Some European Charm! Polperro, Saltash and Canterbury

Polperro : It is a fishing village on the south eastern coast of Cornwall. There is something really retracting (in the most positive of senses) about the fishing village. It has pretty little cottages, hugging the sides of the hills, that surround Polperro. We had a great time strolling through tiny paths with cafe’s selling the infamous Cornish pasties and some great fudge. The cafe’s and some art galleries line the descent towards the harbor and the beach. We spotted some curious names of houses and murals while taking a walk. At low tide, the moored boats against the backdrop of raising hills and colour-washed cottages is sure to take your breath away! Polperro has its own tiny beach, complete with a mystery of Willy Wilcox. The beach reveals a cave at low tide, which sits cosy underneath a rock that holds a cottage. Apparently, Willy Wilcox smuggled goods through the cave via a secret passage that ran between his cottage and the cave. It is said that while hiding, he drowned in the cave and still haunts the beach!

Forder, Saltash: Forder is a picturesque little conserved town located near Saltash. We would have missed out on visiting it but for my dad’s friends Tony and Sandra, residents of Forder, who were kind enough to host us. After lunch in their beautiful home, we set off to explore Forder. A walk through the town reveals its quirky, English history – cottages around the creek, the famous pair of swans, Apple tree cottage, the village pump, tidal mill and the Trematon castle. The most impressive site is the viaduct that cuts across Forder; the viaduct has replaced what used to be the Brunel’s wooden bridge. Walking around Forder and watching a train passing by on the viaduct, still brings a smile to my face :)

Canterbury: A historic city, famous for the cathedral, is a UNESCO world heritage site. The cathedral with Thomas Becket’s shrine and the seat of the Archbishop, is a beautiful Roman structure with stunning stained glass windows. A walk around the ‘Kings mile’ gives you a true essence of Canterbury. The streets are filled with all things old and contemporary. We came across the famous 17th century crooked house, which now houses a book store. A tour of the Beaney House will surely enchant you with its changing art displays and museum. Before heading back, we walked around the grounds surrounding the Canterbury wall. The view of Canterbury from that vantage point in the evening, is a sight to behold!t