Could ‘going west’ have anything to do with being exiled? I’m vaguely aware that a number of infamous vikings were kicked out to Iceland.

Huh, that’s an interesting hypothesis.

Uh. Funny thing, in french “être à l’Ouest ” (translated: to be in the West) means not being all there, either distracted or a little bit crazy.

Huh, neat. I wonder if that brings us back to the sea again? Or maybe it’s more about old stereotypes about western France, or something.