Ferry operator Caledonian MacBrayne (Calmac) have received 50 submissions from islanders in Lewis, asking for a ferry service on Sunday. At the moment, the ferry does not sail on a Sunday. The main reason is religious sensitivities from years gone by. In the 1960s, a minister of the church prostrated himself in front of traffic at Kyleakin in Skye to prevent a ferry sailing to Kyle of Lochalsh on the Sabbath. There is a bridge, toll-free, between Skye and the Scottish mainland now.
In April 2006, a Sunday ferry service was started between Harris and Uist, providing the first Sunday sailings out of the Long Island in history. Bearing in mind that elsewhere within the Western Isles, ferries ply their routes on a Sunday (e.g. Castlebay to Oban, Lochmaddy to Uig [Skye]) and planes fly in and out of Stornoway Airport, it is only a question of time before ferries sail on Sunday between Stornoway and Ullapool.
We have a fast food restaurant here that is closed on Sundays for religious reasons. (Chik-Fil-A) I s'pose the business lost is worth it to the owners, though...
ReplyDelete~Amy
That was something I found quite endearing and quaint when I was up in Scotland on holiday this year. Sunday closing time and respecting the Sabath Day. It brought back happier family days in stead of rushing out to the Supermarkets on a Sunday because work had you the other six days of the week. Early evening meals in one large hotel in Ullapool was normal too, or so it seemed. They were looking at their watches at eight o'clock as we ate. We almost had indigestion trying to accommodate them...Lol! We found it a time warp as far as that was concerned as here in England they are more tuned in to the tourist and raking in their pennies.
ReplyDeleteI love to see big ships like this one Guido. This is a super shot.
Jeanie
I've heard that there have been studies done that show that businesses who close on Sunday for the Sabbath are actually more profitable. Don't know if it's true or not, but they're definitely reaping spiritual profits!! :) Blessings, Linda
ReplyDelete