I returned from Westmann Island 7.30pm, having taken taken the afternoon ferry on a brilliant, calm day. Yesterday I decided to take the car on the ferry so I could drive around the island with my friend, Monday having been equally beautiful, so I hit the jackpot. I'm fortunate in that he as a resident can get a substantial discount. The entry to the harbor never fails to take your breath away, the cake-like mountains rising abruptly from the sea with thousands of birds nesting in the cliffs. I estiamate the height from water's edge to the top about 350 meters. About half this goes straight up whereas the other half slopes at a dizzying 75 degree angle where it comes to a sharp peak. And this on three of those cake-like mountains. What's truly amazing, this the first time I saw it, were the sheep grazing on that incredible slope. How did they get there? What prevents them from sliding off and plunging into the sea? Surely a special breed! What adds to this unique place are smaller islands in the vicinity, each rising with the same abruptness from the ocean.

Since I had the car, on both days we drove around the island, like no other in the world. The southwest part leads to another cake-like mountain where the 12 million puffin live. However, they're not home this time of year, spending many months at sea. We visited the beach where the Moroccans landed behind the town, thereby taking the locals by surprise.

My friend and his family have rented the house in which they live but intend to buy it. No small wonder: their location is one of the best on the island with a panoramic view. I asked about the owner's name on the mailbox but was told it wasn't his. Westmann Islanders have the custom of attaching the builder's name on mailboxes with the residents' name alongside. So that was it, a fine adventure, this having been my 5th visit to Westmann.