Lerwick 20 October 2006 Les på norsk

Adventurous days in Shetland

**STUNNINGLY WILD** The cliffs of Eshaness to the northwest are a mighty view. Here the Atlantic ocean pounds the shores constantly, and in very bad weather, the spray can reach all the way up to the grassy top.

SHETLAND: Left hand driving, cheap beer, nice people, many Norwegians, stunning nature. Shetland has it all. We have taken a ride through the islands and tried to experience some of the things that these islands have to offer for visitors. We shall try to bring our readers a short resume here.

FACTS ABOUT SHETLAND

Shetland is a part of Great Britain, and the capital is Lerwick. Lerwick is friendship town with Måløy in Norway. Shetland has its own flag.
There are around 22,000 people living in the 15 inhabited of 100 islands in the archipelago. 8,000 live in the capital Lerwick.
Fisheries, oil, service industry and sheep farming are the main industries.
There are ruins of more than 5,000 years old houses in the islands. Many of them date back to the Viking age. The dialect still contains many Norse and Norwegian words.
Ferries go from Bergen, Aberdeen, The Orknesy and The Faroes to Shetland. IN addition there are planes, also from Bergen in the summer time.
Bank cards are accepted in most shops, and there are ATMs everywhere. The price level on food and drinks is half of that in Norway.

(Source: www.visitshetland.com)

**STONE AND CONCRETE** The houses in the Shetlands are marked by the rough climate, and the lack of forests mean that most houses are built in stone and concrete. Thus, more than 5,000 year old remnants of houses can be found in a fairly good shape, still today.

**MUSIC** Shetland has a very rich musical- and cultural life. Recently, the 19th Accordion- and fiddle festival was held. Linda Gytri from Nordfjord in Norway was one of the invited musicians. Here from the legendary Lounge Bar.

**SPEEDY GONZALES** We dont know why, but this fellow had a plane parked in his yard. Either he was using it as a sheep shed, or he needed to get around very quickly.

**HONK AND GO** The airport at Shetland is something specia. The road goes straight across the airfield, and there is no gate. Only a polite sign telling people not to drive onto the airfield when the amber light is on.

**LUNCHING OUTDOORS** The nature in the Shetlands is stunnig and beautiful. Stone fences, green pastures and a wild ocean dominate. Lunching outdoors, perhaps wit a cup of English tea, is pure medicine for the soul!

NORSK

Lerwick 20.10.2006