May 17, 2018 - Lerwick

Lerwick (Shetland Islands), Scotland was today's destination.  Not only did it allow me to check another box on my bucket list (visit every nation that makes up the United Kingdom) but after the highlights of Iceland, I was prepared for some disappointment.  How wrong I was!  Iceland is still the highlight but I can see us coming back here (probably the Scottish mainland) sometime soon.

Coming in to port

View of town

Fe and I signed up for a short afternoon tour, so we had time to do some exploring on our own (if I didn't say so earlier, these are my favorite times of the trip),  The Shetlands have a strong Nordic influence but the architecture style seems thoroughly British.

Welcome plaque

Town Square

House near the sea

A garage in town.  We found out later that when boats are beyond seaworthiness, they are turned into a roof.

This house attracted a lot pf tourists'attention for the plants.

Anderson Institute, a high school for 11- to 18-year-olds.

Our tour this time was a bus trip around the southern part of the island.

Offshore Island

Seals sunning in the beach

Shetland pony

Lighthouse as we leave

Shipspeak: bilge - the area on the outer surface of a ship's hull where the bottom curves to meet the vertical sides.