Shetland Islands, Scotland
At sunrise we entered the harbor at Lerwick, Scotland, capital of the Shetland Islands. The temperature was a cool 50 degrees with a moderate wind and threat of rain. (We are now further north than Juneau, Alaska.) Fishing and sheep make up the majority of their economy. One-thousand years ago the weather was warmer and crops like wheat and barley were grown. Today there is only a 100-day growing season and it requires two summers for cabbage to reach maturity for harvest. Our excursion for the day was to the prehistoric and Norse settlements at Jarlshof. There we would view archaeological remains of the ancient civilizations of the Shetland Islands. Our coach stopped for a break at the small village of Hoswick (three stores, one cafe and most important, a bathroom!). Above, 2% of the towns population was serving coffee to warm their shivering visitors. On the scenic drive we passed dozens of Shetland Ponies. Named after thi...