Scotland Tour to the Orkney Islands ~ Day 2

The beauty of the Orkney Islands…

Waking up in this giganta-saurus of a room at the Ben Wyvis (aka Ghosty Hotel) was quite the treat!

Until I looked out my window…

I wish you could see the snow falling…

An even BIGGER treat!!
What a beautiful sight to wake up to!! A gorgeous sprinkle of peaceful feathery lite snowfall. I rig my European coffee maker, (aka tea kettle & insta powder) to make something that resembles java and enjoy the view. Already a “most righteous” day!
(My love for movie quotes will always be present. Know which movie that’s from??)

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Today is a long drive (in which I slept half the way) from the “ghosty” hotel in Strathpeffer north to the very tip of the UK. We will be venturing through beautiful lightly snowy landscapes and across the North Sea to our main destination for the next 3 nights, which is the town of Stromness on the Orkney Isles. We will be taking a ferry ride across. Now our crew is made up of 2 coaches driven by the amazing team of Brian and Fiona. Princess Fiona to be exact. This chick has mad skills which were put to the test on more than one occasion. She and Brian have well earned their crowns. Hats off to you Princess.

 

The long ride north. (that I snoozed half way thru) Princess Fiona got us there safely.

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The ferry ride was feckin’ windy and feckin’ cold. Enough to wake anyone up!

“The seas were angry that day my friend.” Although my Columbia jacket kept me quite toasty…the last thing I wanted was to end up in that frigid water. I’d end up an ice cube like Jack in the Titanic. (She could’ve made room, damnit!) A bumpy ride was ahead of us but we still went up on top to get the views and the pictures. White knuckling it up the steps to the very top deck, I was determined to get some photos. Then some tea. Hot tea. Hopefully return the color back to my knuckles. FYI, I don’t have very good sea legs.

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We arrive to the Orkney Islands and our first stop is the elegantly beautiful Italian Chapel in Lamb Holm.

This is a Roman Catholic chapel which was constructed by Italian POWs during the Second World War.

Tiny and quaint and very delicate…Our fearless leader Bill’s first words….”Don’t touch the walls!!”

Oh man I wish you didn’t say that! Now I feel COMPELLED to touch the walls!! Look at these walls!!

It’s my inner brat. My “I’m a loner Dottie, A rebel” streak. My Aries stubbornness. The gang member from another life. I made that last part up. I was never in a gang. Although I did have a mean collection of Barbies I toted around the hood… I could’ve been leader of the Barbie gang…

But seriously….the images on these walls were breath taking. The history, so rich it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. Seeing and experiencing far off parts of the world. The beauty and culture and knowing hundreds of years ago, even THOUSANDS, someone else stood right where you’re standing…

I didn’t touch the walls.
My knuckles are fine. (color’s back)
No “ghosty experience” at the “ghosty hotel” in Strathpeffer …..yet.

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We arrive at our destination for the next 3 nights. The Stromness Hotel. Literally right across from the water. And the little black door to the right of the main entrance is a cool ass bar. With a cool ass bartender….that knows Me First and the Gimme Gimmes. Whaaaaaaat??? Needless to say I poured lots of pounds into that jukebox. The mini jam sessions and Guiness were flowin’-a-plenty those 3 nights.

Tomorrow the explorations (and shenanigans) resume as we explore more of the Orkney Islands of Scotland.