We set off for a series of photos to highlight our FÉROÉ fall capsule.And the least we can say is that we discovered much more than a photo shoot location, and much more than a nest of dolphin killers.
Nestled in the North Atlantic, between Scotland and Iceland, the Faroe Islands go relatively unnoticed. Except in recent news, where unbearable images of dolphin slaughter have been revealed to the world. We'll come back to that later.
And yet, what landscapes, what kindness, what welcome, what character! The Faroese have their own language, their own parliament, their own airline and their own soccer team, as well as a strong cultural identity shaped by centuries of isolation and resilience. And you can feel all this as you stroll through the narrow streets of Tórshavn, littered with green roofs, cosy cafés and wool boutiques. Culture also has its place here, notably in the magnificentListasavn Føroyamodern art museum, which showcases the work of talented local artists, particularly Jens Dam Ziska, whose work is currently on display.
But a whole section of the museum is also dedicated to the fight against 'grindadráp ', the age-old practice (dating back to the 16th century) of stalking dolphins and other cetaceans. Because a very large proportion of the Faroese population is opposed to this practice, and is now making this known openly. Things are moving in the right direction, even if it still takes too long. Iceland passed legislation last year, and the Faroes should follow suit.
And the island's other flagship animal is the sheep. Simply everywhere, on the roads, in the meadows of course. With its thick wool, it supplies all the stores (and I can tell you there are many) on the archipelago. So it was only natural that we should use it as a backdrop for our shoot, set against a backdrop of sea and tall grass. (We've also included a photo of the backstage area).
The villages are sumptuous, with a special mention for Gjógv, nestled in the very north of the island of Eysturoy. Tourists are virtually non-existent, and the welcome in every café or restaurant is wonderful. Always a kind word (especially if you're traveling with a child), and a gastronomy to make our French restaurants pale in comparison.If I could recommend two: Barbara, a fish restaurant in the historic center of Torshavn, and Fiskastykkið in Gjógv.
If you'd like to discover part of the Faroe Islands, click here.
Manon & Quentin
Fun Facts
The islands are an autonomous territory of Denmark. We're lucky enough to pay with the world's most beautiful coins, the Danish krone.
There are more sheep than inhabitants. 70,000 sheep VS 54,000 inhabitants. They're everywhere.
You take the ferry like you take the bus. And it's true that with 18 islands for these 50,000 souls, it's not uncommon to cross inlets.
We knit, we knit, we knit. It's more than a passion here.
With 20,000 inhabitants, Torshavn is one of the world's smallest capital cities.
