St. Ives, Cornwall (after a bit of Stratford-upon-Avon)

All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players: they have their exits and their entrances; 
and one man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages. 
Thou seest we are not all alone unhappy: This wide and universal theatre 
Presents more woeful pageants than the scene Wherein we play in.
As you Like It

Before I came here to St. Ives, I spent the day wandering around Stratford-upon-Avon. I was the only tourist in the Tudor museum, and actually woke the museum attendant who had fallen asleep in his chair waiting for customers. In the few open places that I entered, I tended to be the only one! I was disappointed of course, that all the theatres were closed. The Swan Theatre looked pretty spectacular!

Back stage

The pathway along the Avon had swans of course and was very pretty in the grey drizzle.

The Tudor Museum

I had a nice chat with the museum man and enjoyed my little tour around the museum, a little fascinated by the history of the actual building which was one of the oldest and had been through changes and renovations in its 900 years of history.

There were, of course, references to William Shakespeare!












As I was going to St. Ives:
As you know I love to travel by train with their big windows and comfortable seats! The western midlands are beautiful rolling green hills. I became Elizabeth Bennett many times while traveling with her Aunt and Uncle Gardiner when everything looked as if it were 250 years ago. Stone barns and fences, ancient churches and lush gardens (even in this early spring) and sheep, everywhere sheep. I changed trains in Plymouth and other places to make the all day train trip from Stratford-upon-Avon.
I am staying at the Western Hotel, in a nice room and I had a delicious breakfast this morning.

I spent my first afternoon in St. Ives walking to the top of the hill in a residential area and out into the country, walking by the harbour and around the shops downtown.

Many were closed, including the famous Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture garden. I bought a Cornish pastie but had to use a card since they wouldn't handle cash. I didn't think about the virus when I breathed in the wonderful sea air.
I have fallen in love with this beautiful town. Coziness and art with the constant fresh smell of sea water.

I have learned the correct way to eat a scone (pronounced "scaawn"). The Cornish people eat scones by spreading the jam on first followed by the clotted cream. This obviously tastes better. The people of Devonshire, however, do not do things the correct way. Their ridiculous idea of putting the cream on first followed by the jam has been problematic for centuries. Fortunately, I had a Cornish server and other guests of Olive's Cafe to guide me.

They were right. My scone was delicious eaten the correct way. Why would you experiment with such a good thing like those people from Devonshire? One thing I noticed was that no sugar was served with the tea, just a small pitcher of milk. Having sugar in tea is also ridiculous, so it was probably invented in Devonshire.

 I enjoyed going through the cobblestoned, stone passageways to get to Olive's too. 

Everyone in England loves their dogs and I have overheard a gazillion conversations about dogs here in St. Ives. "He was a bit anxious when we first got him, he's loads better now" "She's a good girl. Just lovely." "Oh, he just loves to play."  "Well, she was lonely until we got Maggie." What a contrast to the mistreatment dogs face in Pachacamec Peru! Most of the businesses  and restaurants here allow dogs--if not, they specifically say on the shop's door--"Sorry, no dogs please." I think the dogs are very disappointed with all the shops closing (I've seen more and more shops close in the few days I've been here).

I went for a long walk along the beach, inhaling the beautiful, fresh sea air and thought about how lucky I am. I couldn't be in a more beautiful place. And though the effects of corona virus are felt here too, the feeling of health is strong. The people are so friendly, and though they are worried about their businesses, they call me "Love" and are welcoming with big smiles. My life is full of blessings.

As I was going to St. Ives

As I was going to St. Ives I met a man with seven wives,

Each wife had seven sacks, each sack had seven cats,

Each cat had seven kits: kits, cats, sacks and wives,

How many were going to St. Ives?