Shetland, My Love (#sol17 22/31)

Yesterday I shared some pictures and highlights from my last trip to Scotland.  Today, I want to share some photos from the Shetland Islands.  It is truly a GORGEOUS place, and if you’re taking a trip to Scotland, you might as well go all the way!

Brace yourself for a LOT of pictures.

You can get to Shetland by plane or by boat, but the boat is much more affordable.  You get on in Aberdeen and travel overnight to Shetland.  We got ourselves that cute little cabin on the left and arrived on a nice foggy morning.  The view coming in is breathtaking but a bit hard to see with fog that thick.

We were visiting during Hamefarin and I was so excited that my husband go to experience it.  One of the best parts is a mini-version of Up Helly Aa, with the men dressed up as vikings carrying torches around Clickimin Loch to burn a galley.   

Shetland ponies are ubiquitous in Shetland, as is expected.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We explored two different historical sites: Jarlshof and Clickimin Broch.  Jarlshoff is a prehistoric site that has several different ages represented in one site: Bronze Age, Iron Age, Viking Age, and structures from more recent times.  It is so interesting and fun to explore. The views in Shetland are basically unparalleled IMHO.

Casey and Nate had to take a dip in the Atlantic while we were in Shetland to round out their freezing cold water excursions.

 

 

 

Did we end up in the Carribean? Nope! That’s Shetland on a gorgeously sunny day.  This view is of St. Ninian’s Isle.

The views of Lerwick along the water are so cool. It’s like stepping back in history.  See the galley in the water there?

We spent some time up at Sumburgh Head–these views are AMAZING.  The wind was blowing so hard though, I really thought I might just blow away.  

And this sign didn’t make it less frightening. 

And of course there are Puffins. They are such neat little birds.  I got some excellent pictures of them, if I do say so myself.

Frame worthy, right??

And lastly, one of my favorite pictures of this calm water in Lerwick.  

There ya go, a quick tour of Shetland.  I am so serious when I say a trip to Scotland is incomplete without a journey up to the islands.  There is SO much to see. I can’t wait to go back–I have some sites to add to my list that I haven’t seen in the several trips we’ve taken there.  Plus I can’t wait to see my cousins and aunts and uncles and everyone else!

Tomorrow I’m off to Kentucky, so my posts might be kind of short for the next few days.  🙂