TINTAGEL CASTLE AREA DEC.2009

The bay and coast line below Tintagel castle ruins. On the front right is a cave they call Merlins cave. We couldn't climb down to it but took this picture from up on top of the rocky hills.
This is the ruins of the Tintagel Castle where King Arthur was supposed to have been born. It is way up on this rocky hill with very limited access. It over looks the sea and sticks out into the sea. We don't know if it was for defense or what but now the rock it sits on is accessible only by many, many steep stairs and bridge over the chasm. We were over on the hill that was connected to landand looking down on this ruins. Terrell up on the ruins of an old wall around the castle. It looked down to the sea and to the stairs and other ruins.
We walked down a steep path for a ways and then up along the side of the rocky hill to one side of the ruins. It was a beautiful sight and we wished we could have walked to more, but it was too steep and my knees wouldn't do it.
Along this coast we drove along very tiny roads so narrow one car could barely fit. If you came onto another car one had to back up until there was a little space to pull out. Some of the roads were way down deep, like in a ditch with grassy slopes up each side. There were fences along the roads like this made of rock pieces put together so they would stay for hundreds of years.
This country has so many beautiful places to see!

ATLANTIC SIDE OF CORNWALL DEC.2009

I found a waterfall in Cornwall! In the tiny coastal village of Trebarwith on the Atlantic side we found this cool little beach area with big black rocks. The tide was in so we didn't see if the beach was sandy.
Ellie and I at the beach at Trebarwith. There are big black flat rocks with the tide crashing up and a cool little waterfall. I loved this area and bet it is a great surfing spot in the summer. It was cool and breezy in Dec.
The beach at Peranporth looked like a great family spot for summer fun. See the famous caves called Chapel rocks We would have gone exploring but it was cold and wet and we didn't have "wellies" on to keep our feet dry. There were lots of people walking and enjoying the beach. We would love to come back to this area in the summer!
Newquay is a bigger place on the Atlantic side of Cornwall. This is on the beach and there were surfers in wet suits down the way a bit. We loved all the beaches and towns on the coast.

SEAFRONT VILLAGES IN CORNWALL DEC. 2009

Dad bought us a sea urchin shell. It is on his finger! We ate in this town at a noisy pub with a soccer game roaring above us.
We found the tall ships docked in Charlestown. There were 3 of them and we wished we could have seen them sail out.
Nice little beach at Fowey with the town in the distance.

Rusty old fishing boat that was being loaded ready to go out for a day of fishing. I wouldn't want any of my loved ones out on that tub!

Beautiful Harbour and village of Mevagissy. The fishing boats are old and rusty but a cute little village with narrow streets.

SIGHTS IN CORNWALL DEC.2009

Old Cathedral in Truro looking down the canal with the old stone bridges.
Inside the Truro Cathedral. The high ceilings are amazing workmanship and very beautiful.
The docks and sea side looking out from Penzance. Good looking seagull eh?
Mount St. Michael out in the sea by the village of Marazion. Across the bay is Penzance. When the tide is out, they say you can get across to the island where there is a Monastery and a little village.

LIZARD POINT--MOST SOUTHERN POINT IN ENGLAND

The most southern house in England. right near the wild and windy southern coast of England.
Ellie and I had to get out and experience the wind and rain up on Lizard Point. The guys were not as brave and stayed in the car.This was at the bottom of the cliffs and was wild and wonderful . I loved the crashing waves .

This is on the other side of the Point right up beside the little store.

CHRISTMAS DAY DRIVING TO FALMOUTH HOTEL

Our hotel room was great. The big windows looked out onto the sea where there were freighters anchored and their lights glittered at night. On the left up on a hill was a castle. We really enjoyed our 3 nights there. Notice the huge T.V.This is the grand old Falmouth Hotel where we stayed. It was older but nice big rooms and nice dining room with great full breakfasts. There was a swimming pool and exercise room as well and we loved being right by the sea with waves coming in and out. Our room was on the right side 2nd floor .
On our way to Falmouth which was quite far south on the coast of Cornwall, we went thru several cute little port towns. We loved all the boats in this bay at Paignton on Tor Bay.
We drove inland quite a way then decided to try to get closer to the sea. We found Teignmouth and stopped to walk along the promenade and enjoy the sea. I find I have such a draw to the sea, I really love it.

