Japan and a Windy trip around the British Isles.

[drron]

We now set off to see some of Orkney's early history-the standing stones.
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This is a dig site that is only worked on ij July.The tyres protect it from the elements for 11 months of the year.
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[drron]

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We had now arrived at the Ring of Brodgar.A lot less crowded than Stonehenge.
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[drron]

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[drron]

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[drron]

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Previously you were allowed to walk inside the ring.blocked now due to Climate Change.
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One woman was incensed that we only had 30 minutes at the Ring of Brodgar when one of the other tours had 1 hour.There was a Silversea staffer with the tour and she was asked to ring Silversea and demand we have an extra 30 minutes here.Most of us thought 30 minutes adequate as it was freezing.

 

[OATEK]

I reckon it is a bleak and forbidding landscape for much of the year, but perhaps not so much if you are born to it. Enjoying all the pics.

 

[Denali]

Loving the photos, bringing back good memories!

 

[VPS]

I reckon it is a bleak and forbidding landscape for much of the year, but perhaps not so much if you are born to it. Enjoying all the pics.

Actually they have milder winters than you expect -http://www.orkneyjar.com/orkney/climate.htm

I thought I'd like to live there - temperatures never get much above 20 in the summer - just perfect.

 

[VPS]

There was a jazz festival the day we visited.Nothing happened until we left unfortunately.
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The art gallery was free but nothing much.A beautiful view from their window though.
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Lots of little lanes.
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Seeing the Chinese restaurant reminded me of Paul Theroux in Macksville.He just couldn't imagine a talented Szechuan chef uprooting himself just to bring the delights of Szechuan cuisine to the people of Macksville.
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Looks like they don't have fish and chips at the Authentic Chinese restaurant any more - they did when I visited in 2017

 

[drron]

I really liked Orkney and would love to go back and spend a few days to see more of nature and the history.Fascinating.It is not on mrsdrron's bucket list though.

 

[drron]

Now it was back on the bus to the ship.But passed some more standing stones on the way.
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This stone is important as it lines up with the entrance to a nearby burial mound.
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Maeshowe - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

There was a BBC program on this incredibly interesting area a few years ago.

Was this the centre of civilisation?

Orkney’s number of Stone Age sites implies that the remote Scottish islands once may have been at the centre of it all. But why? An exciting new discovery could hold the clues.

www.bbc.com

Unfortunately our tour didn't go to Maeshowe though that is another Silversea group going to enter in the last pic.

 

[drron]

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[drron]

Then it was back to the ship for a rest stop before getting the shuttle into Kirkwall.What an interesting place with a cathedral dating back to the mid 1100s.Shops all open and a greater range of products at more reasonable prices mainly than the last 3 days.I got myself an Orkney cap.
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Notice how mrsdrron is dressed for a day only just before the start of summer in June.It was freezing.
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[drron]

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[drron]

Here we got to listen to one of the Folk Festival acts.
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Staggering to think you were looking at a church that was started in the mid 1100s by the Vikings.Not my pre conceived idea of Viking history.I have learnt a lot these last 2 days.

 

[Geegeela]

I really liked Orkney and would love to go back and spend a few days to see more of nature and the history.Fascinating.It is not on mrsdrron's bucket list though.

I'm surprised mrsdrron is not champing at the bit to get back to Aurora in Kirkwall.

 

[drron]

She made her purchase at that store in Lerwick.I made my purchase there in Kirkwall-a wee bunnet.Store and bunnet maker is aurora,one of our grandaughters and style is heather,my sister's name.apparently the official Orkney tartan.
Me in my bunnet-

 

[drron]

Across the road from the former cathedral.
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But even more history.first the Bishop's Palace.
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Then the Earl's palace.
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[drron]

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Now you can tour the Earl's palace but today it was closed.

 

[drron]

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And a couple more of the Bishop's palace.
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The current bishop has to live here.
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