Laplandica

…a Scandinavian touch?

…again! Everyone talks about it, but no one does anything about it. These last two weeks have been windy with gale to strong gale force winds and with a climax of “hurricane” winds. I could say, “Finally. Some decent Shetland weather.”
Photo: A tired little harbor seal resting from stormy seas
Surprisingly similar to mountain storms, there [...]

…that gives a long lasting impression to the islands is found at Quendale. On the southern mainland coastline, and not at all far from Sumburgh Airport, this gem of sandy beach stretches over an English mile (1.6 km) across the Bay of Quendale and is easliy accessed, not by the footpaths from A 970 nor [...]

…get to my plate? A question not many of us have, as we may be seated in front of a plate of “Grilled Salmon with Hot Cheese Roulade”, “Char-broiled Salmon Steaks” or a classic “Smoked Salmon Eggs Benedict. Still, having lived a landlocked life, it’s a question I’ve had in my head the many times [...]

…is a fact that inlanders hardly are aware of. Possibly, when visiting a coastline during vacation, through a television program or the isolated article in the local newspaper, people living away from salty shores may get a small insight of all the refuse and waste that exists in the oceans. It wasn’t until I started [...]

This, the soldier of strength,
This, the gatekeeper of Mousa Sound.
This, the sentinel of Shetland
Watching over its destiny… its past.
No lime, nor cement, nor earth, sand and water.
Dry stone built, with precision and intent.
Thirteen meters of ancient architecture…
The wind still whistles around its kiln-like tower
And the rains still cut into its moss covered shell
The sun still [...]

…that probably could make a few world-renowned vacation spots green with jealousy. Shetland has sandy, pebble and boulder beaches that can be found along some 1500 km of coastline. All depending upon your choice, there are patches of different beach to be had for that special outing and a day’s relaxation.
Just this year, four [...]

…is brutally renowned for forceful North Sea winds and walls of rain showers tearing into the tiny islands and its inhabitants. Ever since we arrived, locals have made shrugging comments with slight intonations of apologies for a lesser attractive climate.
But, this year has proven this rule to be temporarily wrong. As locals speak of [...]

…and farmers are reaping in their efforts from the past growing season. We are into the middle of cutting and making hay and, when the dry wind is blowing together with the warm sun we’ve had these last two weeks, the weather has been friendly for this work. Our neighbours cut hay the old fashion [...]

…can often take form in local heritage centers and museums, which are easily found by visitors and openly advertised in Shetland brochures, tourist websites and local networking. Experiencing these places have often proved impressive, such as our earlier visit to Quendale Mill. Needless to say, our short discovery trip to the second largest Shetland island, [...]