SHETLAND ISLANDS PHOTOGRAPHY | JUNE 2014 - NELSON MANDELA BUS SHELTER

Unst Bus Stop

 Yes this is actually real. A fully operational Nelson Mandela-themed bus shelter located on the most northerly of the Shetland Islands - Unst. Normal bus services run from here each day and whereas stops on the rest of the Shetland archipelago are rather conventional, here you can make yourself comfortable on an African-themed reclining chair and browse one of the many books from the library. 

However, the bus stop will not remain Mandela-themed for ever - it changes from year to year and has undergone a variety of styles and themes. You can read more about one of UK's only thematically evolving public transport shelters here (I was there in June & it may have changed by now)

The stop is known locally as 'Bobby's Bus Shelter' after local resident Bobby Macaulay, a child who used to cycle to the shelter in the mornings to catch the bus to school. 

So really, this is the best bus shelter ever & you should visit as soon as you can. If you're lucky you may even see the hamsters (I didn't).

Comfy inside...

 In addition, there's a John Peel memorial traffic island, just opposite. 
Of course there is.

ALSO - click here for a run down of the shelter's various themes since 1996.