Kirkwall, Orkney Islands, Scotland

 This morning we had to go through UK Immigration before getting off for our tour.  It was very fast, just a quick look at us and our passport photo, then off you go to get your bus assignment.  It is a glorious day again, albeit a bit windy at the industrial port.  Our tour was called South Island Panoramic.  Mostly a drive through lovely countryside with a couple of stops, but the guide was good and gave us a good feel for life here.  She is another retired teacher (I'm really getting a pattern here.) The Orkneys are a total of 70 islands, about 20 of which are inhabited, just off the northern coast of Scotland.  The whole place has only about 20,000 people and there are 9,000 in the main city of Kirkwall.  Farming, cattle, and dairy farms are the prime industries.  There are very few trees because normally it is very windy and they just can't get hold.  About 1 out of 9 days they have gale force winds which wreak havoc with the ferries and airplane schedules.   And they hold the Guinness World Record for the shortest commercial air flight of just under 2 minutes, including taxiing, between 2 of the islands.  (She's not lying.  I looked it up.  It's 1.7 miles between Westray and Papa Westray on Loganair set in 1967.) The countryside is stunningly beautiful; I'm afraid my pictures don't really do it justice.  

The Stones of Stenness pre-date Stonehenge.  

A typical stone wall, hand-built with no mortar hundreds of years ago.

Our guide pointed out the new hospital which looked very nice.  She said she had a chance to check it out as her 6 month old grandson was taken there by ambulance recently when he had difficulty breathing.  He tested positive for Covid and since they didn't think they had the right facilities for such a sick young patient, he was flown to Aberdeen for treatment.  It was about 6 hours from ambulance pick up at home to local hospital for evaluation, and then to Aberdeen hospital.  And this is all covered under the National Health Service.  He's doing much better and was due home today.

Had our best day yet at Trivia - 12/15 which got us second place points.  Ooh, that T-shirt is getting closer. (You turn in your points for gifts at the end of the cruise.)  After playing and then visiting with the team for a bit afterwards,  I learned that Lois, sitting next to me, thinks she has a cold so she's been wearing a mask for a few days. Jim, on my other side mentioned that he had a bit of a sore throat.  Uh oh.  So I figure I'm now doomed to get Covid again.  I don't think either of them has tested, except Lois has checked her temperature and O2 levels, so perhaps it is just a cold or virus, but then again ...   Oh well, it's probably inevitable given where we are currently living.  

We had a cocktail again with Patty and Gordon up in Galileo's Lounge before dining at Setti Mari.  As I said, it isn't my favorite venue, but tonight they had the grilled veal chop that I've heard such good things about.  It's really large, so we split it, and I must say, it is as good as advertised.  They also had fried calamari with a wonderful lemon garlic aioli that I could have made a meal out of.  So we'll watch the rotating menu and go again when we see the veal chop.

I just love Captain Aris.  As I was walking by the Coffee Connection at 30 minutes or so before scheduled departure, I saw him sitting with a coffee talking on the phone.  As he looked up and caught my eye, I tapped my watch and said teasingly something like "Shouldn't you be getting ready to drive us out of here?"  He laughed and gave me the thumbs up.

Didn't make it to the show again.  That's what happens when you get up at 6:30 am.