British Isles & Faroe Islands ( Prolog )
Prologue
From Business Trips to Grand Adventures: My Unexpected British Isles Escapade
Ah, the British Isles. A place I've long had on my "somewhat interested, but no rush" travel list. I mean, it's not exactly the Amazon rainforest, is it? More like history on steroids, with a healthy side of overcast skies and crumpets. In my former life as an engineering and finance nobody, my visits were limited to the hallowed London-Oxford-Cambridge triangle. My first trip was way back in 1977, on a business jaunt that took the scenic (and ridiculously long) route from Montreal on my first 'round-the-world run. Basically, my knowledge of the UK amounted to knowing where to find a good layover and a decent cup of tea. That is, until now!
The Great British Itinerary Jigsaw Puzzle
Planning this trip felt less like a vacation and more like a high-stakes game of Tetris. My trusty sidekick, Google Maps, became a canvas for marking every historical sight, scenic hike, and pub I could find. But as it turns out, time and money have a serious say in these matters. The Scottish Highlands, for example, apparently decided to charge a king's ransom the minute spring sniffed the air. I had to pounce on a spot in the Isle of Skye faster than a seagull on a chip, and even with two months' notice, I ended up about 80 km from the "center of things." The price difference for a bed was a whopping 3:1—you could practically buy a small car for the same price as a decent night's sleep!
Plot Twist: Enter the Faroes!
After much wrangling, a glorious eight-week trip across the UK and Ireland was born. But then, a map-gazing moment led to an adventurous detour. While contemplating a visit to the Shetland Islands (which, sadly, got the boot), I noticed the Faroe Islands lurking just off the coast. A quick search revealed that a flight from London to this Viking paradise was scheduled for just two days after our planned British Isles finale. Why not, indeed?!
Suddenly, an already epic trip became a truly bonkers one. With a few frantic clicks of the keyboard, tickets to the Faroes were secured, and accommodations were nabbed before the prices could get a head start. And just like that, a sensible, history-heavy tour of the UK transformed into an all-out, spontaneous adventure.
And just so we're clear: the Faroe Islands are not, in fact, part of the UK or the British Isles. They're just a fantastic, unplanned cherry on top of this very well-travelled cake.
So, how's that for a trip plan? Vamos!
And .....read on.
Index: Table of Content
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