In the past, we have especially loved it during school term time when there are fewer people about. However, it seems that St Ives is now an ‘all year round’ place – with families being replaced by old codgers like us (and, apologies to all my dog-owning friends, dogs – bloomin’ HUNDREDS of them!!). Trying to walk down Fore Street or anywhere near the harbour was a nightmare… dozens of dog-owners admiring each other’s ‘delightful’ pets and the rest of us dog-less pedestrians being constantly confronted by having to try to avoid long dog-leashes (owners frequently behaving like those annoying people in supermarkets – blocking up aisles – or in this case narrow streets – and completely oblivious of others). Oh, and the number of people who own two, three or even four dogs!! Don’t get me started! Oh, a bit late for that… sorry.
Anyway, back to our few days in St Ives… it was our first holiday for a couple of years – and very enjoyable it was too.
Much of the time was spent relaxing, walking, eating, drinking, reading and sketching – but we felt particularly fortunate (as ‘old people’) to be able to purchase an Art Pass for a bargain price of £10 for the week – which allowed us access (as often as we wanted) to Tate St Ives, the Hepworth Museum and Studio, Leach Pottery, Newlyne Art Gallery and Penlee House, Penzance! Needless to say, we visited ALL of them – and the Tate on a daily basis! And, of course (as we’re no longer car-owners), we travelled down to St Ives by train and used our bus passes to get to Penzance/Newlyne.
Oh yes, we know how to live!
I loved the daily early morning walks along Porthmeor Beach, watching all the surfers, the wild turquoise seas, the beautifully extended Tate St Ives, the coastal walks (we even saw a mother seal feeding her pup off Clodgy Point), the familiar streets, The Tate Café, Porthmeor Beach Café … and the luxury of returning to places that we absolutely love.
PS: It was sad to note that recycling doesn’t really happen in St Ives (well, it does, but only on a very reduced level)… lots of litter and general waste mixed in together… the Council clearly thinks the town is too cramped, with too many narrow streets and with far too much traffic as sufficient grounds to ‘not bother’… which is great shame.
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