We are now in Scotland! There were oil rigs outside our window. |
Oxcars lighthouse & ruins in the Firth of Forth |
Ruins in the Firth of Forth as we approached Rosyth, where we docked for Edinburgh |
Howard noticed the two new aircraft carriers in Rosyth harbor. |
It was not a good day for sitting outside under the Forth railroad bridge |
Huge bridge and tiny "lighthouse" (Inch Garvie) |
We took the included tour of Edinburgh. There was a photo stop at Holyroodhouse Palace complex. |
Outside Holyroodhouse |
Holyroodhouse |
Gray and brown predominate in old town Edinburgh. The tour went through Old and New towns. |
At the Holyroodhouse stop, I walked out to the street & found a view of the Salisbury Crags & Dynamic Earth. |
Scottish Parliament building was nearby too. Love the new with the old that is Edinburgh. |
Later the coach drove through Salisbury Crags & stopped briefly at a viewpoint. |
Edinburgh from up near Salisbury Crags |
Then we had free time. The buskers around Lawnmarket were pretty entertaining. |
There was a witch, Yoda, and more. |
St. Giles Cathedral seems to be visible from everywhere. |
Statue and St. Giles |
John Knox house has cool balconies |
Bleachers and line for mighty Edinburgh Castle |
Lovely Calton Hill from one of the bridges |
The charming Scott Monument from bridge |
Love the old chimneys |
This boat stayed next to our ship for hours. Not sure what the purpose was or if this guy had a nice day. |
By afternoon, the sun had come out. Here are the 3 bridges over the Firth of Forth, including the new one. |
Went past more oil rigs at sailaway |
Oxcars on the way out to sea |
Inch Keith lighthouse, maybe an hour out of Rosyth. |
Fidra Island lighthouse came into view next. (Thanks to Peter, Scotland's Northern Lighthouse Board, for ID help.) |
Isle of May lighthouse couple hours out, with auxiliary buildings (thanks to Peter, Northern Lighthouse Board for ID help) |
KIRKWALL, Orkney Islands: Approaching Kirkwall - Copinsay lighthouse |
Closer to Kirkwall - Helliar Holm |
Took shuttle from Hatston to Kirkwall (cemetery next to St. Magnus Cathedral) |
The mighty St. Magnus Cathedral |
There was a rehearsal for a performance at big St. Magnus Festival going on in St. Magnus cathedral. |
Inside St. Magnus |
I briefly saw both Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace, but can't remember which is which! I didn't have much time. |
One of Kirkwall's main shopping streets. |
In the afternoon we toured Skara Brae underground village with Experience Orkney with another couple. |
Skara Brae is from 3100 BC - older than the Great Pyramids. Tour guide Ann Marwick gave us great information. |
We toured Skaill House next to Skara Brae. |
Then it was on to the Ring of Brodgar site, but on the way I photographed the "ragged robbin" flowers with an old boat. |
Ring of Brodgar has 27 neolithic stones. |
Typical stone |
We stopped briefly to view the nearby site of the Standing Stones of Stenness (larger stones). |
Then we visited the Unstan chambered tomb. We had to practically crawl to get in. It was fascinating. |
Dates of 1800,1891, etc. show the age of this tomb. |
We had to stoop & walk for maybe 5 feet to get in and out. Howard caught me coming out. |
Thom, being tall, was even more cramped - but got out OK |
A handsome horse was outside |
My sturdy friend was surrounded by buttercups. |
For most ports, a local pilot came on board. It was fun watching the pilot transfer to Star while both ships were moving. |
We saw Helliar Holm lighthouse again after the ship left Kirkwall. |
The next morning, when I saw Bressay light on the port side I knew something was wrong. Captain said we couldn't dock (winds). |