Richard Turen
I didn't expect to share with you my stop at the port of Falmouth on the Cornwall River. Why am I ahead of Dublin and Edinburgh, and the notes I completed from London a few days ago?
However, this small harbour town is home to the deepest port in Western Europe, not far from some amazing landscapes. Not to mention the villages of Port Isaac, the Cave and Murion.
I think I'm on the bus driver from our boat Seven oceans magnificentto the town and its central street. It's the only street – but it's part of its charm.
When I asked him what he thought he might be the highlight of the few hours I was born in the town, I was interested in sharing my time in this Cornwall “burg”.
“Oh, that must be a transfer back to your boat.” We chatted for a while and I asked my questions whenever I was in town.
“So what’s the big story everyone is talking about locally?”
The answer was quick, point: “That had to be Jack's plan to get married in a few weeks. He was only 24 years old and many of us thought he should wait for months or years.”
I met Jack, a large, strapped beard transport agent on the dock. We had a brief discussion, just a few steps away before I strolled downtown.
I asked three locals if they thought Jack should get married, and everyone knew him and had an opinion.
I stopped at that little Forty-five coffee shop and owner Richard created a pumpkin spice latte that could cause Starbucks to stop the model. When he saw my appreciation, he reached out to remove the beans he grated at 5 o'clock every day. “It's all about hard work and the best beans,” he said. I think this is not a bad summary of life.
A couple greeted at the door and we spoke for a few minutes. She is from Long Island and he is a local. She was technology at the time and could have “good internet anywhere.” They had tried living in the United States, but they eventually decided to move to Falmouth to “swipe on the water and navigate through a easier life”. When I did some research, they revealed that their annual Medicare fee is currently 180 pounds per year; for you and me, that's less than $250.
I have the best fish and chips on the port lights overlooking the port and its fishing fleet. The fries are so delicate that I had to learn the secret. It turns out that there is a small company in the countryside that decides that the port community needs to provide a new, better chip to match the flavor of freshly caught cod. They make them handmade in small batches.
I've come across worse reasons to visit some global attractions. But believe me, the French fries at Port Lights are worth it on Virgin Atlantic fares.
Let me finally point out that British people don’t like to put their dogs in their kennels when they are on vacation; they bring them with them. That's why Cornwall Coast is the only bar I've ever seen that has a dog room, dog snack, and even in one case a “dog pint” is said to be a healthy health.
