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Ruth Rosenthal | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Scotland: Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Scotland: Edinburgh, Kirkwall, Lerwick

June 19 at sea
June 20 Edinburgh/Rosyth
June 21 Kirkwall
June 22 scheduled to dock in Lerwick but Captain said too rough to dock. Hated to miss the Shetland mainland, as I was looking forward to looking for puffins and ponies again. Lovely place.
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We are now in Scotland! There were oil rigs outside our window.
We are now in Scotland! There were oil rigs outside our window.		 Oxcars lighthouse & ruins in the Firth of Forth
Oxcars lighthouse & ruins in the Firth of Forth		 Ruins in the Firth of Forth as we approached Rosyth, where we docked for Edinburgh
Ruins in the Firth of Forth as we approached Rosyth, where we docked for Edinburgh		 Howard noticed the two new aircraft carriers in Rosyth harbor.
Howard noticed the two new aircraft carriers in Rosyth harbor.		 It was not a good day for sitting outside under the Forth railroad bridge
It was not a good day for sitting outside under the Forth railroad bridge		 Huge bridge and tiny lighthouse (Inch Garvie)
Huge bridge and tiny "lighthouse" (Inch Garvie)
We took the included tour of Edinburgh. There was a photo stop at Holyroodhouse Palace complex.
We took the included tour of Edinburgh. There was a photo stop at Holyroodhouse Palace complex.		 Outside Holyroodhouse
Outside Holyroodhouse		 Holyroodhouse
Holyroodhouse		 Gray and brown predominate in old town Edinburgh. The tour went through Old and New towns.
Gray and brown predominate in old town Edinburgh. The tour went through Old and New towns. 		At the Holyroodhouse stop, I walked out to the street & found a view of the Salisbury Crags & Dynamic Earth.
At the Holyroodhouse stop, I walked out to the street & found a view of the Salisbury Crags & Dynamic Earth.		 Scottish Parliament building was nearby too. Love the new with the old that is Edinburgh.
Scottish Parliament building was nearby too. Love the new with the old that is Edinburgh.
Later the coach drove through Salisbury Crags & stopped briefly at a viewpoint.
Later the coach drove through Salisbury Crags & stopped briefly at a viewpoint.		 Edinburgh from up near Salisbury Crags
Edinburgh from up near Salisbury Crags		 Then we had free time. The buskers around Lawnmarket were pretty entertaining.
Then we had free time. The buskers around Lawnmarket were pretty entertaining. 		There was a witch, Yoda, and more.
There was a witch, Yoda, and more. 		St. Giles Cathedral seems to be visible from everywhere.
St. Giles Cathedral seems to be visible from everywhere.		 Statue and St. Giles
Statue and St. Giles
John Knox house has cool balconies
John Knox house has cool balconies		 Bleachers and line for mighty Edinburgh Castle
Bleachers and line for mighty Edinburgh Castle		 Lovely Calton Hill from one of the bridges
Lovely Calton Hill from one of the bridges		 The charming Scott Monument from bridge
The charming Scott Monument from bridge		 Love the old chimneys
Love the old chimneys		 This boat stayed next to our ship for hours. Not sure what the purpose was or if this guy had a nice day.
This boat stayed next to our ship for hours. Not sure what the purpose was or if this guy had a nice day.
By afternoon, the sun had come out. Here are the 3 bridges over the Firth of Forth, including the new one.
By afternoon, the sun had come out. Here are the 3 bridges over the Firth of Forth, including the new one.		 Went past more oil rigs at sailaway
Went past more oil rigs at sailaway		 Oxcars on the way out to sea
Oxcars on the way out to sea		 Inch Keith lighthouse, maybe an hour out of Rosyth.
Inch Keith lighthouse, maybe an hour out of Rosyth.		 Fidra Island lighthouse came into view next. (Thanks to Peter, Scotland's Northern Lighthouse Board, for ID help.)
Fidra Island lighthouse came into view next. (Thanks to Peter, Scotland's Northern Lighthouse Board, for ID help.) 		Isle of May lighthouse couple hours out, with auxiliary buildings (thanks to Peter, Northern Lighthouse Board for ID help)
Isle of May lighthouse couple hours out, with auxiliary buildings (thanks to Peter, Northern Lighthouse Board for ID help)
KIRKWALL, Orkney Islands: Approaching Kirkwall - Copinsay lighthouse
KIRKWALL, Orkney Islands: Approaching Kirkwall - Copinsay lighthouse		 Closer to Kirkwall - Helliar Holm
Closer to Kirkwall - Helliar Holm		 Took shuttle from Hatston to Kirkwall (cemetery next to St. Magnus Cathedral)
Took shuttle from Hatston to Kirkwall (cemetery next to St. Magnus Cathedral)		 The mighty St. Magnus Cathedral
The mighty St. Magnus Cathedral		 There was a rehearsal for a performance at big St. Magnus Festival going on in St. Magnus cathedral.
