A semi-early start to view more of the coast today, stopping by the stones of the Merry Maidens, where supposedly 19 maidens were dancing on a Sabbath, this irked the gods and they were cast into stone. It basically is an ancient stone circle of 20 stones.....in this part of England, there are these stone circles placed there from ages ago (similar to Stonehenge) that likely had some ritualistic religious purpose, but the people who placed them there were long gone before they could be explained. I danced in the circle on the Sabbath, but I wasn't turned to stone....so I think that pretty much discounts the legend. Then again, I'm not a merry maiden......
We stopped back in Penzance for a visit to St. Michael's Mount. It is an "island" just off the mainland that is accessible by foot during low tide, but boat during high tide. Many years ago, there was a sighting of St. Michael, and a few years later, a monastery/castle was built here to pay tribute to the sighting and it has been there since. The castle now is the home to the St. Aubyn family for the past several hundred years, and they share in the upkeep with the British Heritage society for people to visit.
After that, off to the Eden Project (http://www.edenproject.com/). This is a former strip mine in the Cornish countryside near St. Austell. To revert it back for public use, a group created multiple geodesic domes that cover a "park" that contains plants imported from across the world. This includes a section called the "rain forest" which really feels like it is when you are inside. They keep it hot and humid, and the foliage towers over you. They also have little simulated waterfalls. It was rather an impressive project, but was disappointed there weren't more people there to support it. It does contain a plant that supposedly smells like rotting flesh, but we weren't able to find it.
And then the final drive back to civilization.....we never thought that Bournemouth would feel like a metropolis, but it did after our visit to Cornwall.
Friday, May 23, 2008
Monday, May 19, 2008
17-May-08 Trip to Cornwall - part dew
What I hadn't realized before we headed to Cornwall, is that there is a local language spoken fluently (as a 2nd language) by about 500 people, called Cornish. It is similar in nature to Welsh, such that "What do you want to drink?" is "Pandra vynn'ta dh'y eva?". To which I might reply "Pinta korev marpleg" (a pint, please). And counting from 1-5....onan, dew, tri, peswar, and pymp.
Today I traveled to Land's End, the western edge of England, not the retail store. There's a rugged coast with medium-sized cliffs and rocky outcrops. While the view is great, there are the tacky tourist traps, including a Dr. WHO exhibit, homemade crafts, etc., including scrumpy - an alcoholic cider, of which I bought a cheesy version. I'm told scrumpy is made from the dregs of the apples....rotted cores, wormy pulp, stems. how yummy.
I also ventured to the nearby towns of Falmouth (mostly just a nice bay full of cruise ships, this is actually the 3rd deepest bay in the world after Sydney and Rio de Janeiro) and to Truro, an historic market town with lots of great boutique shopping. Here we encountered one of the first Starbucks we've seen outside of London. It was good to get our 'fix' and was wired all afternoon.
In the evening, another visit to the irreputable bar from the night before (The Longboat), with an equally amusing crowd. And during the night, we were approached by a Cornish woman who was totally mental. Most of the time she was just talking to herself but sat next to us at a table and occasionally would include us in the middle of her own conversation. I won't go into more details, but she was rather scary. (After we returned, we were told that life out there can be remote and people are unique, to say the least.)
Today I traveled to Land's End, the western edge of England, not the retail store. There's a rugged coast with medium-sized cliffs and rocky outcrops. While the view is great, there are the tacky tourist traps, including a Dr. WHO exhibit, homemade crafts, etc., including scrumpy - an alcoholic cider, of which I bought a cheesy version. I'm told scrumpy is made from the dregs of the apples....rotted cores, wormy pulp, stems. how yummy.
I also ventured to the nearby towns of Falmouth (mostly just a nice bay full of cruise ships, this is actually the 3rd deepest bay in the world after Sydney and Rio de Janeiro) and to Truro, an historic market town with lots of great boutique shopping. Here we encountered one of the first Starbucks we've seen outside of London. It was good to get our 'fix' and was wired all afternoon.
In the evening, another visit to the irreputable bar from the night before (The Longboat), with an equally amusing crowd. And during the night, we were approached by a Cornish woman who was totally mental. Most of the time she was just talking to herself but sat next to us at a table and occasionally would include us in the middle of her own conversation. I won't go into more details, but she was rather scary. (After we returned, we were told that life out there can be remote and people are unique, to say the least.)
