St Michael's Mount

The tide was out and mist completely obscured the castle when we first arrived in Marazion. But by the time we had parked the car the mist was clearing and people were walking across the sand and along the causeway to reach the mount.

A watery sky for Skywatch Friday.

This old painting shows that the mount has always been an intriguing place.

Information at the entry to the gardens 

with photos showing how magical it must have looked in the snow.

Looking down from the castle walls.

We had plenty of time to stroll around before walking back along the causeway without getting our feet wet. (Sometimes we've had to paddle back to the shore!) Then we drove to the graveyard where our friend, the artist David Ferguson is buried. It's very strange to be in this part of Cornwall without his company. The graveyard is full and David's was the last plot in this lovely old place. 

His headstone, suitably of Cornish granite, has been erected since our last visit. 

The ground is covered in wild flowers.

The old headstones are fascinating, not only are they beautifully carved but they also tell the history of the area. Young Cornish men traveled all over the world, digging the tunnels for the subways of New York and working in many other countries, wherever their mining skills could be used. This fine headstone records such journeys. One son, Thomas, lost his life aged 26 in Johannesburg and another, William, died in his early 40's in America. Times were hard. Their sister had already died, aged just fourteen, in England.

 

In the evenings during our stay we ate at our favourite place in St Ives, overlooking Porthmeor Beach as the sun went down. Delicious tapas!