We are up well before our 6:15 alarm – taking a chance in our puffy coats and walking deck 10 for a bit, snapping pictures of the gorgeous fjord scenery all around us.  It is spectacular here. 

Today is a very short port call – 7:30a to 1:30p.  There isn’t much to do here, except a couple of hikes we could take.  However, after yesterday, we decide to take the day off from heavy duty hiking and take it easy.  Not to mention, the one hike that has the gorgeous viewpoints takes 3 hours, has an elevation gain of 1200 feet and reviews that say it can be rough terrain and muddy.  Yeah.  We’re not going there today. Oh, and did I mention it is overcast and rainy today?  Nope. 

There are three things we want to do in town though: walk to a park about 20 minutes outside of town, visit the Christianskirkjan (which says it isn’t open until 10) and buy beer at the brewery (again, not open until 10).  So, after coffee and a light breakfast, we hit Mosaic for some cappuccino to waste time until we can’t stand it anymore!  You know us and sitting around.  We still get too antsy to hang out here on the ship. Which means we take off around 8:30 on the shuttle heading into downtown Klaksvik; population 5,000.  Arriving in the town center, we strike out on the roads to find the Klaksvik park – about a 20-minute walk from the Tourist Info center where the bus drops us.

It would have been a lovely walk if not for the rain and wind.  Although, even in adverse weather, the views up the glacier and around the hillsides are just stunning.  And the decorations of some of the houses too adorably cute and whimsical.

Arriving at the park, past the ducks hanging out in the fields, we hike through beautiful – albeit wet and sloppy – forest paths, across a rocky stream and up to some sort of grass roof shelter – that we utilize to get out of the rain for a bit.  On a sunny day, this park would be wonderful to wander through and explore all over, today, not so much in the chilly rain.

Figuring we’ve had enough adventure for the day, we head back toward town, past the great diver corten sculpture on the shore of the fjord and the gigantic fish hook in the roundabout to make a stop at the grocery store for any affordable snacks we might find – footnote:  there were none – then head back into town past more great sculptures to a beautiful garden with a war memorial as a centerpiece.

Then we are off to Christianskirkjan, King Christian Church, the largest church in the Faroe islands with seating for up to 1,000 people. With an exterior rough hewn grey stone, a full size 8-person boat hanging from the ceiling (seriously!) and a 4000-year-old stone that is used as the baptismal font, Christianskirkjan was the first central church in a Nordic country designed in an ancient Norse style.  It’s gorgeous inside with soaring ceilings made of wood, the boat hanging at the apex, great glass globe chandeliers and an incredible mural behind the altar.  The views from the 2^nd level balcony really shows off the interior’s size and grandeur.

A highlight for us though, is the basement display of Faroese artist Edward Fuglo’s 10 round carved wooden plates, each depicting a story from Jesus’ life.  Sadly, photos weren’t allowed – sadly because these things were amazing. More like mosaic reliefs than carvings, each round shield measures 4 ½ feet in diameter and holds so much detail, in vibrant colors.  Truly gorgeous and amazing.  I did manage to snap a quick picture of one of the books describing the process to make the wooden plates that was outside on a bench – so at least you have some sort of reference.

After our quick visit, we walk back down to the waterfront and the Foroya Bjor Brewery, established in 1888 here in Klaksvik.  We perused the store, which had some great merch, but all far too pricey for us, so we just grabbed three 6 packs of beer and headed back to the shuttle and back to the ship – something we never do, but truly, there is nothing else to do here in Klasvik – especially in the rain.

Back onboard and dry, we hit the BBQ lunch with suckling pig as per usual.  Then hung out on the balcony watching the scenery slide by for the rest of the afternoon as we sail through the gorgeous Faroe Island fjords. 

Besides the incredible vistas, we also sail by Mikladalur, site of not only the famed Seal Woman statue (we weren’t close enough to get a good picture, plus, we really didn’t know exactly where to focus of zoom – so you only get the arrow below), but also location of the last James Bond Movie “No Time to Die.” Who knew? Besides Captain Darios who helpfully filled us all in with an announcement. 

The weather actually improved quite a bit, enough so that we sat on the balcony for a couple of hours in the sunshine, watching the Faroe Islands slip away as we sailed through incredibly calm seas.

Later in the afternoon, we did our norm: Gym, drinks in the Living Room, dinner, then Tunes and Croons with Darrin (CD) in the Den before Abby’s (Asst CD) Seventies State of Mind show in the Cabaret.  A full evening after a less than active day.  And onto Iceland we go.