Puffins and Ponies
This morning we arrived in Lerwick, Shetland, UK. After clearing immigration, we met up with our tour guide Gordon (nickname big G) and off we went on our tour of the island. First stop along the road was to feed carrots to the Shetland Ponies and their little ones (Karen called them Shetland Pony Ponies). Actually, they are probably Shetland pony colts.
There are over 100 islands that make up the Shetland Islands, but only 16 are inhabited. Lerwick is the "Mainland", the capital. Stops along the way through the countryside gave us views of the rolling green hills sprinkled with sheep, cows and of course, more ponies. Farmland and meadows unfold toward seal-dotted beaches and often Orca's can be seen feeding in the inlets - but not today.
There are only two places in the world where you drive across the airport runway to get to the other side - Gibraltar and Lerwick. After an airplane landed the guard opened the gate and across we went. As a side note, we crossed the runway in Gibraltar several years ago when we were in Spain.
At Sumburgh Head, we not only enjoyed the views and lighthouse, but these rocky cliffs are the best place to see Puffins.
Our scenic tour continued until lunch. Our lunch stop was in a very small village at a local cafe for soup, salad, sandwiches and desert cake. This cafe also promotes dressing up as a Viking so why not?
Next stop was Scalloway Castle built in the 1600's. By now the wind was coming up and the 55 degree sunny day was feeling more like 50...burr.
We headed back to the ship enjoying more beautiful scenery along the way, stopping at a Croft House where someone lived until 1963.
Tonight we ate in the reservation only dining room, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant - fantastico!
There are over 100 islands that make up the Shetland Islands, but only 16 are inhabited. Lerwick is the "Mainland", the capital. Stops along the way through the countryside gave us views of the rolling green hills sprinkled with sheep, cows and of course, more ponies. Farmland and meadows unfold toward seal-dotted beaches and often Orca's can be seen feeding in the inlets - but not today.
There are only two places in the world where you drive across the airport runway to get to the other side - Gibraltar and Lerwick. After an airplane landed the guard opened the gate and across we went. As a side note, we crossed the runway in Gibraltar several years ago when we were in Spain.
At Sumburgh Head, we not only enjoyed the views and lighthouse, but these rocky cliffs are the best place to see Puffins.
Our scenic tour continued until lunch. Our lunch stop was in a very small village at a local cafe for soup, salad, sandwiches and desert cake. This cafe also promotes dressing up as a Viking so why not?
Next stop was Scalloway Castle built in the 1600's. By now the wind was coming up and the 55 degree sunny day was feeling more like 50...burr.
We headed back to the ship enjoying more beautiful scenery along the way, stopping at a Croft House where someone lived until 1963.
Tonight we ate in the reservation only dining room, Manfredi's Italian Restaurant - fantastico!
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