Laplandica

…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, [...]

1 Photo: Shoreline of Eshaness, Shetland
2 Photo: Eshaness-Like a walk in the park
3 Photo: Eshaness Lighthouse, Shetland
4 Photo: An ocean cave, some 70 meters long cutting into the land
5 Photo: Alone with Shetland’s sky

…a completely different experience. For two people, having lived a life on land with forests, rivers and mountains, the sea is almost an infinite challenge. It is a different world of its own! So we discovered when our landlord invited us out for a few hours of fishing in this ocean we are living next [...]

…from Shetland just to keep readers visually satisfied with our adventures.
Photo: Barley is a traditional grain that has been grown for thousands of years in Shetland
Photo:The Quendale Water Mill, one of many heritage projects sponsored by the Shetland Amenity Trust, is a restored working mill (kvarn) keeping crofting traditions alive
Photo: Inside Quendale Mill is a [...]

…this small Shetland croft would seem almost unnoticeable if it wasn’t for the sign. Since 1976, the Burland Croft Trail on Trondra, situated between Scalloway and Burra Isle, has been a working croft dedicated with developing Burland in a traditional and environmental way. And, it isn’t until one drives off the road and stops to [...]

…are something that one meets almost immediately on arrival to the islands. Everyone needs food and most everyone use grocery stores. Grocery store experiences are probably very different between people, so it wasn’t just chance that made us be more aware of what was being offered on the shelves of the Co-op store in Lerwick. [...]

…and this astounding place is already making me forget my camera! I mean, when in a place like this, there are pictures to be taken to share with the world out there. But, alas, I left the digital at home as we went to Scalloway to visit an advertised event at the NAFC Marine Center [...]

…we joined up with a guided bird watching tour near the center of Shetland’s biggest town Lerwick. This week, Shetland is experiencing its very first, and hopefully not the last, Nature Festival week and has activities centered on geology, botany and wildlife all over the islands.
Photo: Birdwatching walk through the town of Lerwick
Not only [...]