We have arrived in St Ives. We have rented an apartment for a week. 

To reach the aparment we had to go down a flight of stairs to The Warren and then another steep set of rough stone stairs and along a narrow walkway, then through a gate and onto a metal walkway over the cliff and then into the apartment. Dont look down if you are afraid of heights  What a spectacular view we have.  A very dramatic cliff top location.  The apartment is lovely.  A big picture window with a window seat with plump cushions, a nice living area and up a couple of stairs to a bedroom with a comfy bed and next door a bathroom with a proper shower.    There is a spiral staircase down to the kitchen, which is well appointed and there is a 2^nd bathroom down there.

It is very picturesque here.  It is very steep and the streets and laneways are narrow,  winding and cobblestoned.  The cottages are rough stone, all shapes and sizes, some squeezed in up little tiny cobblestoned lanes and steep steps. 

Some are painted white with brightly coloured doors and window shutters.  It is very much an artists colony here, so there are lots of shops selling paintings, photographs, beautiful pottery, exquisite glassware and all manner of arty crafty things.  There are pubs, restaurants and cafes galore. 

There are lovely sandy beaches and tiny coves and bays to explore.  Late yesterday afternoon the sun came out and cast it’s special light over the bay.  It’s the light that draws the artists and photographers here.  We watched a beautiful orange sun go down over the water last night.  It is a truly magical place.

Tomorrow the Olympic torch relay is going through Penzance.  At about 8.30am starting from Lands End.  If we are up in time we might go and have a look but I am sure there will be huge crowds.  David Beckham is here in St Ives.  He has apparently taken over the hotel castle just up the road.  We wondered if we might see him in town, but we didn’t.