A. L. Kaplan

Tag: water

  • Post 5: My Trip to Scotland: Part 5 -Yesnaby Coast and Skara Brae

    Post 5: My Trip to Scotland: Part 5 -Yesnaby Coast and Skara Brae

    Our day of seeing ancient structures continues. But first, wee stopped at this beautiful site on the Yesnaby coast on our way to Skara Brae.

    I’m pretty sure this is a fossil.

    Skara Brae is a stone age village that was uncover during a storm in 1850.

    It was fun to see a place people lived in 5000 years ago!

    They had one section staged like it would have been.

    Here is a bed.

    And a cupboard.

    It was a short walk to the rest of the village.

    They have a serious rabbit problem.

    Here is what the village looks like now. Imaging living in these cool stone houses.

    The Skaill house is a 17th Century manor house that overlooks Skara Brae and the Bay of Skaill. It was built for the George Graham, the Bishop of Orkney, and has been added to over the years. His son became the laird of the estate. It’s not as old as Skara Brae, but looks nice. So do the flowers.

  • Pine Boughs and Moss

    “I’ve been here, but when?”

    There’s no one to answer my question but the gurgling brook and the birds singing in the trees. Only my empty memories keep me company. It could have been days or even years since I passed this way last. It looks so peaceful, yet that tree leaning over the water fills me with dread.

    Visions swirl through my mind and I feel the world begin to sway.  I have to look under the tree, under the pine boughs and moss. I wade into the water, feeling the slippery stones beneath my bare feet. My hands shake and I rub them on my ragged pants as I go, ignoring the icy chill that isn’t from the water.

    Webs part as I push my hand into the dry hole, trying not to think about what might be lurking in the dark hollow. Shivers run down my back as my hand touches something cold and hard. Smooth sides and sharp edges greet my dirty fingers.

    Holding my breath, I pull the object out of its hiding place and am nearly blinded by the red light that gleams off its surface from a stray sunbeam. I stagger back and fall into the water, barely keeping my grip on the fist-sized stone. My head throbs with remembered pain. I touch the scar on my head. It runs deep into my heart. Tears stream down my face.

    They hid this here.

    Before they shot…

    Everyone.

    Even each other.

    For a rock.