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The Faroese Capital - Tórshavn

A government building sits at the end of the Tinganes peninsular in Tórshavn's sheltered bay. This is the site of the Faroese parliament dating back about 1,000 years. To the left is the West Harbour... ...and to the right is the East Harbour Tórshavn sits on a protected bay on Streymoy Island towards its south-east corner. Here, as part of Denmark, the civic responsibilities extend to virtually everything except national defence. The name Faroe is probably derived from 'sheep' island, the land being favourable to sheep and goats, but not to too much else which is why, in the past, whaling has been an important source of livelihoods. However, the continuation of this overtly barbaric practice prevents many people from visiting the islands. The Wikipedia article on the subject seeks to keep a balance in what are inevitably heated arguments. Tinganes peninsular Street in the old town The old parliament buildings The narrow cobbled lanes of the Old Quarter, with their wooden buildings and turfed roofs, are on the Tinganes peninsular A detail of a turf roof... ...in the Old Quarter Kákagøta and harbour side Everywhere, in the high summer, the air is full of birds (here black dots) not least with the attraction of jettisoned food A large hotel sits high up the hillside above the town looking over the bay towards Nólsoy Island Elephant decoration on the cannons seen in the picture below New houses being built... ...in a suburban street. High insulation levels are achieve without turf Cannons pointing over the bay Tórshavn harbour-side The view of Tórshavn from Nólsoy The church of St Olav Koltur Island peeps over the headland Across Streymoy Island, some 8 kilometres outside the town of Torshavn, is the community of Kirkjubøur with examples of turfed roofed house large and small. This is the location of St Magnus cathedral which was started in 1300 - but has never, in the intervening years, received the comfort of a roof. St Magnus Cathedral A large turf roofed house and a small one in Kirkjubøur Rowers on capital waters - a pastime to be seen on another Atlantic Island - in Dublin The next page offers views of the islands to the north and to the west of Torshavn. This picture is of Eiđi on the northern tip of the neighbouring island of Eysturoy.

Connections...

The last page was about the island of Nólsoy across the bay from Tórshavn A page with rowers on another capital's waters - Dublin A page with government buildings by water in another capital - Hà Nội

Saturday 4th November 2017