Shetland
Gentle following seas made for a comfortable first night of our expedition, as we left Bergen, Norway on our way to Lerwick, the capital and largest town in the Shetland Islands. At over sixty degrees north latitude, the sunset was late, and the sunrise came early.
Making our way through the North Sea, National Geographic Endeavour passed the Prime Meridian during breakfast. We spent the leisurely morning watching sea birds (mostly great skuas, northern gannets and northern fulmars) in delightfully and uncharacteristically warm weather. Later, historian Tom Heffernan gave a presentation about Viking history and influence in this region. This will serve us well throughout the voyage.
Shortly before lunch we passed by the imposing and beautiful Cliffs of Noss. This is a major nesting area for sea birds, and we saw huge numbers of northern gannets as well as great skuas and Atlantic puffins.
The afternoon was devoted to some exceptional sights. Exploring "Mainland" (the largest island in the Shetland archipelago), we stopped at Jarlshof, an amazing archeological site. Occupied from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages and into Viking times, Jarlshof is a complex whose story is till being unraveled. A warm and welcome cup of tea and a tasty cake at the nearby Sumburgh Head Hotel was just the right touch.
Sumburgh Head is near the southernmost point on Mainland, and it offers spectacular views. A walk to the Stevenson lighthouse was a good leg stretcher. We soon discovered puffins, puffins and more puffins, up close and personal.
Our final stop was to visit endearingly cute but notoriously nasty Shetland ponies.
Back on board, we had a festive evening, as it was time for Welcome Aboard cocktail party and dinner.
Gentle following seas made for a comfortable first night of our expedition, as we left Bergen, Norway on our way to Lerwick, the capital and largest town in the Shetland Islands. At over sixty degrees north latitude, the sunset was late, and the sunrise came early.
Making our way through the North Sea, National Geographic Endeavour passed the Prime Meridian during breakfast. We spent the leisurely morning watching sea birds (mostly great skuas, northern gannets and northern fulmars) in delightfully and uncharacteristically warm weather. Later, historian Tom Heffernan gave a presentation about Viking history and influence in this region. This will serve us well throughout the voyage.
Shortly before lunch we passed by the imposing and beautiful Cliffs of Noss. This is a major nesting area for sea birds, and we saw huge numbers of northern gannets as well as great skuas and Atlantic puffins.
The afternoon was devoted to some exceptional sights. Exploring "Mainland" (the largest island in the Shetland archipelago), we stopped at Jarlshof, an amazing archeological site. Occupied from the Stone Age through the Bronze and Iron Ages and into Viking times, Jarlshof is a complex whose story is till being unraveled. A warm and welcome cup of tea and a tasty cake at the nearby Sumburgh Head Hotel was just the right touch.
Sumburgh Head is near the southernmost point on Mainland, and it offers spectacular views. A walk to the Stevenson lighthouse was a good leg stretcher. We soon discovered puffins, puffins and more puffins, up close and personal.
Our final stop was to visit endearingly cute but notoriously nasty Shetland ponies.
Back on board, we had a festive evening, as it was time for Welcome Aboard cocktail party and dinner.
