Wednesday

Wednesday:

We stayed at a cute B&B called Valley View last night. We woke up early to make sure we would make our ferry over to the Orkney Island. We had a tradition Scottish breakfast, which includes: bacon (ham), sausage, fried egg, cooked tomato, black pudding, mushrooms, and scone bread. Yes, really of that! Josh thinks I offended her by not eating it all. One, it was not really that good, and two, it was A LOT of food! We then drove to our ferry; we had to be there 30 minuets early for line up. It was just perfect time for a nap. We drove our car onto the ferry then walked up on upper deck. It was like a minny cruise ship! Nice bathrooms, a little room of gambling stations, a nice jewelry shop, a café and really nice seats that even reclined into a comfortable position! We stepped out side for like two bits, just long enough to take a photograph. Don’t forget its freezing cold here. The ride was another good opportunity for a nap. We made it to the Orkney Island and began our tour. We made many stops during the day first on the list was Maes howe. It its this tomb above ground. From the outside looking in, it just looks like a big mound of dirt, They call it a burial mound, and there are lots around just not many you can go inside and have a look. We got to go inside and see all the architecture of this 5,000-year-old structure. It was really cool to waddle down this little corridor before it opened up where you could stand up in. There was like four tombs on each wall of the building. Our little guide was so passionate about the heritage they had here. We then traveled over to a smaller older version of stone hedge. Same concept rocks standing straight up for century’s, no one really knowing why they were placed there. Still pretty cool to see, nonetheless. We also went up to a area, I forget what it is called, but there are housed in the ground. We get to walk around and look down into these houses. There was like eight of them, still with their stone box beds, stone shelves and cut outs in the wall for more storage places. Always in all the rooms the fire pit was in the middle of the rooms. We ate lunch at the little café at this same place. Well I just got my traditional cup of hot chocolate. We continued on to another place that was very similar but you could only go during certain hours of the day. When the tide comes in at night, the walkway to the ruins is covered up. It was quite the walk over there, over rocks and wet sand. I made Josh walk out over all the rocks and seaweed with me to touch the Atlantic ocean! We then raced back to the town (wherever that was called) to catch the ferry back over to the main land. We had dinner reservations at a place called the School House. Cassidy read a review on trip advisor that recommended it highly. (Should have known better!) Anyways we made it there and there was only one other couple they’re eating. That’s all that showed up in the 1.5 hours we were there. We walked in and were seated right next to the fire (thankfully). It was expensive three-course meal 27 pounds I believe. (I know I cannot eat that much or like three things on their terribly small menu) I ordered there leek/potato soup which was quite good actually. We ate our meal and waited and waited for our check. The lady of the house came out and chatted with us for a bit then the other couple a LONG time. She was super cute and nice but I mean, I guess we learned our lesson in this country. They do not bring your check until you ask for it. Even when they do not leave and opportunity for you to ask for it. I finally put on my jacket and she noticed and said you must be ready to leave, I notice you put on your jacket… yes! Yippy! It ended up bing like 60 pounds for our three meals. Cassidy decides that a 5 pound tip is good. We asked when we were ing the car how much he left and josh was APPALLED. Cassidy is all what, that’s 10%... I said no, 6 pounds on 60 is ten percent, so we turned around so we could leave an adequate tip. (adequate tip in Europe is 15% when eating food, when just getting drinks at the bar no tip necessary, Josh looked it up when we got back so we would now know for future references) Other then that we just headed back to our B&B for the night. We are siblings for cryin out loud, we had enough time in the car together for the day. I now know why you get along better when your older, its because you are never with them anymore, everyone either had moved out or you have your own busy schedule. Put them in the same car/room for seven days, they will bicker again, we are proof. :)