Viking Cruise to the British Isles Day 5

August 20, 2021  Orkney Islands

    Finally some sun!  Started  out the day cloudy, but the sun is out and it is almost most warm.  There is a little wind, but not too bad.  

    First stop was the standing stones of Brodgar.  Kind of like Stonehenge, only older.  Set amongst beautiful countryside of rolling green hills, lakes, and lots of black cattle and sheep.  There is also an area they are excavating that is strangely reminiscent of Chaco Canyon only surrounded by green instead of desert.  We then went on to Stromness which is a quaint small town with a few shops.  Everything is so clean here and no homeless on the streets. This afternoon we went to Kirkwall, the largest town on these islands.  Very walkable. There is a lovely old cathedral.  Supposedly the Orkneys have the best ice cream, so I had to try the Highland Park Whiskey and Marmalade.  It did not disappoint.  Tried to find some shore birds, but mostly gulls.  Went to the museum which has an amazing display of this area's history from the stone age forward.  It is hard to imagine how they made these large structures from stone and rock.  The guide said, they moved the rocks over a path of seaweed.  

    Food on the boat continues to be wonderful.  Last night was lobster tails (apparently they fish for lobster here locally).  The history talk was on Bonnie Prince Charlie.  I have to admit I knew nothing of the man.  

Will try to add some photos, or not.  the lap top is a day behind the phone so here is the castle at Edinburgh