The Eden Project was beckoning so we set off following trusty? GPS lady's directions. We think she took us the right way, it was very picturesque woody narrow lanes as we got closer. Once we got there, you can only park in the directed parking area, it was amazing how many cars were already there. We had to remember Lime 3 was our parking area... So we set off to walk down to the actual location.
Once we had bought our tickets there were a few choices as to how to get down to the domes, we decided to walk...
For those who haven't heard don't the Eden Project it is in part two huge "glass houses" shaped as domes in which there are two different types of habitats, the first one we went into was the "Mediterranean" type climate dome and had grape vines set up like a mini vineyard, olive trees and citrus growing along with more ornamental plants and was set up with different areas covering different plant groups. There was a display of chilli including the rating system used to assess the heat each type has.
The plants are amazing and the dome is huge... There is also room for a Mediterranean themed cafe.
To get into the two domes you go in a joint entrance which in itself is huge and has a huge eatery downstairs, and ice cream shop and souvenir shop and then on either side the entrances to the domes. They obviously get very very busy. There is an entrance for cars and one for coaches...
We had a pizza in the Mediterranean dome and then an ice cream on our way thru to the tropical dome, which was amazingly hot and unlike the Mediterranean dome had some animals in it including butterflies and some little quail like birds and frogs but we didn't see the frogs.
These bananas reminded me of my cousin who is growing a banana in Melbourne!
The route down to the domes goes thru different garden types, we think we saw a group of mountain pepper bushes!
There were some excellent flower/plant beds and a great emphasis on getting people gardening...
We were on a mission and decided to visit Tintagel from here...
One of the memorable things about this day was the fog.... It was warm and pleasant, you just couldn't see very far.
The Eden Project is near the east coast or is that south coast of Cornwall, while Tintagel is on the west/north coast. There is a town there and a National Trust property the Tintagel Post Office which is in an amazing wonky looking building. It was an excellent spot to have a look. The guide was amazing so enthusiastic she must be a sewer as well as she has a large collection of sewing machines. I didn't get to ask about them as she was talking to some American women. There was a small display of Tudor clothing all of which had been hand made. And a lovely collection of embroidery samplers made by girls between the ages of 7 and 12 in the mid 1800s. Well worth a visit.
Then we walked down to the site of the Tintagel Castle site. What they didn't say was it is a steep walk down to the entrance, a steep walk up to the castle site and then back the same way!!!! My calves are still sore! It was very atmospheric as it had been foggy all day and the fog was blowing across. Well worth a visit as well.
We drove back to Gunnislake via Launceston, although it was quite late by now, so we couldn't go into the Castle there, but I did take a photos as we drove past!
Then back home after tea at the local pub.
It all sounds lovely, from what I remember we could actually touch the rocks at Stonehenge. Or have I made that up? Food has improved over the last 35 years.
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