Kirkwall

We loved the Orkneys. Another day or two would have been grand, but this was sufficient even for a long-time desire.

The 14th started out with another huge Scottish breakfast; 
I was hungry enough by dinner-time to have a small sandwich

The B&B proprietess was into duck and gnome yard ornaments, big-time

The morning's catch of coquilles St. Jacques (sea scallops)

Right across the street, harbor-side, from the Kirkwall Hotel, where we had 
dinner; I figured the scallops would be fresh

Kirkwall Cathedral, 1137

Kirkwall Castle; needs fixing-up

Kirkwall is the Orkneys' capital, as it were, and largest city (7,000); the place 
has personality and charm; the Ba' Game is played on Christmas Day and New 
Year's Day, pitting the city's male up-towners (oopies) versus down-towners

(doonies) in a city-wide sort-of rugby match; the city-limits are the boundaries; 
there are no rules, to speak of; the doonies have to put the ball into the harbor; 
the oopies have to move it past a certain street; games often go on for hours; 
the womens' version was banned several years back...too violent