I think we have covered this entire country now. The people are diverse, the landscape is stunning and I am amazed that there is so much green space on a tiny island with so many people. Culturally, I like how everyone gets on with things and really embraces notion of live and let live. They all work together to make things work. Like driving for instance; the roads are only big enough to let one car pass and people take turns, a few from one side and then a few from the other. No budding in, no flag person, just grown ups behaving like grown ups. Very refreshing. 

We were in Cornwall last week in an old cattle shed converted to a holiday home. Think low roofs, wonky stairs, stone walls and thick beams. It was built 400 years ago and we spent Canada Day there which is just 150 years old. Crazy. We went with Nicks cousin John and his family which was tons of fun but also exhausting. 

If you ever have the chance to visit Cornwall, you must go. It is awesome. All rolling hills, windswept cliffs, pokey villages and charming people. We stayed in Boscastle and travelled to Bude, Port Issac, Polzeath, and Padstow. It’s surfing territory but man that water is cold. I can’t name a favourite spot as they all had their merits but the little beach we found in Padstow was pretty fabulous. 

I went for a run in Cornwall and got lost. But I found an old church, ran through a field of sheep, had to knock on the door of someone’s cottage but finally made my way back. Whew. Oh, and I got chased by a dog.

Anyone recognize the house Gigi is standing in front of? It’s Doc Martin’s house! Nick and the girls thought it was pretty cool to walk around the village and recognize some of the scenes from the show.

On our way back to London from Cornwall we stopped for the night in Dorset in a place called the Isle of Portland. They had room in their hostel so that’s where we ended up. There is a bridge linking the isle to the mainland and a beach called schedule Beach that is a UNESCO site. The beach is a geological history of how England was formed since jurassic times. It’s right up there with the Great Barrier Reef and the Grand Canyon. It’s rocky, not sandy and it’s massive. Google it. 

Then it was back to London to hit the city. We spent 12 hours there yesterday exploring, it was hot, crowded, we lost our map and we were all very cranky by the time we got the tube home. But, it was also exhilarating and beautiful. In my next life I think I would like to live in London for a stint. 

Gigi bought a box set of 30 books that she couldn’t find in Canada and lugged them all around the city. She is so freakin’ excited about them and I think it may be the highlight of her trip. She also said she has to get used to being cramped and hot on the tube because when she moves to Japan it will be much the same. 

We are returning to London on Saturday for the Pride parade, get Gigi on the London Eye (massive line ups), have a picnic in the park and go to Buckingham Palace. Then I think my trip will be complete. Until next time.