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Soroptimists from India visits Cornwall

10/28/2019

Location:
St Michael's Mount and Land's end - 28 October 2019
Governors Hall Restaurant in Bodmin Jail - 29 October 2019
Jill and Jeremy Barnard's Home - 1 November 2019

Photographer:
Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Rob Nicholls

Soroptimist from India: Naina Shah, APD Environmental Sustainability, SI Chennai Downtown and Nisha Ghosh, APD Violence and Conflict Resolution, SI Pune Metro East are in Cornwall. Me and Rob took took them down to west Cornwall.

When you're in Cornwall, "St Michael's Mount" is one place you should never ever miss to visit. This magical place is a sight to behold. Full of amazing history and character.

Another place not to be missed, of course, no other than the ever popular "Land's End". You'll get the feel of Cornwall if you step on this ruggedly picturesque place.

Me and Rob had absolutely enjoyed the company of Naina and Nisha. We had learned a lot from their amazing stories of Indian history and culture as well as their brilliant projects and work. They are truly extraordinary women. We're really delighted to be in their company even for just a day.

Walking on the causeway to St Michael's Mount

Posing for some photo opts.

It's just me...

Some more photos...

On our way up to the mount.

Finally, we reached the top!

Inside St Michael's Mount

Gorgeous architecture!

Spectacular view.

We walk on the causeway when we went to St Michael's Mount. But when we went back, it's high tide so we have to take the boat. It was so much fun.

Lunch at the Island Cafe.

St Michael's Mount (Cornish: Karrek Loos yn Koos, meaning "hoar rock in woodland") is a small tidal island in Mount's Bay, Cornwall, England, United Kingdom. The island is a civil parish and is linked to the town of Marazion by a man-made causeway of granite setts, passable between mid-tide and low water. It is managed by the National Trust, and the castle and chapel have been the home of the St Aubyn family since approximately 1650.

Historically, St Michael's Mount was a Cornish counterpart of Mont Saint-Michel in Normandy, France (with which it shares the same tidal island characteristics and the same conical shape, in spite of being much smaller, at 57 acres, than Mont St Michel which covers 247 acres), when it was given to the Benedictine religious order of Mont Saint-Michel by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century.

St Michael's Mount is one of 43 unbridged tidal islands that one can walk to from mainland Britain. Part of the island was designated as a Site of Special Scientific Interest in 1995 for its geology.

Its Cornish language name—literally, "the grey rock in a wood"—may represent a folk memory of a time before Mount's Bay was flooded, indicating a description of the mount set in woodland. Remains of trees have been seen at low tides following storms on the beach at Perranuthnoe.

In 1954, Francis Cecil St Aubyn, 3rd Baron St Levan, gave most of St Michael's Mount to the National Trust, together with a large endowment fund. The St Aubyn family retained a 999-year lease to inhabit the castle and a licence to manage the public viewing of its historic rooms. This is managed in conjunction with the National Trust.

The mount has featured in a number of films, including the 1979 film Dracula, where it was prominently featured as the exterior of Castle Dracula. It appeared in the 1983 James Bond film Never Say Never Again, as two guided missiles armed with nuclear warheads fly over the English countryside and out to sea, passing directly over St Michael's Mount. In the 2003 film Johnny English it was used as the exterior of the character Pascal Sauvage's French chateau and in 2012, it was a filming location for the fantasy adventure movie Mariah Mundi and the Midas Box.

"Mt Saint Michel + Saint Michaels Mount" is the title of an experimental electronic track by musician Aphex Twin, who grew up in Cornwall and in Michael Moorcock's series of Fantasy novels about Prince Corum, a fictionalised version of St Michael's Mount appears as Moidel's Mount.

It was one of the locations used on BBC One "Balloon" Idents which were used on the channel from 4 October 1997 to 29 March 2002.

Land's End

The Cornwall Air Ambulance is a dedicated helicopter emergency service for Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. The helicopter flies about 700 missions per year and, as of 2012, had flown over 26,000 missions in total. When introduced on 1 April 1987, Cornwall's air ambulance was the first dedicated helicopter emergency medical service operational in the United Kingdom. The helicopters primarily provide a Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) through the delivery of a critical care team for the county. The helicopter enables a fast response to the most critically ill or injured and can facilitate access to isolated locations, such as beaches, cliff-tops and moorland areas, which are inaccessible by road. The two air ambulances are maintained by the Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust.

The red telephone box, a telephone kiosk for a public telephone designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the United Kingdom, Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar.

Despite a reduction in their numbers in recent years, the traditional British red telephone kiosk can still be seen in many places throughout the UK, and in current or former British colonies around the world. The colour red was chosen to make them easy to spot.

First and last post box in England.

Land's End (Cornish: Penn an Wlas or Pedn an Wlas) is a headland and holiday complex in western Cornwall, England. It is the most westerly point of mainland Cornwall and England, situated within the Penwith peninsula about eight miles (13 km) west-south-west of Penzance at the western end of the A30 road. To the east of it is the English Channel, and to the west the Celtic Sea.

The actual Land’s End or Peal Point, is a modest headland compared with nearby headlands such as Pedn-men-dhu overlooking Sennen Cove and Pordenack, to the south. The present hotel and tourist complex is at Carn Kez, 200 m south of the actual Land’s End. Land's End has a particular resonance because it is often used to suggest distance. Land's End to John o' Groats in Scotland is a distance of 838 miles (1,349 km) by road and this Land's End to John o' Groats distance is often used to define charitable events such as end-to-end walks and races in the UK. Land's End to the northernmost point of England is a distance of 556 miles (895 km) by road.

Land's End is a popular venue for rock climbers.

The Longships, a group of rocky islets are just over 1 mile (1.6 km) offshore, and together with the Seven Stones Reef and the Isles of Scilly which lie about 28 miles (45 km) southwest — are part of the mythical lost land of Lyonesse, referred to in Arthurian literature.

The area around Land's End has been designated part of an Important Plant Area, by the organisation Plantlife, for rare species of flora.

Land's End is either the start or finishing point of end to end journeys with John o'Groats in Scotland. One of the earliest was by Carlisle who left Land's End on 23 September 1879, went to John O'Groats House and arrived back at Land's End on 15 December; taking 72 days (exclusive of Sundays); covering 3,899 miles (6,275 km). To prove his journey, he kept a log book which was stamped at any Post Office he passed. An early end to end on bicycle was completed by Messrs Blackwell and Harman of Canonbury Bicycle Club. Starting at Land's End they covered 900 miles (1,400 km) in thirteen days in July/August 1880. Nearly two years later the Hon I Keith-Falconer travelled 994 miles (1,600 km). from Land's End, in twelve days, 23¼ hours, on a bicycle.

Nisha and Naina with the ladies from SI St Austell and District
at Governors Hall Restaurant in Bodmin Jail.

Photo opts before dinner
at Governors Hall Restaurant in Bodmin Jail.

Dinner is served,
at Governors Hall Restaurant in Bodmin Jail.

Starter - Fish Cake, a bit salty and the salad has around 10 leaves.
Main - Salmon with 4 tiny potatoes and 2 brocolli florets and a few slices of carrots.
Dessert - Chocolate Cheesecake. Really???