Saturday 14 December 2013

Scapa Flow, Skaill House and Skara Brae, Orkney

These are not the best pictures but I have them so I'll share. You definitely felt history here.


WW1 German scuttled ships



To the left of the pole on zoom you can see a orange buoy and on 14 October 1939, under the command of Günther Prien, U-47 penetrated Scapa Flow and sank the WWI–era battleship HMS Royal Oak anchored in Scapa Bay.[7] After firing its first torpedo, the submarine turned to make its escape; but, upon realising that there was no immediate threat from surface vessels, it returned for another attack. The second torpedo blew a 30-foot (9 m) hole in the Royal Oak, which flooded and quickly capsized. Of the 1,400-man crew, 833 were lost.

There is another buoy in this picture which if I remember correctly is where some of the German WW1 fleet lies.

Scapa Flow where the German High Seas fleet scuttled itself after WW1. It was also the base of the British fleet during WW1 and WW2.
  
The platform in  the water marks a scuttled WW1 German destroyer

Embroidery by WW1 German naval POW's at Skaill House


A Russian Civil War Bolshevik banner at Skaill House







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Reconstructed Neolithic House at Skara Brae
 
Inside roof of reconstructed Neolithic house at Skara Brae




Fridge


A dresser


A comfy bed?

Thingvellir, Iceland June 2013

 Thingvellir is the site of the oldest parliament in the world in Iceland, the Althingi, founded in 930 AD. The site was a meeting place where camps were set up rather than permanent buildings. I found it surprising how many could fit in to what looks like a small space. The views here were spectacular.







Guide stood inside a tent circle.














 


A troll

A Viking from the Sagas outside the Saga Museum in  Reykavik

A more life like Viking from the Sagas outside the Saga Museum in  Reykavik