Hi All,
Since we persevered through the bad weather yesterday, today we were rewarded with no fog, no rain and occasional sun.
First stop was Yesneby Head, a beautiful spot overlooking the Atlantic.
Next stop was Maeshowe, a Neolithic tomb from 3,000 BCE with Viking inscriptions from 1,100 CE when they raided the tomb. Unfortunately, interior photos were not allowed.
Broch of Gurness was next. This aerial photo from the visitor center shows the layout of this Bronze Age dwelling and defensive structure.
The central tower overlooks the bay.
And each of the dwelling units has partitions and a central hearth.
In "downtown Kirkwall" we visited St Magnus Cathedral founded in 1137. To reinforce its Nordic roots, this cathedral was part of the archdiocese of Trondheim Norway until 1468!
This section dates to the 15th century,
Across the street we found the Earl's Palace, built in 1606 by Patrick Stewart, grandson of James V.
We were free to wander throughout the palace and many rooms had information about the contents from a 1653 inventory. This information helped bring the stones to life.
Also nearby was the home of the Bishop. Not as grand as the palace but very nice for a 15th century building.
Of course there is more to see but we have covered a lot of sites in the Orkneys.
Tomorrow we head for the Outer Hebredes.
Love,
Sandy & Carl
Sandy & Carl
Living & Traveling in our Motorhome
Volunteering across America
617-435-8502
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