Isle of Cumbrae and Millport

This weekend I went up to Glasgow for the long weekend to visit Caroline. On Friday we headed over to the Isle of Cumbrae. And the weather was amazing! It didn't rain. In Scotland!

The trip took a while but it was worth it. After an ice-cream, we got the ferry to the isle. It was a tinkly little ferry but crazily efficient. They started putting down the car ramp quite a while before we got to the shore. Everyone was looking a little nervous as it started be lowered. But they have it timed to the minute.

On the ferry across (with an ice-cream)

The ferry lands on the north East side of the island. Where there is nothing. So we got the bus to the south and the main (only) town, Millport. It is a beautiful little town which some gorgeous beaches.

Beach.

Enjoying the sun

They were holding a country music festival that weekend (sadly it didn't start until the Friday evening so we missed it) but the whole town got into it with a lot of flags. (Even a Confederate flag - I am guessing they didn't know what it meant.) Embarrassingly it took me a while to figure this out. 

Lots of flags.

We found the cathedral which is the smallest cathedral in the UK. And it was pretty small. It took us a while to find a way in but the walk around was nice.

UK's smallest cathedral.

Not sure what is in here.

Before lunch we wondered along the sea front to visit the crocodile.

Caroline told me to pose - I think she expected serious. 

The crocodile is famous on the island. It's a rock that someone has painted a crocodile face on.

Crocodile

After lunch, we went for a walk to the tea rooms. The path started off as a path. Soon, as with all the walks I seem to go on, it soon become less clear.

Walking.

Less obvious.

Then we ended up going through a field of cows. They watched us suspiciously but thankfully were mostly more interested in the grass. And then the path just become a suggestion down the hill with some lovely muddy patches. Next time I am having no input. I always pick dodgy paths. 

But we did make it to the tea rooms. 

And then we realised the only other way back (other than back up the hill we just slide down) was going to take an hour. But the route was only the coat so very pretty. We stopped part way to investigate some rocks. Why not?

War memorial.

We were very happy to get back to the bus, which broke down on the way to the ferry. We did make it in the end and we're on holiday. We didn't care.

We ended up at thai for dinner and back at Caroline's early, both knackered. I am really not used to walking that far. 

Santa Cruz, La Palma

This morning, Dario and I flew to La Palma (another of the Canary Islands) to meet up with Rui and go observing for the night. As we got in at about noon (and had conveniently forgotten to book the taxi from the airport), we grabbed the bus and went into Santa Cruz for a look around and lunch. There are a lot of places called Santa Cruz and the one on La Palma is much pretty than on Tenerife.

Heading up hill

Half way up (we didn't get any further)

Church spire.

headed back down.

We had a quick look around the church but the outside was so cool. Every building should have gargoyles.

Massive church doors

Happy Gargoyles!

The whole town was really pretty with lots of colors. (And a lot of poodle statues for some reason.) 

Poodles!

We had a great lunch at a Cuban place with a fountain/tree for a view. (Why choose when you can have both?)

Fountain or a tree or both?

There were lots of flowers around. I don't know if this is normal or not as there was a large holiday on Saturday for the Patron saint of the islands. So they may have been extra dressed up for that. But still works for me.

Hanging basket.

More flowers.

Cacti (I will leave to your imagination)

Window view.

Lots of overhanging balconies. 

And more.

Officially the largest cactus I have ever seen.

We walked most of the town front, along little streets. Unfortunately our timing was off and most things like the castle were shut. 

Castle.

I love all the colors of the houses. 

Cheerful.

Even brighter.

Even the German consulate was dressed up.

And there is a (slightly) random ship. It is a replica of one of Christopher Columbus' ships which stopped here (I forget which). I am not sure why it is on land but it was interesting. They have turned it into a naval museum which was of course shut. And there was no information as to when it opened. So we just wandered around the outside.

Ship in the road.

Anchors.

Shiny.

Captains quarters.

Everywhere there are pictures and statues of this little guy with his hat. I have absolutely no idea who he (or in some cases she) is but he/she is a "typical La Palma thing" I am told. I just think it is cute! So I got a magnet with him on.

Cute.

Even cuter.

In front of the ship

We intended to get a taxi at the far end. But the map lied and there were no taxis. So we had to walk all the way back along the sea front. It was very warm! But we got a taxi (with air con) that would take us up to the observatory.

I'll post those soon. Possibly tonight as thanks to the weather, it looks like we might not be doing much in the way of observing! The clouds have started to arrive and it is extremely windy!