighbors. In 1940, following the invasion of German troops on the territory of Denmark, they switched to the United Kingdom military administration. British occupation ended in September 1945. Today, one of the British characters is a Scottish cheese – only decoration, bright paint in universal fun.
In 1948, the Faroe Islands received the status of autonomy as part of the Danish state. And then the state symbol became a beautiful blue-red and white flag. Flag Day celebrate April 25. On holiday come and guests from "near abroad". Scotman Benjamin Kerry has our roots that are easily detected in the atmosphere of universal relaxation and happiness. Benjamin Kerry is beginning in our: "My grandparents are our. Grandma from St. Petersburg, grandfather from Odessa. But I speak English very bad, – goes into English: Faroe Islands – a very unexpected direction for tourism. Herry Mountains, Amazing Food, Fresh Fish in the Sea. Cool to come here and open this yet not yet open world!"
Marathon is required in honor of the holiday. Young people run three kilometers, elderly 700 meters, but they are laid out both, others, one hundred percent.
By evening, the holiday flows into a friendly feast. Children perform traditional Faroe Horovod. The original ancient dance naturally goes into modern – also very distinctive – the music-action. And then everyone sing funny Faroe songs. On the city of Torskhavn and all Faroe Islands goes night. Tomorrow the wind will rise again and, probably, it will be raining, the fog will come down from the mountains. And again the small, proud and hardworking people on the islands in the middle of the Atlantic will continue to equip life in his homeland.
