Kirkwall, Orkney, Scotland

The Royal Burgh of Kirkwall is the capital of the amazing Orkney archipelago, situated on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney. Population of Kirkwall is about 8,500. Kirkwall is a stunning place filled with history. It has been around for many hundreds of years and was perhaps first mentioned in the Orkneyinga saga in the year 1046. The name Kirkwall is loosely derived from the old Norse name ‘Kirkjuvagr’ which meant ‘Church bay’. It is a harbor town situated on the northern coast of Mainland Orkney. Kirkwall is the one of the few places in the area which offers ferry services to most of the other islands in the archipelago.

Although Kirkwall is Orkney’s largest town, it is still small when compared to other Scottish towns. There is a lot to see and do here.

Kirkwall’s best feature is perhaps its sandstone St Magnus Cathedral, widely considered the finest medieval building in the north of Scotland. The original town is one of the best preserved examples of an ancient Norse town.

Other sites of historical interest in the town include the Bishop’s Palace and Earl’s Palace.

To better showcase the rich Norse heritage of the place, there is a museum dedicated to items of local historical interest. There is also a small Wireless Museum which is quite interesting to visit.

Other popular attractions are the Highland Park Distillery, Scotland’s most northerly whisky distillery and the Scapa Bay distillery. 

Lerwick, Shetland Islands, Scotland

Lerwick is the capital and main port of the Shetland Islands, Scotland, located more than 100 miles (160 km) off the north coast of mainland Scotland on the east coast of the Shetland Mainland. At the crossroads of the North Sea and North-east Atlantic, Lerwick Harbour is Britain’s “Top Port” – the most northerly commercial harbour in the country. Lerwick takes its name from the Old Norse Leirvík, meaning muddy bay.

Lerwick, Shetland’s only burgh, had a population of about 7,500 residents in 2010 (although about half of the islands’ 22,000 people live within 10 miles of the burgh. 

Lerwick took a long time to grow. Most of the sandstone buildings on the waterfront date from the 18th century, although a few, such as 10 Commercial Street, are older. 

 

Holyhead, Wales

Holyhead is the largest town on the island of Anglesey and is perhaps known best for being a busy ferry port. However, visitors should also note that the town has a number of interesting attractions.

The town centre offers a number of good places to eat, a theater and a cinema. There are a range of places for the visitor to stay and Holyhead is often used as an overnight stop on the way to, or from, holidaying in Ireland or as a center for touring the island of Anglesey itself.

Around Holyhead there is excellent fishing, golfing and, of course, sailing facilities. Couple this with the wonderful scenery, walks and beaches and you can easily lose yourself and relax for a few days.

The area is also popular with birdwatchers.

Liverpool, England

Situated in north-west England on the wide Mersey River, Liverpool is the sixth largest seaport in Great Britain, and the nucleus of the metropolitan county of Merseyside. The City has a population of around 500,000, and forms an irregular crescent around the north-bank of the Mersey estuary, a few miles from the Irish Sea. Liverpool has a fine cultural and architectural heritage, with excellent museums and art galleries, and a world renowned philharmonic orchestra. Over 2,500 buildings in the City are listed as being of historic or architectural importance, and there is a splendid collection of Georgian buildings.

Liverpool grew in importance during the 17th century and developed into a wealthy and prosperous city. By 1807 Liverpool had become extremely powerful and was known as the ‘Port of Ships’, with the famous dockside frontage extending for 7 miles, one of the finest systems to be found anywhere. The landing stage is one of the largest floating quays in the world. Liverpool is also considered one of the greenest cities in Britain and has 2,400 acres of parkland and open space for people to enjoy.

It is a vibrant city with museums, theaters, clubs and restaurants, but Liverpool is most famous as the place where the pop group, the ‘Beatles’ began in the 1960’s. This has helped to make the City a premier tourist destination in northern England.

The Bailiwick of Guernsey, United Kingdom

The Bailiwick of Guernsey along with the rest Channel Islands, represent the last vestiges of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy. 

Capital is Saint Peter’s Port. Is an active harbor since Roman times with privateers, merchants and, more recently, vacationers dropping anchor here. Victor Hugo found inspiration here, writing several of his most important works in his seafront home. 

A typical example of Georgian architecture that dominates the old city is the ancient fortress, Castle Cornet, which stands in a prominent position at the entrance of the harbor.

The group of islands Guernsey, are self belonging to the British Commonwealth. The islands are governed by small local councils in each island. They have their own flag and local currency but use for their trades also British pounds.

Reporto

As a child I remember myself dreaming of travels to the most distant parts of the world. Growing up, nothing seemed that this dream could become reality. However, I knew that this , one way or another would happen. Maybe because the… "Never is too late for anything", is an attitude for me.   Since travels were limited and always in line with my job leave, the only travel left was the mental journey. The National Geographic magazine adorn at least four double shelves in my library since the collection was started by the first issue was released in Greece until today. I traveled with them in remote places of the world; I have met specific cultures and have seen very close the biggest, smallest, strangest animals ... How far you can travel by dreaming...

 Over the years, another great love was growing slowly but steadily. My love for the sea. From summer to summer and weekend to weekend, the sea came to be almost unique destination, solid escape from routine. It was the place where I could reach the closest point to my real self. Near the sea I become a better person. Near the sea I can see everything more optimistic. Near the sea I can create. Near the sea I dream like nowhere else...

 “Conspiring universe”. This is the only way I can explain how my life has changed so drastically and now I can travel often and getting know what all those years I was dreaming of, through the sea routes. Traveling is no longer just a holiday but part of my daily life. A beautiful daily round full of all the shades of blue ocean and sky, smelling the sea and almost tasting the salt.

 These travels are not tourist ones. Besides, I never consider myself as a tourist. I didn’t want just to visit different places. I wanted to see the world, to see different things, neighborhoods, people, cultures, habits, commonness ... Of course it is also interesting to visit popular places, to get a picture with them and learn firsthand their history. Personally, I’m more interested in the diversity of what we already know. What I mean is, if someone visits Greece, can see some of the most beautiful places on the planet. Our islands, our archaeological sites, our history and our cities. Who would not be thrilled by a walk in Plaka, a performance at the Herodion or move around in Thisio and get on a wonderful ramble to the Acropolis? Who can deny that if you visited Greek islands like Santorini, Mykonos, Rhodes will be filled with images that will remember all his life?

 But that's not all. Honestly, living in Greece in the 21st century, what a tourist sees does not representing correctly the original picture of the country.

The same of course applies to all countries in the world. There are always places for tourists and somewhere hidden behind them is the commonness of people, which, personally, I find much more interesting...

 In these few years of traveling, I have filled with videos and photos many hard drives and countless memory cards. I knew at some point I would like to talk about all of them. This is my archive, and I consider it as granted.

 From now on, with my camera on hand, we will travel all together.

Bon Voyage