Off to Orkney!

Today I head to Orkney finally! It's been a fairly uneentful week, but I got to clean the flat and see some people and just relax a bit before I go straight for the next 9 weeks and then school starts! Andy drove me to the airport so I didn't have to get a cab (yay!) and then I breezed through security and had some coffee before I went to the gate. This plane is so tiny! We were all taking pictures, so I was glad that I wasn't the only one taken aback for a minute by how small it was! It was a quick flight and I landed! It's really pretty here, all farm land and greens hills, very lovely. I went into the airport and collected my bag and inquired about getting a taxi. They woman, who was very nice and helpful, said IF there's one it would be right outside, otherwise the bus is coming soon and I could then take a taxi from the city, saving me money. Well there was no taxi, so bus it was! For only £1.40 I hopped on the bus, but with no 3G I was more or less winging it as to were I was going. At the terminal (I just got off when a bunch of other people did) the fellow at the visitor centre told me where I could get a taxi, easy! But then I got there and there was a taxi, but no people, so that was a bust. Fortunately the guy gave me a map and shower me where my hostel was before sending me on a wild taxi chase, so I figured I'd try to find this place with my map. Luckily for once in my life I made it there without having to turn around 50 times! I collected my keys and (so far) it looks like I may have the room to myself, at least

For the time being. Then I headed out to explore a bit, do some sight seeing, get some food, etc. I went to a place called skippers and had garlic mushrooms and this crazy good cheese sandwich thing. I figured is try it since they're big into local produce here and the menu said it was and it was so good! That and a pint really hit the spot after traveling. Then as I went outside to walk around it started to rain, so I took shelter In a tea shop and had a coffee and a coffee cake (also amazing) and waited out the storm and read a bit. There was a craft fair on in town so I wandered around there for a bit, and went into the cathedral that's pretty much the big attraction here. After I wandered around the cemetery attached which was really lovely and met a cat! Across the street was a museum so I went in there for a bit and then went to the 2 old castles that are across the street from the cathedral. The older of the 2 had really nice views. Then I meandered around for a little since it was too late to really go anywhere else so I just explored a little more, at which point it started to rain, again. So I went into a touristy shop that had a cafe attached and got an early dinner before heading back towards the hostel. On the way I stopped at tesco for some groceries and finally got back to the hostel. The fellow who owns it was back and fixing up my room, and so far it looks like I have the room to myself! At least for now. I'm pretty tired from today so I think tonight I'm mostly going to read and sleep, it's also pretty ugly outside so there's no real draw to going anywhere at the moment!