Thursday, May 18, 2017

CORNWALL 2017: The Facebook Preview


Let's take a break from our Venice/Verona trip!

We just got back from Cornwall late last night, minutes before midnight, and are now up and at it in getting settled back in.  You know how that it.  It's always good to get back home.  Astrid even went back to work today after maybe 4 hours of sleep.  What a trooper!

What you are about to see is a learning curve for me away from the laptop and PhotoShop!  We took only our iPads for this 6-day trip, so I learned how to make collages with the Live Collage app, figuring out every new day how to tweak images the way I wanted there as well as in the Photos app.

So, here goes:

Friday, May 12:  Arrival in Exeter

As soon as Chris and Pauline picked us up at the airport, Pauline said she had a surprise for me!
We think it represents the  Red Arrows from the Royal Air Force aerobatic display team,
even though they usually fly in teams of 9.
Ironically, it was the only weathervane we found the entire trip, other than a couple of arrows.
But it more than made up for the lack elsewhere.

We ate out at a pub that day but that was basically it, before driving home near St. Austell.

Saturday, May 13:  Mevagissey Fishing Port and the Spit Cliffs

Pauline and Chris racked their brains for us on what to see and where to go each day.
But they found out it doesn't take much to make us happy!
 So we first went to the fishing port of Mevagissey, 16 km away.
Lucky for us, we were there during low tide.
Do beached boats enthrall you like they do us who never see them??!!

After eating lunch back at home, we three girls went out to take a walk along the Spit cliffs.
Actually, Chris dropped us off at the beginning and then picked us up at the end in Charlestown.
 During the 4 miles, with the English Channel on one side and a golf course on the other, 
we had intermittent rain but didn't care a hoot.

Sunday, May 14:  Tintagel Castle and King Arthur's Birthplace

When Astrid and I found out there was a legendary birthplace of King Arthur 39 km away,
we made it absolutely clear that THAT would be a highlight of our trip!
So we picked the best weather day to go, which was Sunday.
OMG.  Wait till I show you more later...but for now, that's the statue of Merlin with Astrid, 
overlooking the Atlantic Ocean on the north Cornwall coast.

Monday, May 15:  St Mawgan and St. Eval Parish Churches

After Sunday's gorgeous, sunny day on the north coast, it rained the rest of our time!
Rain limits what you can do, of course, but it didn't stop us from going out to do something.
We didn't need much, especially after the full day on Sunday.

So off we went to see two parish churches, both from the 13th century:
St. Mawgan (top row) and St. Eval (bottom row).

This time on the inside, St. Mawgan (top row) and St. Eval (bottom row).
I love these wee parish churches almost more than the cathedrals, to be honest.
I always think of my preacher dad loving and choosing them for his pastorates.

Tuesday, May 16:  Looe

Knowing we love the seaside ports, Chris and Pauline came up with our final adventure, 42 km away.
We actually arrived while the tide was still in but, after first eating lunch, we got lucky.
Look at that.  Pure magic for us!

Wednesday, May 17:  Exeter Cathedral (and home)

Wednesday started off with a 2-hour train ride to Exeter for our flight back to Amsterdam.
Dear friend, Lisl (from Bath), came by train to join us (including Pauline) for the rest of the rainy day.
After a lovely, leisurely lunch, we walked to the nearby cathedral and had a peek.
No time for a good look that came with an entrance fee, so we did just peek.
For me it was enough...or at least better than nothing.
A great way to end a good week with friends!

You know me...this is but the skeleton to which I will add the flesh in the days to come.
The good news is that we have no further trips on deck till America in October,
so there's a nice, gentle sigh being released as I take my time, now, going forward.


14 comments:

  1. October will be here before you know it. Merlin was intriguing. Great photos as usual, Ginnie.

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    1. Let's wait on October, Marie...so I can catch my breath. HA! But you're right, it WILL be here before I know it. Thanks again for stopping by.

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  2. Oh my yes, you had to do King Arthur. Can't wait to see more about it.

    The fog is always wonderful, isn't it? I always think of Doc Martin when I see Cornwall. So fun.

    I hope Astrid managed to stay awake at work!

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    1. Maybe I'll do the King Arthur post next, Ruth, because it was our most incredible day out this trip. It also was the sunniest day of them all.

      You know how fond I am of the fog and mist, however, so we had the best of both worlds. I'm not familiar with Doc Martin but after Googling him, I have a feeling we'd both like the series. Maybe Astrid can find it for us, since we can get two channels of BBC TV.

      Speaking of Astrid, she did stay awake yesterday but we both went to bed by 9:30 last night and had a good night's sleep!

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  3. King Arthur's house might have been on a sunny day, but fog is much more photogenic lol... i can't wait to see more pictures of the house of the man, the myth, the legend... King Arthur!!

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    1. I think that's the post I'll do for next week, Elaine, so you'll see it all soon. But it's not exactly a house, per se...more like acreage of ruins and stone steps up and down the hillside. It was quite a workout!

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  4. Such a tempting teaser, Ginnie. :) The change when the tide was in and out is fascinating, pure magic indeed represented by all the mud. I'm looking forward to see more from those days!!

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    1. Thank you, Petra. We have such great memories of this shorter trip. I'll be eager to put more flesh on these bare bones.

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  5. The pictures show once more that we had a great time in Cornwall and that we saw so many wonderful places. I so loved the statue of Merlin, a legend and almost flesh and blood. The placement of that statue could not have been chosen better. The beached boats never bore me one bit. Fascinating. Thank you for documenting this wonderful trip. What a memory to keep. IHVJ.

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    1. Exactly as you have said, Astrid...all of it! I'm eager now to go back over the images to look at them closer. What great memories for both of us. We're so lucky.

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  6. What a variety of weather in these images! It's all so beautiful. Happy you had safe travels and an enjoyable time!

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    1. "Variety of weather" is a good way to put it, Robin. Indeed so. So glad you were able to stop by to see the preview of our fantastic time. Yet another adventure in a country we have grown to love!

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  7. How wonderful to be able to carry on this traditional trip to this part of the globe every year. Hope my turn to see this would come sooner than later.

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    1. It really IS a wonderful tradition, Maria, and I do hope you can get there eventually...maybe even sooner than later!

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