Blogging from A to Z 2026 - I is for Iona and Isabela

As I travel the world I take many photos that pique my interest. During the year April 2025 to March 2026 our travels included visits to many islands large and small. My theme for 2026 Island Hopping will give precedence to Islands visited in the past year but for those difficult letters like X and Z I will dig into my photo archives for content.

We visited Iona last year as part of a tour with Back-Roads. A minicoach ride through the Isle of Mull from Tobermory to Fionnphort and a short ferry trip across the Sound of Iona delivered us to Iona. Once on Iona we were given a short orientation by our guide and then we were let loose to make our own discoveries. 

"Iona is an island in the Inner Hebrides, off the Ross of Mull on the western coast of Scotland. It is mainly known for Iona Abbey, though there are other buildings on the island. Iona Abbey was a centre of Gaelic monasticism for three centuries." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iona.

My dilemma is which pics should I share. As Iona is Holy Isle I'm choosing some Holy Images.

Ruins of Iona Nunnery

The Abbey at Iona

Font in the Abbey

Tomb of 8th Duke of Argyll and his wife

Nave and Choir in the Abbey

"Back on his feet" Sculpture of St Columbus

A place in the Abbey to leave requests for prayers for healing

St Columba's Shrine

Cloister of Iona Abbey

St Orans Cemetery, Burial place of many Kings, is adjacent to the Abbey

Tomb Slabs in St Orans Chapel

Michael Chapel is one of the many small chapels on the Island

One of several Crosses at Iona

For a change of pace and a dose of the natural environment we are hopping over to Isabela Island in the Galapagos.

"Isabela Island (Spanish: Isla Isabela) is the largest of the Galápagos Islands, with an area of 4,586 km2 (1,771 sq mi) and a length of 100 km (62 mi). By itself, it is larger than all the other islands in the chain combined, and it has a little under 2,000 permanent inhabitants. The island straddles the equator." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabela_Island_(Gal%C3%A1pagos).

When moored off Isabela Island on our Silversea cruise we were offered a range of activities that included swimming and kayaking.

Conga Line of Kayaks ready for boarding

We opted for the more sedate activity of exploring from a glass bottomed boat.

Glass Bottom Skipper

All eyes down

Best of a bad bunch of photos through the glass. 

We had curious company along the shore

The coast was rocky

This little chap watched us from his perch

Bonus Island Posts from the Archives - I is for incarcerated on Isles du Salut

From the archives - Runaway Cows    Turds in Paradise

Other I Islands we have visited include Ibiza, Iceland, Ilha Grande, Islay