There was a rehearsal for a performance at big St. Magnus Festival going on in St. Magnus cathedral.		 Inside St. Magnus
Inside St. Magnus
I briefly saw both Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace, but can't remember which is which! I didn't have much time.
I briefly saw both Earl's Palace & Bishop's Palace, but can't remember which is which! I didn't have much time. 		One of Kirkwall's main shopping streets.
One of Kirkwall's main shopping streets.		 In the afternoon we toured Skara Brae underground village with Experience Orkney with another couple.
In the afternoon we toured Skara Brae underground village with Experience Orkney with another couple.		 Skara Brae is from 3100 BC - older than the Great Pyramids. Tour guide Ann Marwick gave us great information.
Skara Brae is from 3100 BC - older than the Great Pyramids. Tour guide Ann Marwick gave us great information. 		We toured Skaill House next to Skara Brae.
We toured Skaill House next to Skara Brae.		 Then it was on to the Ring of Brodgar site, but on the way I photographed the ragged robbin flowers with an old boat.
Then it was on to the Ring of Brodgar site, but on the way I photographed the "ragged robbin" flowers with an old boat.
Ring of Brodgar has 27 neolithic stones.
Ring of Brodgar has 27 neolithic stones.		 Typical stone
Typical stone 		We stopped briefly to view the nearby site of the Standing Stones of Stenness (larger stones).
We stopped briefly to view the nearby site of the Standing Stones of Stenness (larger stones).		 Then we visited the Unstan chambered tomb. We had to practically crawl to get in. It was fascinating.
Then we visited the Unstan chambered tomb. We had to practically crawl to get in. It was fascinating. 		Dates of 1800,1891, etc. show the age of this tomb.
Dates of 1800,1891, etc. show the age of this tomb.		 We had to stoop & walk for maybe 5 feet to get in and out. Howard caught me coming out.
We had to stoop & walk for maybe 5 feet to get in and out. Howard caught me coming out.
Thom, being tall, was even more cramped - but got out OK
Thom, being tall, was even more cramped - but got out OK		 A handsome horse was outside
A handsome horse was outside		 My sturdy friend was surrounded by buttercups.
My sturdy friend was surrounded by buttercups.		 For most ports, a local pilot came on board. It was fun watching the pilot transfer to Star while both ships were moving.
For most ports, a local pilot came on board. It was fun watching the pilot transfer to Star while both ships were moving. 		We saw Helliar Holm lighthouse again after the ship left Kirkwall.
We saw Helliar Holm lighthouse again after the ship left Kirkwall.		 The next morning, when I saw Bressay light on the port side I knew something was wrong. Captain said we couldn't dock (winds).
The next morning, when I saw Bressay light on the port side I knew something was wrong. Captain said we couldn't dock (winds).
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Ruth Rosenthal05-Jun-2018 23:51
I go on cruisecritic.com's Port of Call section to see if others have written about tours. (If you haven't visited that site, DO IT!!!) I also sometimes just google, and sometimes go on TripAdvisor.com to look for info on activities and tours. Then I email vendors. We don't do a lot of private tours, but all I've done so far have been worthwhile, and often cost less than ship tours. Sometimes you can also find a few people on the ship (or on Cruise Critic's Roll Call section) to share in the cost. With any tour you arrange, make sure vendor will refund any money you've paid if ship doesn't make it to the port. Almost all will, but it helps to know in advance. Sometimes a port is missed, so you don't want to be out of money. And no, if you're on a cruise, you don't need to worry about getting back late and missing the ship. The well known vendors are pros and won't let that happen. Don't be afraid to book your own tour, but remember that if you're on a cruise ship, you'll probably need at least 45 minutes after it docks before you can meet a vendor ashore. Don't cut things too close. Also, you'll likely be expected to be back on the ship a half hour or more before it's scheduled to depart. If ship is a little late coming in, almost all vendors will know when that happens and wait for you. Don't sweat it. They track ship progress on marinetraffic.com
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