Lerwick; Tuesday, 09 August, 2005
I had intended on visiting the Shetland Museum. Unfortunately the museum is currently packed up into boxes pending its move early next year into new accommodation down by the harbour, so the morning was spend drinking coffee and reading the paper.
The afternoon boat trip was spectacular with stunning views of the islands, as well as views of Gannets, kitty hawks, gulls, puffins and many more varieties of birds as well as seals.
Part way through the tour, the boat pulls up into one of the many caves along the coast of Bressay and a little sub-aqua camera/robot is lowered over the side and you are shown the life that exists beneath the waves around the Shetland isles including sea anemones, urchins, jelly fish, corals and kelp.
After three hours out around Bressay and Noss we headed back to Lerwick taking in some of the bays on the outskirts of town.
Shetland has a unique history for the British Isle being the last place to cease being under the rule of the Vikings (though by the time they left in the 15th century they were more politely referred to as Danes and Norwegians!) Consequently after over 600 years of Nordic rule, and 600 years of Scottish/British (read English) rule, the islands have a strange mix of British and Nordic traditions. One of the most famous of these is the annual fire festival Up Helly Aa, where a Viking longboat is set fire to before a long night of partying and drinking commences (strangely enough the following day is a public holiday in Lerwick with everything shut!)
The history, the clothes, examples of the boats and a review of this years festivities are all shown in the Up Helly Aa exhibition, which, thankfully, is open from 7-9pm two nights a week between May and September. The museum gives a very interesting insight into one of the strangest events in the UK.
From there I wandered back into the heart of town for dinner before heading back to the hotel to start packing.
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