Day 3. Hirtshals - Tórshavn

As I expected, I didn't sleep very well. Fortunately, the 6-man cabin was only occupied by three other passengers. What bothered me was the lack of fresh air. That's why I spent until two o'clock in the morning in the sky bar on the top deck. Even the goodnight beer didn't really work. I lay awake for a while, somehow I had images from the movie 'Das Boot' in my head. Boat surfaced, silent running, four men in a tight space, two more bunks above mine, one meter to the person next to me, stuffy air, slight swaying, the vibration of the engine.

All that's missing is someone shouting, 'Alaaaaaaarm!'

The night ended at 6:00 a.m. No problem, I'm an early riser. After washing up, I went up to get some fresh air.

What's going on there? The world is gone.

There's only a white background beyond the railing, but the sea is still there, I can hear it.

Well then, let's have breakfast. Or not, it's not available until eight. I can't even get coffee anywhere. Alright then, I'll smoke, my supply of cigarillos is dangerously running out. Finally, at 8:00 a.m., breakfast, also pre-booked. Everything your heart desires, rolls, bread, cold cuts, cheese, scrambled or fried eggs, bacon, small sausages and above all, coffee, which is actually really good.

11:00 a.m., somewhere in the middle of nowhere, but the world is back and the sun is starting to show itself.

Now I thought the rest of the day would go as in the aforementioned movie.

'Second day at sea, North Atlantic, calm sea, course northwest, engine AK, so far no enemy contact, or something like that.'

But it turned out differently... Land in sight!

The Shetland Islands appeared on the horizon in front of the MS Norröna.

Everyone rushed to the upper deck and aimed their, sometimes impressive, lenses at the island group. Slowly, the rocky coastline came closer and the lighthouse of Muckle Flugga rose into the slightly hazy air.

When we passed the islands, the crowd of photographers dispersed.

At this point, I met Jule and Reinhard. Jule, a young woman who came by bike from Leipzig, along the Schleswig-Holstein and Danish west coast. Reinhard is from the Mannheim area. He is also traveling by bike, although he arrived in Hirtshals by car. Both of them are also leaving the ferry this evening.

We had lunch together, talked and planned a hike for the next day.

The weather was getting better too, warm is different, but it's dry and the sun is shining through the slightly cloudy afternoon sky.

The ferry is supposed to arrive in Tórshavn at 10:00 p.m. local time. This corresponds to 11:00 p.m. in Germany. My hotel is right by the harbor, so I hope to be in bed at midnight... with the window open.