We arrived in Falmouth in the morning and after locating the most important things (pasty and ice-cream shops) we proceeded straight into the Maritime museum. The entry fee included a look around on the 'Dawn-Treader' a replica of 'The Matthew,' (sailed by John Cabot) with the addition of a dragon figurehead and tail to resemble the ship from the upcoming Narnia film 'Voyage of the Dawn-Treader.' The museum itself was an interesting look into sea-faring from it's ancient origins to the present. The very top floor gave views across Falmouth harbour and the basement floor, offered underwater views. The viewing area itself was designed to show above and below sea-level at high and low spring tide, respectively.

Lunchtime followed the museum and gave us our first pasties of the trip, enjoyed on the steps outside the museum, looking across the harbour and evading a hungry looking seagull.

Pendennis castle was originally built by Henry VIII, the purpose of which I am unsure of, but this is no doubt documented in great detail on the web and in reference books! The site was continually updated, expanded and modernised up until the 20th century and was still in use until at least the 2nd World War. I later discovered that my paternal grandfather was posted at this very site during the war. I was both proud and humbled to think that I had walked paths as a tourist that he had walked as a soldier.

As we arrived at Pendennis there was a Gymkhana in progress. This was a kind of reenactment of a Victorian event, the riders all far too over-dressed to be riding around on horses and Queen Victoria herself (I can only assume that this was simply an actress/suitably weathered-looking old woman dressed as her majesty) viewing from the sidelines. She did appear, however, at all amused. A flea circus sideshow followed, at which point we were glad to have entered Henry VIII's fort. The fort was kitted out with a few pieces of furniture and the slightly scary looking models usually found at such sites, to convey a semblance of realism. Some steep, narrow spiral staircase took us higher up the fort and some spectacular views could be found from the very highest point, the the strangely modern-looking Perspex windows. We made our way back down to ground-level for the next event of the day, a demonstration if Victorian (?) weaponry. Despite my relatively pacifistic tendencies, it was quite fascinating to see the advances in technology over a relatively short period. The finale of the demonstration and the thing we were both waiting for was the cannons! After a few misfires, two blasts eventually echoed for miles around and filled the viewing area with black powder smoke. A final walk around the Royal Garrison Artillery Barracks to the sounds of the Falmouth town band concluded our visit, except for a quick look around the shop which turned into something of a wine-tasting session thanks to the multitude of half poured local wine brought in from the drinks tent.

We eventually returned home for a dinner of barbecued burgers and vegetable kebabs. Wine and bed finished the evening off.