16-May-08 Trip to Cornwall
Today, BK and I took a weekend trip to the Cornwall area far west of Bournemouth, to the southwestern tip of England, leaving after work on the Friday. There are parts of the drive that were single carriageway (2-lane road), but surprisingly most of the drive was at least dual carriageway (4 lane road, with a grass/wall median between both sides). The trip took about 3.5 hours to get from Bournemouth all the way to Penzance, where we stayed.
As it was late, we didn't get to see to much of the countryside, but the road was certainly hilly and twisty/curvy in many parts, and slowed down to 30mph as it went through small villages.
After we arrived, we ventured out to a local pub for a pint. It was a little rougher crowd, many of the individuals extremely drunk. At one point, one younger bloke dropped his trousers and waddled around the bar dancing like a chicken. But the funny thing is that nobody paid any attention, as if it was just a normal occurrence. I suppose in that part of the country almost anything happens and people are numb to idiocy.
All in all, it was amusing to people watch and talk with a few of the locals. You get the sense that there isn't much going on in that area, and it's just getting worse with fewer people traveling there for getaways.
As it was late, we didn't get to see to much of the countryside, but the road was certainly hilly and twisty/curvy in many parts, and slowed down to 30mph as it went through small villages.
After we arrived, we ventured out to a local pub for a pint. It was a little rougher crowd, many of the individuals extremely drunk. At one point, one younger bloke dropped his trousers and waddled around the bar dancing like a chicken. But the funny thing is that nobody paid any attention, as if it was just a normal occurrence. I suppose in that part of the country almost anything happens and people are numb to idiocy.
All in all, it was amusing to people watch and talk with a few of the locals. You get the sense that there isn't much going on in that area, and it's just getting worse with fewer people traveling there for getaways.
15-May-08 Council Tax
Aside from the "national income tax", individuals are also subject to council tax in their area of residence based on the location and dwelling where they live. There are different "bands" that determine how much someone will pay for council tax. Band A is cheapest, all the way up to Band G, etc. Most flat units are somewhere in the C or D band. Interestingly, the closer you are to the town centre, the higher the band in some cases. But obviously, the higher value properties (detached houses) also have the higher band, as well as those along the seafront.
Council tax covers the equivalent of a state/city income tax in the US. There are 10 installments during the year (not 12....not paid in 2 months of the year). You can either pay monthly, quarterly or annually for the amount. This goes to support the expenses of the municipality - streets, sanitation, public works, emergency personnel, administration, etc.
There are constant gripes about how the council spends the tax money, so it's the same in any location!
Council tax covers the equivalent of a state/city income tax in the US. There are 10 installments during the year (not 12....not paid in 2 months of the year). You can either pay monthly, quarterly or annually for the amount. This goes to support the expenses of the municipality - streets, sanitation, public works, emergency personnel, administration, etc.
There are constant gripes about how the council spends the tax money, so it's the same in any location!
14-May-08 Bournemouth Attractions
While London has the London Eye ferris wheel to see the sights, Bournemouth has the Bournemouth Eye, which is a hot air balloon raised in the sky for a viewing attraction. This is within the town city centre, in the middle of the central park leading down to the seafront.
Bournemouth also has the BIC (Bournemouth International Centre), hosting various musical and dramatic events. Upcoming performers include Avril Lavigne and Jay-Z, amazingly enough.
There are a couple of summer festivals on the pier and several sights to see, but the main focal point in the area remains the beaches. To read the comments on the Daily Echo web-site (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk), there are a lot of complaints about the lack of things to do in the area other than the beaches, and just don't understand why people would want to come here just for that.
Bournemouth also has the BIC (Bournemouth International Centre), hosting various musical and dramatic events. Upcoming performers include Avril Lavigne and Jay-Z, amazingly enough.
There are a couple of summer festivals on the pier and several sights to see, but the main focal point in the area remains the beaches. To read the comments on the Daily Echo web-site (www.bournemouthecho.co.uk), there are a lot of complaints about the lack of things to do in the area other than the beaches, and just don't understand why people would want to come here just for that.
