DAY 117 - 118: St Ives
On the afternoon of day 117 I drove south after visiting Port Isaac. I was very nervous when I got to St Ives because I knew the streets would be crazy narrow and impossible to navigate and that I had to find the public parking area near the hostel and hope there was a vacant spot for me to use. I had written detailed instructions of how to get there so I would not be caught out, in case the SATNAV somehow got it wrong or threw a hissy.
I got to St Ives fine. By now I was comfortable with using the SATNAV, had even figure out that it went better if I used the voice command to enter the destination.... whoohoo, Marita uses technology!
It was an absolute god-sent navigating the many, many roundabouts that the British love so much. I will never try to drive in Britain ever again without it.
Ok, so "the technology" got me to St Ives.... and then we drove down the street where the parking area was to be on the left... and 'the technology" said: "You have arrived at your destination" JUST as I had passed the turn!!!!! Oh My Gosh. No-where to go but carry on down into the centre of town where no sane human would ever try to drive a car. The streets were sooooo narrow. I swear you could put your hand out the window and touch the buildings in some places and in others, there were cars parked IN the left lane so that you had to basically drive in the right hand lane and then cars would come towards you. And tourists EVERYWHERE!! Walking in the street... What is wrong with people???
My worse nightmare. I freaked out big time. In the end, I managed to drive into a dead end street that was quiet. I drove to the end of it and stopped and then I re-set the SATNAV. (see this one just shuts up and leaves you to it once it got to the "You have reached your destination" - bit.) After a few very deep breaths and having re-set "the technology", I somehow managed to turn the car around without damaged to said car or any other property. And then I navigated up a very steep, one lane street with cars parked on the sidewalk, around a few very narrow corners, halfway down a steep hill and then back up and I donno around how many more corners, to eventually getting me back to the "You have arrived at your destination" - bit. BUT this time I know where the turn was and turned before I was told.
And then, NO parking spots. But guess what? I refused to leave. I parked in an illegal spot and waited like a predator to pounce when someone showed up removed their car. Pheeewwww! What a palaver!
And the parking was not cheap. 8 pounds for 24 hours. But after that bit of fun down the streets of St Ives, that car was not going to go anywhere until it was time to leave 2 days later.
But what a stunning, gorgeous place St Ives is! One of the most picturesque places I have ever visited. Right up there with Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. See for yourself. It's a lot of photos, so I am not going to write comments on all of them, would take me to long and I don't want to choose.... really want you to get a good idea of how very pretty this place is. Just know, that Almond Croissant was the best I have ever had!
I got to St Ives fine. By now I was comfortable with using the SATNAV, had even figure out that it went better if I used the voice command to enter the destination.... whoohoo, Marita uses technology!
It was an absolute god-sent navigating the many, many roundabouts that the British love so much. I will never try to drive in Britain ever again without it.
Ok, so "the technology" got me to St Ives.... and then we drove down the street where the parking area was to be on the left... and 'the technology" said: "You have arrived at your destination" JUST as I had passed the turn!!!!! Oh My Gosh. No-where to go but carry on down into the centre of town where no sane human would ever try to drive a car. The streets were sooooo narrow. I swear you could put your hand out the window and touch the buildings in some places and in others, there were cars parked IN the left lane so that you had to basically drive in the right hand lane and then cars would come towards you. And tourists EVERYWHERE!! Walking in the street... What is wrong with people???
My worse nightmare. I freaked out big time. In the end, I managed to drive into a dead end street that was quiet. I drove to the end of it and stopped and then I re-set the SATNAV. (see this one just shuts up and leaves you to it once it got to the "You have reached your destination" - bit.) After a few very deep breaths and having re-set "the technology", I somehow managed to turn the car around without damaged to said car or any other property. And then I navigated up a very steep, one lane street with cars parked on the sidewalk, around a few very narrow corners, halfway down a steep hill and then back up and I donno around how many more corners, to eventually getting me back to the "You have arrived at your destination" - bit. BUT this time I know where the turn was and turned before I was told.
And then, NO parking spots. But guess what? I refused to leave. I parked in an illegal spot and waited like a predator to pounce when someone showed up removed their car. Pheeewwww! What a palaver!
And the parking was not cheap. 8 pounds for 24 hours. But after that bit of fun down the streets of St Ives, that car was not going to go anywhere until it was time to leave 2 days later.
But what a stunning, gorgeous place St Ives is! One of the most picturesque places I have ever visited. Right up there with Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. See for yourself. It's a lot of photos, so I am not going to write comments on all of them, would take me to long and I don't want to choose.... really want you to get a good idea of how very pretty this place is. Just know, that Almond Croissant was the best I have ever had!
St Ives has 4 amazing white sand beaches. And when the tide is in, the water is pretty shallow. A beautiful vacation spot for families.
The main beach by the harbour.
The car on the left is parked there, the one on the right is trying to pass!
There were several young sea gulls (one on the left) annoying their mothers. This mother had enough and was complaining bitterly.
It's a working fishing harbour. The catch goes straight to the many cafes, feeding the many tourists.
The smaller beach.
The most amazing almond croissant EVER!
A very old fisherman's chapel up on the cliffs just south of town.
The beach to the south of town. It was the last day of the summer holidays for many. Some schools had started the week before and some were starting that next week.
A group of budding painters. The woman standing was the teacher.
Walking back to the hostel from the public parking area.
The beach north of town.
Had to happen! Feet dunked in the North Atlantic in one of the most beautiful towns on earth.
The hostel in St Ives really caters to the surfers.. It provides space for them to wash and clean wet suits, to dry their stuff. Actually a lovely hostel, great kitchen, clean, well run. I preferred to have my meals out here in the court yard.
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