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Hello Shetland!

 At the end of my last post I was heading by taxi to the ferry terminal in Kirkwall, Orkney.  It was an overnight journey over to Shetland.  Being a bit on the cheap side (I AM Scottish after all) I opted not to get a private berth but I did spend the extra 18 pounds for a sleeping pod.  This was in a room full of pods but with access only available with a key card.  However you did have to leave the room to use the public toilets.  I had used a pod previously on my Isle of Wight to Portsmouth trip and it was satisfactory so I decided to try it again.  


It was comfortable enough and I felt more relaxed than if I had been in a public setting with worry about someone nicking my purse or backpack.  Our heavier luggage was checked and delivered to us upon arrival in Lerwick.  I think I snored as I got "looks" from the others in the morning.  Oops. The ferry terminal is out of the main part of town so I got one of the waiting taxis to my guest house. 

I was quite pleased with my guest house, Sondheim Carradale.  It was fairly old-fashioned and I shared a bathroom but that is no problem for me.  It was clean and reasonable and that's enough. As well as being close to the town centre the breakfasts were pretty good. 

These pictures were taken as I was about to leave hence the messed up bed.  

Britain doesn't generally have built-in closets so they have wardrobes instead.  


A desk, kettle with tea and coffee and a sink - what else could I want?  The bathroom was next door.  I know some people shudder at the thought of sharing a bathroom but it doesn't bother me.  I've been doing it since day one of travel.  I obviously prefer my own but not having my own doesn't stop me from booking a place.  Note the blinds - me and horizontal blinds do not get along.  At all. 

I asked the manager of the guesthouse where a good place to have breakfast was  (it wasn't even 8 a.m. yet) and she suggested Fjira (same as my friend Amanda who said I must visit it)  which was just a fifteen-minute walk away - and what a walk!! 




There will be more pictures from this walk as I did it quite often.  

Oh boy, that flat white coffee went down very well...and a table beside the sea did not offend.  

I had a quick chomp of my bacon, egg and cheese bap before I realized I should take a picture - I was hungry!!  

Then it was time to head back the way I came and on into the town centre.  I made the mistake of taking the long way around via streets and it seemed to take forever.  I didn't make that mistake again - after that I would take the steeper but quicker route up the many paths and stairs that went straight up from Commercial St.  





I wandered around central Lerwick before going back to my room for a bit of a rest - I was exhausted.  However, the sun was shining and I decided I would get back into the fresh air.  My friend Amanda (who goes to Shetland often) told me that the Knab was a good place to walk and I saw on a map that it was nearby so off I went. The scenery was stunning!!! 



Looking back to Lerwick - I was lucky enough to be staying less than a five minute walk from the sea and this path.  This was going in the opposite direction I had gone on my walk to breakfast earlier. 






Eventually, the path led to a road back into Lerwick.  


I thought I was seeing things when I first glimpsed this. 


Silly me thought this was "the house".  


Then I walked further along and realized this was "it".  


If you watch the television series "Shetland" you will know who lives here!!! 


Bain's Beach which isn't far from the house. 



The road I had been following becomes Commerical Street which is the High (main) street of the town. 


By this time I was in a daze with exhaustion so I made my way carefully up one of the side alleyways which damn near killed me...I was huffing and puffing like a steam engine and had to stop frequently to catch my breath. (because I was tired you see...nothing to do with the fact I was not very fit)  I got a bit misplaced when I got up to the top but finally found my way back to my temporary home.  According to my journal I then proceeded to crash on my bed and watch a 007 movie (I love James Bond) I must have eaten something but I didn't note it in my diary nor did I take a picture so did it really happen?  Who knows?  Not me!  

And that was day one in Shetland!!! 







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