Orkney Islands

 Way up in the north of Scotland we came to the Orkney Islands. We landed on Kirkwall Island - I am pretty sure it is the 'mainland' of the Orkney Islands. Our tour guide told us the story of the Earl Magnus who later became St. Magnus. He is a hero. Her rendition was slightly different than Diana's and both were different than Wikipedia - so what the true story is --- is legend. 

Whenever the guide was talking she talked about her Islands as if they were their own country. She didn't refer to Scotland much. I think they take care of their own here.  The British never invaded or made clearances here. Mostly the Norsemen, Vikings, and Raiders are mentioned. Horrific stories of women and children being thrown over cliffs by the enemy. Yup, they have their historical enemies too. You would have to be very hardly to live here. 

We first visited some standing stones. The story is the man who owned the original field got sick of tourist coming to trample his field. He started taking the stones down. But was caught and told to stop. Today sheep graze near the stones - I had to watch out for their droppings. There was a larger full circle of them we passed on the road but we didn't get to visit them.

Jeffrey enjoyed walking around and looking at these. Another tourists asked if I was from the family of twelve. He said he was there yesterday when my sister fell at Culloden and had to be taken to the doctor. I realized that many of our new friends knew about our family and what was happening to them.

Then we were off to some other ruins.