Life's a Stitch

Sept 22nd and 23rd

Our first port in Scotland was “Potteresque” Edinburgh, full of history and charming architecture. I appreciate urban areas devoid of high rise buildings. 

The ship required a tender to ferry us back and forth to the dock. Then we spent the day on the Hop On Hop Off bus, which we’ve found to be an excellent way to tour a new city if the weather cooperates. One of my goals was to shop for a scarf from Scotland. When I went to pay for it I noticed the clerk unpacking more from a large box that had arrived from China. I asked where they were made and it was confirmed, they are not products of Scotland at all. I was directed to one small bank of shelves with locally produced scarves at an exorbitant price, so I put off my quest until we arrive in the Shetland Islands. It made me laugh, however, to think of our past trip to China where everything is "locally made," and we bought things we wouldn't buy elsewhere because they were made in China.

A disadvantage of a large ship is the tendering process. Although we had priority boarding for the tender in, due to our “loyalty” status, it was not so for the return. We arrived at the dock on time, with a couple of thousand others and it took a good hour to board. With so many in the same boat, so to speak, we knew the ship wouldn’t leave without us. 

We sailed 482k (300 miles) to the Shetland Islands and landed in Lerwick, where it’s inconceivable that I was unaware that the Shetland Wool Week conference was happening.

Home to Jamieson yarns, Lerwick is a knitter’s paradise.

We were able to attend the exhibition at the main museum as well as the meet and greet.  As if that wasn’t enough of a treat for me, I was invited to a geocaching meetup later in the afternoon. Afterwards I found my UK made lamb's wool scarf as a significantly lower cost than in Edinburgh.

Back on board waiting for me was one of my favourite loyalty benefits, a free “bag” of laundry, delivered back in a wicker basket and tissue paper. You quickly learn how to roll clothing tightly to fit more into that small paper laundry bag. 

The next day was a sea day. You know it’s going to be rough when the wine glasses are placed lying down on the tables and barf bag dispensers are positioned at each landing on the stairwell.

On to Iceland.