The day began at sea with a gentle swell rocking the ship as guests enjoyed breakfast. During the crossing to Orkney, the staff team introduced themselves, and expedition leader Andy talked about the plan for the following days. Certified photo instructor Alex and National Geographic photographer Sisse presented on how to keep a photo record of the trip and advised guests on using different types of cameras.
Then, Kirkwall welcomed the seafarers into a friendly port. Several members of the expedition went on the Southern Isles Panorama Tour to visit the small village of St. Margaret’s Hope and the Italian Chapel. Prisoners of war from World War II built the chapel using scrap materials in ingenious ways. A second group went on the Orkney Treasures Tour. They headed to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is comprised of the Ring of Brodgar and Skara Brae, among other sites.
The evening finished with a whiskey tasting hosted by Highland Park Distillery, which offered everyone a chance to learn a little more about peat. The convivial atmosphere was made cozier by the sudden windy conditions outside. As the rain lashed against the windows, we lifted our glasses and toasted our adventure and the beautiful islands of Orkney.
