A Cornish holiday – The Eden Project

A visit to the Eden project was on top of my list for our Cornish holiday. I had heard so many great things for this unique place and was really keen to see it. It is set in a big crater, the rather desolate remains from a no-longer used clay pit. It went through an incredible transformation and it is now a destination dedicated to environmentally-friendly agriculture, living in balance with nature, and sustainability.

The Eden project consists of two massive biodomes, surrounded by outdoor gardens, fields, and even small-sized woodlands. The Tropical and the Mediterranean Biomes really dominate the landscape, they definitely made me feel like I had found myself in a sci-fi film. We caught glimpses of them while wandering around the outdoor gardens which felt a bit surreal.

Outside, we found gardens designed to evoke memories and tantalise the senses. I loved the sweet-smelling, pink rose walk, the fields of daisies, the picture perfect cottage garden, and the Cornish woodland walks. The Boy was quite taken by the hops and barley fields because beer is high up on his list of interests.

Going inside the Mediterranean Biome felt like I had gone back home. The scent of thyme and rosemary, the citrus trees, the olive groves, the little hillside vineyards, the bright saturated colour of the bougainvillea, the little sparrows fluttering around, the warmth on my skin. Everything felt so lovely and familiar.

And then we were off to the tropics. The Tropical Biome hosts the largest rainforest “in captivity” in the world. It is a vast indoor jungle, including a waterfall, colourful tropical birds, coffee and cacao plants, and all sorts of nut and spice plants. I loved walking among the tall palm trees, seeing the African totems, peeking inside the south Pacific wooden huts, and then taking in the great view from the canopy walkway. I wasn’t so keen on the humidity though, my hair was rather frizzy and scary by the end but it was a small price to pay.

We spent the whole day at the Eden project and it was such a wonderful visit. It was so incredible to see how an ugly and deserted crater was transformed into a place simply bursting with life. The Eden project is certainly a thought-provoking, inspiring place, but it’s also just so much fun. I think visiting would be a great experience for people of all ages, I’ve been recommending to absolutely everyone since we’ve been back. And I certainly can’t wait to go back again!

A Cornish holiday – Along the coast

The incredibly varied landscape along the Cornish coast really took me by surprise. I expected to only find rocky cliffs and dark blue, choppy seas. But it was so much more than that!

The south coast was much more tame than what I imagined. The climate is quite mild and so wildflower meadows and shady woods reach the edge of the cliffs. It was so lovely to walk along paths shaded by tall trees with gentle waves tickling the rocks down below. There are beautiful little coves with sheltered sandy beaches; in my experience these were excellent places to look for sea shells carried on the shore by the tide. The weather during our stay was perfect, and so the blue sea looked very peaceful and inviting – if only it wasn’t so cold.

On the north coast, I finally found the significantly more dramatic and wild landscape that I expected. A jagged coast, sharp drops, and deep blue waves crashing on the cliffs. However, that’s not the whole story. The water in some sheltered bays was so clear and turquoise and calm, it practically urged me to jump in.

Perhaps the greatest surprise for me was the Atlantic coast near Padstow, where the river Camel meets the ocean. I never expected to find such beautiful, white sand beaches with the sea exhibiting a wide range of greens and blues. It looked practically tropical! I also found it very interesting to explore the grassy sand dunes along this coast, I loved the contrast of colours provided by the grasses, the wildflowers, the sand, and the sea.

The coast of Cornwall was nothing like I expected and very different to any other place in the UK that I’ve seen. Every day I was amazed at the beauty and wide range of the landscape. I can’t wait to go back someday! Have you ever visited Cornwall? What’s your favourite summer holiday destination?

A Cornish holiday – Fishing ports

I was so very charmed by the fishing towns and villages we’ve visited in Cornwall on our recent holiday. Both on the south and north coast, we found tiny little places, so picturesque and quaint, sitting like jewels in hidden coves with turquoise waters. I loved wandering around their winding -and sometimes very steep- streets and found that watching the fishing boats come and go is greatly relaxing. I also really appreciated being able to practically see my lunch being unloaded from the fishing boat, carried a few dozen steps to the pub kitchen and shortly after that arrive at our table. Fish and seafood, as fresh as it gets!

Here are some pictures from Looe (which is where we stayed), Polperro, Port Isaac, and Padstow. I think all are places worth visiting if you are ever in Cornwall.

Pics 1,2,8,9: Polperro
Pics 3,4,7: Looe
Pic 5: Padstow
Pic 6: Port Isaac

Late summer at the Oxford Botanic Garden

I love the Oxford Botanic Garden. Its glasshouses are among my favourite places to visit on a freezing cold day. I wanted to visit the Merton borders before summer ended, as I remember really loving them last year. We finally visited on a sunny Sunday a few weeks ago. We first stopped by the glasshouses as I really enjoy smelling the lemon basil that always transports me to my grandma’s front porch, then we had to stop and take pictures of my most favourite gate which for some reason always makes me think of Alice in Wonderland, and then we reached the Merton borders.

The borders were once again so very lovely! As far as I understand, the Merton borders are planted to be like wildflower meadows or cottage gardens, so they are very colourful and dense. They make a beautiful explosion of colour.

Afterwards, we continued out walk in the Christ Church meadows that are right next to the garden. It was such a great little walk!

August – A picture diary

Enjoying beautiful sunny days in the Oxford botanic gardens (check out tomorrow’s post) and in the open countryside. Seeing signs that autumn is right around the corner: cool mornings, golden evening light, yellowing leaves, and apples!

Making animal friends, as always. Hanging out with Maisie The Cat when I’m working from home, saying hello to the horses on my walks, and meeting some lovely piggies at The Big Feastival.

Slowly getting back into cooking and baking; it’s the GBBO effect. Using up our blackberries in delicious crumbles and rather indulgent breakfasts. Bread baking, mostly soda bread and banana bread. Having a super fun jamming session with a friend, so many jars of plum jam!

Falling back in love with Oxford: early morning walks down charming little streets, taking yoga classes in stunningly beautiful medieval colleges, and walking to the shops along the canal every day. And, one of the highlights of my year for sure: a day filled with fun, food, and music at the brilliant Big Feastival in the Cotswolds (a post to come, for sure).

August felt like a really long month, especially when I look back on all the pictures on my Instagram. It had its ups and downs but overall it was a great month, with so many memorable moments.

Here’s to an amazing September!

All pictures taken from my Instagram.