Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland

 

June 12

Scotland, at least the Orkney Islands, is beautiful.  We had a great excursion today.  One of the best parts is that it didn’t start until 2:30.

We first went to a tomb, or so it is guessed, called Maeshowe.  It was built about 5,000 years ago by the neolithic people.  We couldn’t take pictures inside, but the outside looks like a little hill.  As you see, we had to really stoop to get into the tomb. 

                    

Inside we saw how advanced the neolithic people were.  They built with flat stones and huge slabs of sandstone and had alcoves within this structure.  Remember, these were stone age people.  Amazing.

Then later the Vikings came and took shelter in the tomb during a 3 day storm.  They left hyroglifics inside.  On the soltices the light from the sun shine into the tomb, making some think it was actually used to celebrate the soltices.

Then we went to the Ring of Brodgar……..wow.  We have never been to Stonehenge and from the pictures I have seen you cannot enter the ring, but have to walk quite a way from it on the outside.  Well, here we got to walk in the ring and touch the stones and see the fallen stones.  I can’t tell you how wonderful it was.  The only problem is that we came with other people and they got in the way.  Oh, well.  Originally there were 60 standing stones.  Now there are 27 remaining upright.  Some have fallen and some have gotten hit by lightning.

                                                      

                                                                    

                                                          This one got hit by lightning.

Part 2 coming….