The morning wakeup call was a little ahead of schedule this morning, but for good reason. We threw on clothes and headed to the bow, blurry-eyed and cameras in hand to marvel at a pod of killer whales swimming off the port side of the ship.
Later we jumped in Zodiacs and headed to the awe-inspiring Calanais standing stones. Erected around 2900–2600 BCE on the Isle of Lewis, they form a striking cross-shaped arrangement centered around a stone circle, likely used for ritual or astronomical purposes. Made of ancient Lewisian gneiss, they are among the most significant and mysterious Neolithic sites in Scotland.
In the afternoon, we sailed north toward the Shetlands under shifting skies, keeping watch for seabirds and the occasional marine mammal. Our afternoon and evening at sea included two wonderful presentations, ship made scones and cream for teatime, an engaging recap, a special Filipino buffet, and a lively show by the crew band, The Spice Boys.