CHRISTMAS EVE IN GLASTONBURY DEC24,2009

This is the next picture i took and there was no weird cloudy thing. What do you think it was??? Glaston bury is a weird town with lots of cult stores and devil stuff and strange people. who knows what it could be!!Walking back to our hotel I took a picture of Terrell and Foulgers. When I looked at it there was this strange eery cloud thing so I took another picture immediately.
Christmas Eve dinner at the "Who'd a Thought it Inn" in Glastonbury. The meal was actually pretty good. We had turkey even and enjoyed it and the rowdy crowd celebrating Christmas.

Jim and Ellie at the George and Pilgrim Inn where we stayed, Christmas Eve.
Town square in Glastonbury on our way to eat our Christmas meal at a pub. Terrell, Jim and Eleanor Foulger.

GLASTONBURY ON CHRISTMAS EVE DEC.24, 2009

Christmas Eve at the George and Pilgrim. The bed was not great but I have been on worse!
This is our old 500 year old Inn we stayed at. It was called The George and Pilgrim Hotel. It had old twisted ceiling joists and slanted floors. The stairs were circular and hard to lug all our things up and down. There was a pub on the main level and people were partying.
These are the remains of the monks, kitchen area and a tower. Interesting place to visit we enjoyed it.On the 24th we drove to Glastonbury and here we are at the ruins of the Abbey. It was a beautiful green area with all these walls partially standing and even the place they say King Arthur and Gweneviere are buried.
We opened all of our Christmas presents while we were on skype with Denette's family and Danaca. We had a great Christmas because the kids sent 12 days gifts for us. We opened a gift each day and loved it! We got so many fun things like books, CDs, puzzle, DVDs, placemats, sweaters,calender, jackets, and many more cute things we love. Our gifts are from all of our kids and we appreciate them all. it made our Christmas great!!

LEEDS CASTLE AT CHRISTMAS DEC. 14, 2009

Van trip to Leeds Castle and here is our motley crew. Sherm Carlson, Irene Carlson, O'Keefes, he is our chef,Judy and John Fry and Terrell. Notice the sun in December!!!
Each of the rooms in the castle were decorated for Christmas. This room decorated the tree with the Elves and the Shoemaker as the theme. There were shoe decorations and the elves and shies on the floor. some rooms had wreaths on the fireplaces and some had bouquets.This room had a big bier with Sleeping Beauty on it and flowers all around. They had different fairy tales depicted in the rooms.
This picture turned out so perfect with the sky and water and reflections! I did okay for a change. It looks like a post card picture!

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS IN LONDON

These hanging star shaped net lights were up and down Bond streetCute window decorations at the stores along the street.
We stopped in front of this fountain along the street. Gneitings, Winstones, our guides, Terrell and Foulgers. It was such a rainy day and night but fun to see all the sights and sounds of Christmas in London.

The wet street just before dark and the lights were not showing too much but the streets were so busy and trains so busy and lots of people had bags from Harrods and Selfridges! Who could afford it??

TERRELL'S 68 B-DAY, LONDON CHRISTMAS LIGHTS

Happy B-day to you. Notice the special cake Bro.Walker made for him. He was so excited to bring it to him.
B-Day dinner with Bro Walker and Foulgers in our flat.We went into London by train to see the Christmas Lights but it was raining but still fun. This is one of the fancy store windows decorated for Christmas. Harrods is the most elite dept store but the window deco in Selfridges were so much better. They depicted fairy tales only they were quite ultra modern looking.

This poor Santa was in Selfridges also and so many more.We've been into Harrods and it was huge and busy!!! We saw purses for 3500 pounds !! So interesting but not our speed at all.

DAYS OF DECEMBER IN ENGLAND 2009

Our north window ready for Christmas. This is in our new flat in the Manor House that we moved into the 1st of Dec. Nielsens lived here and when they left to go on a cruise, before leaving for home. after we got settled we got a few Christmas Decorations up. Terrells B-Day dinner with Gneitings, Nelsons Winstones and another table with Bro. walker and us at another table.
Our Christmas decor before Terrell's b-day dinner.
Happy Birthday Terrell 68 years with breakfast in bed and opening presents.

Skinners and Nielsens before they went home to Sandy Utah. We took over their job as shift leaders and took over their flat. We will have a hard time filling their shoes!