Today the Zuiderdam visits Lerwick, Scotland which is in the Shetland Islands.
Lerwick Morning
When we woke at 5:30 we were already passing Shetland Islands.
After getting dressed, I went to the crow’s nest to wait for the coffee spot to open at 6 am. Steve went directly to the lido for his coffee and found us a nice table. We watched the tug come alongside.
I brought my almond milk latte there and around 6:30 I went and got my breakfast.
The scenery coming into Lerwick was incredible.
Very scenic and it was nice to see blue skies.
Back in the cabin, the announcement came about 7 am to go to immigration for group 1 (that was us).
It was a quick visual check of our face and passport as we almost didn’t have to stop as we walked through.
We didn’t need to meet in MDR for tour until 8:30 am so we just relaxed in the cabin until it was time to leave. We bought two bottles of water and waited about 15 minutes until our tour is called.
Northernmost Scotland Excursion
Tour Description: Northmavine is the northernmost part of the mainland of Shetland. To get there, you must cross the Mavis Grind isthmus — 32 yards wide at its narrowest point. This is the only place in the UK where you can toss a stone across land from the North Sea to the Atlantic Ocean.
Pause for refreshments at the Braewick Café. The views of the famous Drongs sea stacks are marvelous.
Rejoin your motorcoach and head to the Eshaness Lighthouse, designed in 1929 by David and Charles Stevenson, uncles of Robert Louis Stevenson. These were the last of the Stevenson lighthouses to be built in Shetland. A short optional walk along the cliff top leads you to wonderful scenery and geological forms. Few places in Britain rival Eshaness’ scenery. The ferocity of the Atlantic has contributed to the spectacular geological formations found here — sea stacks, natural arches and caves. The cliffs are also home to a number of seabirds.
We were walked to the tender and it was just a 5 minute ride. Once there we were directed to our bus and loaded up. It is a long, tall bus with only one door and very tight on space. Our tour guide is Catriona and our driver is Kieran.
On the way out of town the guide pointed out some buildings and started telling us about the area. This is the Methodist Church which was built in the 1870s.
She also said it was 1 1/2 hours drive until our first stop! That was a surprise to us. Some of the streets in downtown Lerwick were named after Vikings.
It was also noted the town was quiet with it being a Sunday morning. There is a Viking Ocean cruises ship docked in town.
Countryside
It was beautiful countryside on the way to our first stop.
We pass little towns like those above but there’s lots of open land and water.
We start to see those stacks of granite in the water which are known as sea stacks.
The Braewick cafe is where we stop for toilets (yay!), coffee or hot tea and Scottish shortbread cookies.
Yum! Another sea formation on the way to the next stop.
Lighthouse and Return Trip
We stopped at the Eshaness lighthouse where our guide told us three times not to die by doing selfies, going too close to edge and so on. This is the lighthouse.
But this is the amazing scenery!
It is amazingly scenic.
I think Steve was just so happy to be outside again!
The third stop was at the nearby museum of historical items. Very tiny and not my thing. After a quick browse (and visit to the restroom) I joined Steve outside walking and enjoying the scenery.
This sheep was watching us.
There was one final restroom stop which only one passenger took advantage of before we made the hour plus trek back to the ship.
Also along the way we saw Shetland ponies, highland cows and thousands of sheep; both imported and Shetland.
We passed a beautiful golf course.
When we got back to town we saw it had rained but luck was upon us and we never were rained on the entire day. It seems like life isn’t easy on this beautiful island. Our guide told us about having to board at school once she got to middle school because there wasn’t a school close to her home and how hard it was on her.
Lerwick Lunch Onboard
At this point it was 1:30 and we were hungry so went straight back to the ship and had some food in the buffet. I had Filipino food and a big salad.
This was followed by the peanut butter silk pie.
Lerwick Evening
After a good nap we had pre-dinner drinks in the ocean bar.
Here is tonight’s menu.
Dinner tonight started with the spring roll.
I also had the cabbage soup.
My entree was cannelloni and Steve had the bar barbacoa.
It was quite good as he let me have a bite. I had the fruit plate again for dessert.
It’s getting sparse.
Back in the cabin I watched “Dr. Strange and the Multiverse” before we turned the clocks back an hour. Here is today’s daily program.
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