Post holiday blues

We arrived home last Sunday having spent an amazing two weeks on the Isle of Lewis.  I always feel a bit down at the end of a holiday so to cheer me up I thought I would just share a few of my holiday thoughts and photos.

Landscape - Its got to be said it's a pretty harsh landscape.  There are lots of rocks and areas were only the toughest heathers and ferns can grow.  Mr D commented that there were practically no trees but I found it stunning to look at.  The colours were mostly a deep golden colour which reminded me of my graduation cowl.  The beaches were something else...... the sands were powder white and the seas, even in the rain and gloom, were a vivid blue.  

Entertainment - There was nothing around us apart from a few croft houses and a few people living in the old RAF buildings.  The nearest pub was a hour and a half away but it didn't bother us!  I had my knitting and Mr D had lots of books.  The Longhouse where we stayed also had a really good selection of history books about Lewis and a small selection of DVD's including Whisky Galore.  We watched it one evening and I loved it so much I insisted we watch it again the following week!

Weather and Wildlife - we expected the worst but in fact the weather apart from a few days was alright.  Let's just say I only had to wear my unflattering waterproof trousers a few times when the rain was lashing down!  I did have to fight with the wheelie bins in some strong winds one afternoon which was fun.  I had visions of being carried off into the distance.  While not strictly wildlife I loved the local cattle and the could not care less attitude of the sheep which graze in common grazing areas.

Islanders - It might have been a coincidence but the majority of people I chatted to were English!  From the owners of the local croft (who also owned our Longhouse), to the postman we spoke with, to the gentleman I chatted to in a Harris Tweed shop!  

Sites - During our two weeks not only did we have lots of Fizz walks on the beaches but we visited many of the sights on the Island.  Unfortunately Lewis closes down in the winter for tourists so not everything was open (including tea
rooms).  Some of my favourites are the Callanish Standing Stones where we walked to the three different sites despite the boggy conditions and had some very yummy soup in the visitor centre afterwards.  The Blackhouse Museum was very interesting.  You are able to go inside a Blackhouse which had a peat fire lit in the centre.  I wasn't entirely happy inside as there were massive cobwebs (obviously) but I stuck it out.  From there you can then go into a Whitehouse which the islanders were forced into.  I also went into three very different churches, (one a ruin) but all had some really detailed tomb carvings.