Hang Ten, Dude.

I think I had a visit from aliens last night. I go to bed in England and wake up in Australia. Did I get teleported back home during the night? I drove from the town of Newquay to Fisteral Beach and I really could have been in Australia. Sand, surf and sun...and quite an impressive beach it was too. The swell wasn't so great today so there was a lot of just bobbing up and down on boards but it was a bit too cold for me...being the Atlantic and all. Next time I'll pop the wetsuit into the suitcase. Next it was up the coast to the little fishing port of Padstow. It's nothing like the Sydney version. Luckily! Padstow is very cute and quaint and has seen monks and Vikings before today's tourist raids. The nearby craggy cliffs bring to life the thought of pirates and those of you who went to Brazil with me know that I have a bit of a pirate thing going on. Hey Tom? So many perfect hiding spots for tall ships where cargo could be secretly unloaded and taken inland, perhaps resting on the way at Jamaica Inn!! Ok Rebecca...back to present day reality. There are some great little walks around the village, along the cliffs and beach and then you can later dine at Rick Stein's restaurant. I'm figuring that's impressive if you're a foodie. To be honest, I think Rick Stein has purchased the whole of Padstow. He has restaurants, fish and chip shop, patisserie, cafe, hotels, bistros, seafood school, deli and a gift shop scattered throughout the little town. Nothing like a bit of overkill, huh??!

Next it was across to the Eden Project. This is an amazing charity set up for environmental education. Set in an old disused china clay pit, Tim Smit has literally reproduced a garden of Eden. I'd seen photos of the biomes before but nothing prepares you for the enormity of them. The rainforest biomes covers an area of almost 4 acres. It was nice to be in a hot, humid environment! I can't believe I only just found this place. If I'd known how hot is was in here, I would have been making weekly weekend tips from London during Winter!!!! I even found chocolate trees and had a Brazilian gardener find the acai palm for me (and even sneeked me some seeds!). The other biome was for mediterranean plants but a lot of it reminded me of Sydney. Lots of nice smelly things in there!

Next it was a late stop at Charlestown. Someone told me that Pirates of the Caribbean was filmed there, but aside from a couple of tall ships and a shipwreck museum, I couldn't see any evidence. Nice little spot though, all the same.

XXX