It's alien - definitely foreign.
Indeed, it is much more Scandinavian than Scottish.
It's not a place I think either of us could live - although I love the isolation
I could certainly live there and many of my family do, but it must be hard work in the winter months - which seem to run from the end of August, to the end of May.
This is where my Aunt lives - a wonderful place . . . in the Summer.
And culturally it's pretty much a desert.
This ^^^ is very much a matter of personal taste and like anywhere, you just have to know where to go. Shetland has (pro rata) very many young and talented musicians - last night, I was in the Lounge Bar in Lerwick and the quality of the musicianship was of the highest order.
The scenery and the wildlife are wonderful.
Yesterday, we went to St Ninian's Isle; the tombolo beach must be one of the best beaches in Europe. We swam in the (clean) sea, with seals pretty close by. After this, we went to Sumburgh Head to take a look at the puffins. We'd not been there long, when a pod of orcas came into view; they kept in close to the face of the cliffs and using the rocks as cover, we saw them ambush an unfortunate seal - it was the most amazing thing that I've ever seen. I didn't capture the kill on film, but I managed to snap a couple of the orcas shortly afterwards.
Later in the evening, I went to the Lounge Bar and listened to the live music; I was designated driver, so I was on diet coke all night. It was the best day that I've had in years.