GCBC SPECIAL with Liz Lister of Scottish Blethers
Monday, Nov. 8th, 2021
11:00 am PT | 2:00 pm ET | 7:00 pm GMT (Scotland)
Duration: ~ 60 mins
Presented via Zoom by Liz Lister of Scottish Blethers
Gannet with Guga
Image | Phil Botha, Unsplash
Join Liz Lister, of the Scottish Blethers , on this ZOOM presentation.
What happened on the rock?
The Black House revolves around this question. The rock is An Sgeir, lying fifty miles north of the tip of Lewis—three hundred feet of storm-lashed cliffs rising straight out of the sea. For four hundred years, the men of Ness have made a two-week trip every August to harvest gannet chicks, or guga as they are called in Gaelic. What started as a necessity for food has become a tradition – a rite of passage for young men.
In this presentation Liz will take a closer look at what is involved in this annual pilgrimage: how supplies are transported to sustain the men on an island without food, water or power; the black house in which they live; how the guga are culled, preserved, and transported back to the island to be eaten as a delicacy; and the controversy generated by this tradition.
“Because nobody else does it, anywhere in the world. Just us”
Event info
. Come and join Liz, the Scottish Blethers.
. Monday, 8th Nov.
. 7:00 am GMT / 2:00 pm EST / 11:00 am PT
. Virtual Tour presentation via Zoom, exclusive for GCBC members.
To become a new GCBC member and receive the link for this event, please email GC at theguidecollective@gmail.com. Link will be sent via email by 9pm PT on Sunday, November 7, 2021.
Note: Existing members who are already on the GCBC mailing list will automatically receive an email with the link.
Find Scottish Blethers on Facebook and Instagram @scottishblethers
Liz Lister spanned a 30-year career in every sector of education in Scotland, culminating as Director of Recruitment and Admissions at the University of Edinburgh. In 2010, Liz embarked on a new chapter in her life, combining a pride and fascination in her native country, a love of travel and diverse cultures, and the ambition to deliver customer service that exceeds all expectations. Today, Liz balances the role of Blue Badge tour guide with planning bespoke private tours for discerning travellers for her company Jaggy Thistle Tours, writing a travel blog called Stravaiging with Liz, and co-hosting the Scottish Blethers podcast. Find more from Liz on Facebook and Instagram.