Wednesday 18 July 2012

ORKNEY WORKED IT'S MAGIC!

We've just got back from a week in the Orkney Islands, off the coast of Northern Scotland. We stayed on the mainland not far from Kirkwall and whilst the weather was very blustery at times and we did have some mist and a full day of rain, it didn't stop us getting out to see what the Orkney Islands promised to offer in their brochure.

Stunning scenery!



Wonderful cliff top walks - this one here was at Deerness.


Archeological sites - the Ring of Brodgar is just one of those that we visited.


The Italian Chapel


This was constructed by Italian POW during WW2 by putting two nissan huts together end to end and men painting all the inside to simulate brickwork. One of the POW'S Domenico Chiochetti  recreated the sanctuary end of the chapel by copying a postcard that he carried with him always.
At the end of the war when the prisoners were released Domenico remained on the Orkneys until the chapel was finished.
It was amazing to see!


We did also see plenty of sheep and a huge amount of cows!


An abundance of wildlife - hares (who moved too fast for their photo call!)


Birds!


Quite a few seals, who apparently come closer if you sing to them!
I tried - a quick melody of songs from musicals came forth and I have to say it did make them stare up at me but only probably because they couldn't believe what their ears were hearing.
They didn't really seem to want to come any closer!
Husband - well he had dropped well behind me at this point and I also noticed he'd pulled his hat right over his ears.
I really don't understand why!


The wildflowers were so so beautiful and plentiful!


AND there was just a glimmer of blue sky and sunshine!
The Orkney Islands offer lots if you just want to get away from it all.
Loved It!


3 comments:

  1. It looks like a wonderful place, it's been added to my must visit list! Your photographs are lovely, shame that the Seals didn't like your singing, perhaps they just didn't like the show tunes you picked, now if you'd sang the Wheels on the Bus......

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    Replies
    1. Funnily enough Miriam I did try "if you're happy and you know it clap your hands" but when they didn't I moved on to my medley of musicals.

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  2. So glad you had a lovely time, it certainly looks wonderful.

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