13-May-08 UK Bank Holidays
This is a schedule of UK (England/Wales) Bank Holidays for the next couple years:
England and Wales 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan
Good Friday 21 Mar 10 Apr 2 Apr
Easter Monday 24 Mar 13 Apr 5 Apr
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 25 Aug 31 Aug 30 Aug
Christmas Day 25 Dec 25 Dec 27 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec 28 Dec 28 Dec
While they do have St. George's day and recognition of other events and people and saints, there is not a public holiday for them. Early May holiday is actually really May Day. But the spring and summer bank holidays are just to have a holiday, or at least with the several people I asked at work, they could not explain why they were holidays then....though they do equate to Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays in the US. And finally, Boxing Day (Feast of St. Stephens in Ireland) is not a national sporting holiday, but rather a tradition from medieval times when a box of food/gifts was given to the peasants and less fortunate the day after Christmas.
And Northern Ireland, being the odd lot that they are, celebrate a public day-off holiday with St. Patrick's Day (surprise, surprise!!) and Battle of the Boyne/Orangeman's Day. The Scots celebrate the Feast of St. Andrews (not with a round of golf, but rather a jig in the town square) and also an extra day after New Years (Hogmanay) for further recovery, I guess.
England and Wales 2008 2009 2010
New Year's Day 1 Jan 1 Jan 1 Jan
Good Friday 21 Mar 10 Apr 2 Apr
Easter Monday 24 Mar 13 Apr 5 Apr
Early May Bank Holiday 5 May 4 May 3 May
Spring Bank Holiday 26 May 25 May 31 May
Summer Bank Holiday 25 Aug 31 Aug 30 Aug
Christmas Day 25 Dec 25 Dec 27 Dec
Boxing Day 26 Dec 28 Dec 28 Dec
While they do have St. George's day and recognition of other events and people and saints, there is not a public holiday for them. Early May holiday is actually really May Day. But the spring and summer bank holidays are just to have a holiday, or at least with the several people I asked at work, they could not explain why they were holidays then....though they do equate to Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays in the US. And finally, Boxing Day (Feast of St. Stephens in Ireland) is not a national sporting holiday, but rather a tradition from medieval times when a box of food/gifts was given to the peasants and less fortunate the day after Christmas.
And Northern Ireland, being the odd lot that they are, celebrate a public day-off holiday with St. Patrick's Day (surprise, surprise!!) and Battle of the Boyne/Orangeman's Day. The Scots celebrate the Feast of St. Andrews (not with a round of golf, but rather a jig in the town square) and also an extra day after New Years (Hogmanay) for further recovery, I guess.
12-May-08 Creams
As the UK is famous for it's afternoon tea, they also usually serve it with cream and/or scones and various creams. The thicker and heavier the cream, the higher the butter fat content.
In the US, we have half-and-half which is about 15% butter fat, coffee cream about 25% butter fat, and heavy/whipping cream at 40% or so.
In the UK, they have similar names (half cream, not half-and-half) and same butter fat, but they go a step further. Double cream is at 50% butter fat, meaning half the content is butter, so it's extra "creamy"; this is usually used for puddings and piping in pastries.
But the king of them all, clotted cream is a whopping 55-60% butter fat. It is created through a heating process to capture the cream at the top and then skimmed off. This is usually served with scones and muffins as a spread. If you travel through Cornwall and Devon, everything there is made with this. Clotted cream fudge, clotted cream bread, clotted cream ice cream, etc. It's a wonder the Brits are not falling over from a heart attack daily.
In the US, we have half-and-half which is about 15% butter fat, coffee cream about 25% butter fat, and heavy/whipping cream at 40% or so.
In the UK, they have similar names (half cream, not half-and-half) and same butter fat, but they go a step further. Double cream is at 50% butter fat, meaning half the content is butter, so it's extra "creamy"; this is usually used for puddings and piping in pastries.
But the king of them all, clotted cream is a whopping 55-60% butter fat. It is created through a heating process to capture the cream at the top and then skimmed off. This is usually served with scones and muffins as a spread. If you travel through Cornwall and Devon, everything there is made with this. Clotted cream fudge, clotted cream bread, clotted cream ice cream, etc. It's a wonder the Brits are not falling over from a heart attack daily.
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