We docked in the small town of Vágur and were met on the waterside by a couple of dozen locals, some in traditional dress. Once we had all disembarked, they taught us a traditional Faroese Chain Dance. Approximately 200 of us wound around the dockside to unaccompanied chanting. We were soon to learn that the Faroese sing and dance at the slightest opportunity.
The Faroese are very proud of their culture. The Faroe Islands today are an autonomous territory in the Kingdom of Denmark. During the Second World War when the Germans occupied Denmark, the British occupied the Faroes. The main legacies of this occupation seem to be the Faroese taste for British chocolate, particularly Cadbury's, and the proud display of their own flag. This flag had previously been discouraged by the Danes but was encouraged by the British, and is now seen everywhere.
The town was founded in the 14th century. The inhabitants were sheep farmers until the 19th century when the fishing industry boomed. It now has a much more varied economy.
