I think my alarm was set for 8am but I hit snooze quite a number of times. I was up and showered and packed well before 10.30, when Mike had said they'd pick me up. Then he said they'd be late - more like 11am. Anne went out before me to go sailing with Steve, and Mike and Katla arrived a bit after 11am and we set off for adventure in Cornwall. We stopped for fuel outside the city and Mike attempted to get on the A38. After some seemingly aimless driving, he managed it, and we went over the Tamar bridge into Cornwall.
It was a beautiful day and the countryside got greener and more hilly as we went. We took a wrong turn after a while and used the opportunity for a snack/toilet break. I got Morrison's toasted teacake. We got back on the road and before too long we got to Marazion and stopped to look at St Michael's Mount. Unfortunately the sun was behind the mount so it was very hard to see the buildings and details, and also unfortunately the tide was on its way in and the causeway was totally covered so we couldn't go out there. It was very beautiful all the same - the weather was still glorious and we had a very nice walk on the beach. It's a beautiful part of the world and I'd love to go back in warmer weather to explore the mount itself. (Note: I found out later that the pronunciation of Marazion is very boring. It is Ma-ra-zi-on, not Ma-ra-zi-on.)
We headed in further to Penzance and had lunch in a horrible greasy takeaway shop. We could still see St Michael's Mount from there. Mike was obsessed with Mousehole (pronounced Mow-sel) and so we went to have a look. It was actually really lovely. They have a beautiful little harbour (with lots of rules) and little fishing boats. They also have a huge Christmas light extravaganza which must cost a bomb. Anne told me that Mousehole is associated heavily with stargazy pie, which has a few different types of fish with their heads and tails pointing heavenward (six years later I would read about this on the wall of the Ship Inn). There was another little story about the devil coming to the Cornish coast but deciding to stay in Devon for fear of being cooked into a pie.
We kept driving out to St Just, stopping to take some photos of the amazing moon on the way out of Penzance. We turned left before the town and found the Bosavern House guesthouse with no trouble. Corinne and Allan were lovely, they checked us in and showed us to our rooms. We put down our stuff and went downstairs to have a little drinkie and to read up on what to do the next day. There was nothing I wanted to drink, so I had Allan make up a revolting concoction for me of vodka, sparkling water, and damson wine. I spotted absynthe on the list and made the mistake of asking what it was like. Allan poured me some. It was the most revolting aniseed taste I've ever experienced. I couldn't finish it, and only just managed to finish the other concoction. Katla was clever enough to have a simple sherry. Mike abstained.
I had a bash on the guitar and piano. Katla and I did a vocal duet on Swing Low and I discovered and attempted to play Sarabande on the piano. Beautiful. We decided to go the Fountain Inn for dinner as it was nearby and recommended highly. There were cats everywhere and the portions were enormous. Katla and I had some philosophical discussions about countries that invade others and about Iceland. It was very interesting. We had some red and Mike had a beer. It was quite expensive and Mike and I shared a piece of mint ice cream cake for dessert.
Mike drove us back and I made myself a hot chocolate to soothe my throat and the other two had another drink. We walked some more and went up to bed at about 10.30. I had a shower and crashed.
It was a beautiful day and the countryside got greener and more hilly as we went. We took a wrong turn after a while and used the opportunity for a snack/toilet break. I got Morrison's toasted teacake. We got back on the road and before too long we got to Marazion and stopped to look at St Michael's Mount. Unfortunately the sun was behind the mount so it was very hard to see the buildings and details, and also unfortunately the tide was on its way in and the causeway was totally covered so we couldn't go out there. It was very beautiful all the same - the weather was still glorious and we had a very nice walk on the beach. It's a beautiful part of the world and I'd love to go back in warmer weather to explore the mount itself. (Note: I found out later that the pronunciation of Marazion is very boring. It is Ma-ra-zi-on, not Ma-ra-zi-on.)
We headed in further to Penzance and had lunch in a horrible greasy takeaway shop. We could still see St Michael's Mount from there. Mike was obsessed with Mousehole (pronounced Mow-sel) and so we went to have a look. It was actually really lovely. They have a beautiful little harbour (with lots of rules) and little fishing boats. They also have a huge Christmas light extravaganza which must cost a bomb. Anne told me that Mousehole is associated heavily with stargazy pie, which has a few different types of fish with their heads and tails pointing heavenward (six years later I would read about this on the wall of the Ship Inn). There was another little story about the devil coming to the Cornish coast but deciding to stay in Devon for fear of being cooked into a pie.
We kept driving out to St Just, stopping to take some photos of the amazing moon on the way out of Penzance. We turned left before the town and found the Bosavern House guesthouse with no trouble. Corinne and Allan were lovely, they checked us in and showed us to our rooms. We put down our stuff and went downstairs to have a little drinkie and to read up on what to do the next day. There was nothing I wanted to drink, so I had Allan make up a revolting concoction for me of vodka, sparkling water, and damson wine. I spotted absynthe on the list and made the mistake of asking what it was like. Allan poured me some. It was the most revolting aniseed taste I've ever experienced. I couldn't finish it, and only just managed to finish the other concoction. Katla was clever enough to have a simple sherry. Mike abstained.
I had a bash on the guitar and piano. Katla and I did a vocal duet on Swing Low and I discovered and attempted to play Sarabande on the piano. Beautiful. We decided to go the Fountain Inn for dinner as it was nearby and recommended highly. There were cats everywhere and the portions were enormous. Katla and I had some philosophical discussions about countries that invade others and about Iceland. It was very interesting. We had some red and Mike had a beer. It was quite expensive and Mike and I shared a piece of mint ice cream cake for dessert.
Mike drove us back and I made myself a hot chocolate to soothe my throat and the other two had another drink. We walked some more and went up to bed at about 10.30. I had a shower and crashed.
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