A Quiet Place

I'm off on my travels and called in at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands.
Not that far off the northern most point of Scotland,  Kirkwall is becoming a hub for passenger lines and travellers. The town is filled with tourist shops all plying their cottage trade and houses are turned into bed and breakfasts, short stay lets, and the grand hotels.
Its a mix of old and new and as the older generations die off, homes are being restored to a new modern with thick triple glazing, wide panoramic vista windows, mezzanine bedrooms and fully fitted kitchens.
It's a hub of activity and yet........quietude.
It reminded me of an island in the Canaries called La Gomera. It is, what it is, with no airs or graces. It's a small community, eeking a living out of an inhospitable island that offers little respite from hard labour. But everyone knows everyone and everyone looks out for everyone. A close community with a thriving Sea Rescue and Lifeboat station. A community which is fighting for every penny it can glean from those, like me, who come to admire and stand in wonder at such a peaceful spot.