Scones, jam, clotted cream and tea

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We got up before the alarm went off (7am) by a few minutes. Ken and I got to bed late finishing laundry, after midnight. He didn't sleep well because of the rough seas. I knew better, I took a sleeping aid. The sea is calm because we aren't moving and we are anchored in Falmouth. 😊We took showers and then had lattes and breakfast. Time to take the tender to shore. We were packed like sardines in the tender boat. A lady began talking to us, asking where we are from, etc. I told her about our life for the last couple years, consulting in California, now Georgia, traveling and enjoying different cities, etc. She was fascinated and said how fortunate we are, what a great life. I know that, but it's good to stop for a minute and realize over again. I think about all the places I've been, all the special people I have met and all of the things I've learned. We got on our tour bus and headed towards the small city of Falmouth. Falmouth has granite that has been quarried and used all over the world. It is an expensive quality and very little is quarried today. It's very green here and hilly, lots of farmland with cattle, horses and llamas. The average temperatures is 45-68 degrees year round; 30-40 inches of rain yearly. We passed through the town of Helston, established in 1211. Their biggest industry is tourism. It used to be copper and tin mining, although very little is done today. (Cooper + lead = pewter).There is a naval air base that was used in WWIIFalmouth was used as a Major departure ports on D day for Americans. We are in Helston now and just passed the hospital; it looks like an old nursing home. Our guide is an elderly lady who says she has been doing this for over 20 years. I think she needs to retire. She gets a bit confused. We passed over the river Cobar, 6-10 feet wide, it used to be a large trading area, where the main railroad moved goods. Now we are leaving Helston and driving to Lands End, passing horticulture areas where they grow cabbages, turnips, Brussels sprouts, flowers, potatoes, cauliflowerKenny says he feels like he is in school with the guide speaking. Ha ha!Hilly green landscape. Wild bluebells bloomingWe pass through the village of Marazion, established in 1200. Many of the cottages are built out of granite. We come to St. Michaels Mount, a large natural rock (a mountain really) with a castle built on the top. Its a Benedictine monastery built in 1135. There is a causeway that leads from the mainland to the castle, that becomes an island in high tide. The next town is Penzance, in west Cornwall it's a big Harbor village. The tide was out and the boats were in mud. It looked kind of run down. Our guide said it was a great holiday resort area in 1870. We arrived at Land's End, the furthest southwestern place in all of England. On one side is the Atlantic ocean and the English Channel on the other. We got out of the bus and walked around the windy point. We decided to try a local beer at the LE Bar and Restaurant. As we walked through a door there was a a lobby, I thought it was a walk through and walked straight into a glass plate window!! Just like a bird! It hurts and I have a headache. I hope I don't get a black eye. Ken and Bobbie ordered a beer and Annie got a 'cream tea': scones, jam, clotted cream and tea. I got a coke and we shared some fries. Our table was next to the window looking out to the sea. It was beautiful. I went in the bathroom to see if I have a black eye yet....not yet. When we got back on the bus, it was hot and smelly; the lady in front of me needs to wash her hair. We are riding back to the ship...it seems like our guide is repeating everything. I'm serious, she is talking about the mines again. Bobbie is sleeping...Kenny wishes he was! It would be better if she would just be quiet and let us enjoy the beautiful countryside. She keeps losing her voice and coughing....some are hopeful! Someone asked about the tax rates here: 20%tax if you make under $50,000 and 47% if you make over $50,000. Of course everything is free-healthcare and schooling. HA HA!!! Most people cannot afford housing. She said their healthcare system is failing. We got back to the tender, Kenny and I rode on top, it was windy and cold but fun; we could see the entire bay. We changed, had a glass of wine and some cheese and then met Bobbie and Annie for dinner: mushroom soup, Boston Bibb lettuce, seared sea scallops, pork tenderloin, cheesecake and pine-orange sorbet. It was delicious. Annie and Bobbie went to the show; Ken and I went our room, tried Josh and Jason with 'Facetime' with success!!Tomorrow is a big day: going to France to visit Normandy

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