The First Two Days in Cornwall

Yesterday the entire group took off in a bus to tour the area of Cornwall for a few days. From what I understand (being just a follower in this whole situation) I am now in the southwestern part of England. It is a beautiful area with fun villages and towns, grassy cliffs, and beaches. I love it here.

Yesterday our first stop was in Polperro. It is a fishing village in the southern coast of Cornwall. When we were there it was pretty cloudy and the tide was out - all the ships were stuck in mud - but it was still very pretty. We found a cave to explore and climbed the cliffs for a little bit. It amazes me how green it is out here...being from the desert and all. I just wish it was a little sunnier, then it would be perfect.

Climbing the cliffs.

The cute town all nestled in in the hills.

Exploring caves in Polperro.

On the beach in Polperro with a little of the town in the background.

After Polperro we drove down to Truro to see one of the newer cathedrals in England - its the first to be built in England since St. Paul's and the great fire of 1666. I honestly didn't find anything remarkable about this cathedral...they are all kinda blending together for me, but we did get to hear the organ and the choir perform which was a new experience. I have to say though I enjoy MoTab much more than the creepy, eerie organ music they were playing.

The outside of Truro Cathedral.

We spent the night at a hotel in Falmouth, another coastal town. After a nice dinner at the hotel we walked along the beach and around some piers. There didn't seem to be much around so I asked the girl at the front desk this afternoon if there was anything cool to do and she gave me a map and showed me all of the pubs in town and said that was about it...so we stayed in tonight.

Our exploring group that walked around the entire town trying to find something to do...we found the pier...thats about it.

Anyway, this morning we took off to Tintagel to see the castle that claims to be the birthplace of King Arthur. It is probably my favorite place out of everywhere we have been so far. I loved it! It was up on a cliff overlooking some of the most blue water I have ever seen. It wasn't even the castle ruins that were awesome (I mean they were cool...but not the best part) it was the scenery and the peacefulness there. I could have stayed for hours. In Tintagel I got a traditional cornish pasty which is a pastry filled with beef and potatoes. It was delicious followed by some clotted cream ice cream. Oh so good. Also in Tintagel is one of Britains oldest post offices. This is back to when the people who ran the post lived in the house so it was basically a tour of an old home...it kinda reminded me of a church history site.

The castle ruins and some ruins of other town buildings.

On the cliff where the castle used to be.


Tintagel...I could have stayed there forever!

The old post office.

Mom! In Tintagel I saw a surf shop. So although I didn't see any surfers, people must surf because there is a surf shop with like Quicksilver and Billabong, and O'Neil. So your book was correct.

That one is for you Mom.

From Tintagel and the post office we drove to Porthcurno beach which is the most southern part of England. It was a pretty beach but thats about it. We did however get to visit the Loo of the Year in Porthcurno. Yep, I was honored enough to pee (or wee as I heard one mom say here) in the 2006 Loo of the Year. My favorite part is that the bathroom didn't have mirrors, there was no soap, the water turned on for two seconds at a time, and there was no way to dry our hands...I think they just gave up after they won. Near Porthcurno is Lands End, the most western part of England, which we also visited. These are both types of places that you visit to say you have been to and then you leave.

It was totally official. This certificate took the place of the mirrors.

Stairs carved into the rocks at Porthcurno.

Hopefully tomorrow I will have pictures to try and show how beautiful it all is but they really can't do it justice.