May 18 Portreath to Hayle (Hale) (Day 6) The day began hazy but mild. We were shuttled back to Porthreath and then took a taxi to Gwighian Beach, cutting out six miles. The cabbie gouged us, charging us 20£ for a 6-mile drive and asking for currency. It got cooler in the afternoon up on… Continue reading Hayle, England
Portreath, England
May 17 Parrenporth to Portreath (Day 5) We took the taxis to St. Agnes (Aggie) Head Viewpoint, shortening our walk by four miles. I have no qualms about (cheating?) shortening the mileage. The day is brilliant, the weather is perfect, and the views are indescribable–even pictures do little justice to the majestic sights. At first,… Continue reading Portreath, England
Perranporth, England
May 16, 2024 Newquay to Perranporth (Day 4) Four options depended on the tide; we took the shorter distance and taxied to Crancok, a lookout carport. From there we followed the path that was mostly on dunes. When Dennis stopped to take photos, I veered left, and he continued forward. After waiting about 15 minutes… Continue reading Perranporth, England
Newquay, England
May 15, Porthcothan to Newquay (new-key). Day 3) We followed the path along the coastline for about a mile. Today was cold, with on-off rain but little wind. We walked past mounds called barrows, bronze-age burial places. Nature has created the most stunning coastline—the Atlantic, battering the coast, carving coves and inlets with jagged rocks,… Continue reading Newquay, England
Porthcothan England
May 14, 2024, Padstow to Porthcothan. (Day 2) What a wonderful spread of fruit, yogurt, cereal, porridge, or warm breakfast! After filling up, we started our 13.5-mile walk to Porthcothan Bay from Padstow with a steep climb. It was a clear, chilly day, and the vistas were spectacular—just what we had come to see. We… Continue reading Porthcothan England
Padstow, England
After breakfast in Exeter, Dennis researched the best way to Padstow, where we were to begin our hike on the South West Coast Path, while I traipsed in the rain to a cash machine to get the local currency. After deliberating about traveling by bus (cheaper but longer and arriving at 9 PM) or by… Continue reading Padstow, England
Exeter, England
It was easy to disembark in Southampton. We went to the train station from the docks to buy tickets to Exeter. We only waited about a half hour for the next train. I love traveling in Europe by train. The trains are so accommodating, with high-speed internet and comfy seats. We hiked up a 450-ft.… Continue reading Exeter, England
Le Havre, France
Le Havre (The Harbor) is located at the mouth of the Seine in Normandy. After WWII, the city was completely rebuilt. Because of Auguste Perret’s unusual designs and concrete architecture, the city center became a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005. Coming off the ship, we faced a yard full of large cylindrical objects that… Continue reading Le Havre, France
Zeebrugge, Belgium
We docked early in Zeebrugge, one of Belgium’s fast-expanding ports and busiest in Europe. We had planned to visit the city and beach without taking an excursion. We walked past the Cruise Port, along marinas, tram tracks, and apartment buildings, to the beach, where we saw a few memorials, families playing in the sand, and… Continue reading Zeebrugge, Belgium
Amsterdam, Netherlands
The capital of the Netherlands is the most populous city, with approximately 2.5 million inhabitants in the metropolitan area. It derives its name from the damming of the Amstel River in the 12th century. It was a leading port in the 17th century; it is now a leading center for finance and trade and is… Continue reading Amsterdam, Netherlands