These enchanting islands

Since 1948, the Faroe Islands have been a self-governing nation under the external sovereignty of the Kingdom of Denmark. Faroese is the national language, but Danish has equal status in all official affairs. (English is widely spoken, too.) Fishing remains the main industry, which means mealtime here is a true delight.While visiting this waterfall- and fjord-dotted land, it's easy to get sucked into a Faroese vacuum – to forget that life exists beyond this special, isolated place where homes come in rainbow hues and traditional structures feature grass-covered roofs.

A fashionable people who wear wide smiles and an abundance of wool, the Faroese boast a manner that’s both subdued and kind. Brynhild D. Weihe of Visit Faroe Islands says, "In one sentence, I would say Faroese culture is down to earth and proud."Weihe comments that guests are "more than welcome to approach the locals if they are in doubt about anything. Faroese people are happy to share the knowledge."If you get the chance to spend time with locals (highly recommended), you will no doubt be fed delectable dishes of fish and curry, and exposed to the nation's proclivity for knitting, tea, cake, shoe horns and Danish reality shows that mirror much of what gets streamed in the States.