Another great day! (I just don't get tired of saying that) It started a bit overcast, low 50s, but the sun did break through. The highest temperature ever recorded in Lerwick was 74. It is often very windy here, but not today.
Sunset at 10:05 pm, sunrise 3:59 am
We were on a private tour and it was great. Does anyone watch the BBC show Shetland? We hadn't hear of it until a few day ago. We saw some areas from the show, I'll point them out because everyone on the tour watches except us.
Lerwick is the largest town in the Shetlands, made up of over 100 islands. It's a cute town as you can see. Mainly fishing, gas and oil, but tourism has really increased, and it's a good thing. In the old days people had to scratch out a living and can only grow root vegs. Ruled over by mean governors sometimes.
Shetland show: the green house is where Duncan lives. Then view of below "Duncan's" house. Houses are now built in the Scandinavian style & color (similar to the North Cape)
Scalloway - the castle ruins in the middle of the photo was the mean governors (built ~1600) who enslaved the people of the town. Luckily he was so bad he got beheaded. Scalloway is also known for the "Scalloway Bus". The bus was small fishing boat that left (on the Atlantic side of the island) that went to Norway to smuggle Jews out of Norway and provide wireless, guns and other supplies for the Norway resistance. The boat would leave at 3 pm and return at 9 am. This means a small boat crossed the North Sea at night to hide from the Nazi!
We visited an old home site where the people eeking out a living. It's a local's property who's ancestors lived here.
Then there's the Vikings! and sheep...
Near Bigton is St. Ninian's Isle where a 15-year archaeologist helper uncovered 28 pieces of silver comprised of bowls, jewelry & other pieces dating from 750 AD. The beach (or trombolo) is also a scene from Shetland where a dead body turns up. Afterwards we had a short back where I got a lovely cup of Scottish tea.
Then off the the southern tip of the island to Sumburgh Head Lighthouse where the Atlantic Ocean meets the North Sea. There's a big fog horn and lots of seabirds including puffins. This was built by Robert Stevenson, grandfather to Robert Louis Stevenson.
To get to the lighthouse you have to drive across the airport runway.
Shetland ponies don't do much anymore, they're just pets. Pets with attitude according to our guide.
Back in Lerwick we visit Fort Charlotte, it appears they have their sites set on our ship. We visited St. Margaret Catholic Church, Town Hall (from 1883) and the "police station" (from Shetland) that is really the courthouse.
Link to the pictures https://www.flickr.com/gp/8663407@N07/92586h8805
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