The Cornish seaside town was jostling with people. St Ives is a delightful location whatever the weather and, in winter, parking is easy.
We headed for the beach first. The sea was out a long way. Breathing in the fresh salty air, we dallied by foaming ripples entranced by swooping calling gulls. It was strange to look up at the little lighthouse at the end of Smeaton’s Pier. On past visits, the tide had been in with waves surging and splashing all around the beacon’s base.
Heading back, with the Atlantic Ocean behind us, we splattered through saturated ridged sand. It is fascinating to see the harbour from a different perspective – shore to inland. The buildings look amazing stacked up the hillside like a colourful collage. The Royal National Lifeboat Institute is most prominent with its flag billowing cheerily. The Lifeboat Inn is nearby, so we lunched there and savoured hearty beef and Cornish ale pie while admiring waterfront views.
Behind the wharf, lanes weave in and out with a mixture of shops, fisherman cottages and other enchanting corners. The place is brimming with art to buy or to learn about and Mr Word Loft and I needed a picture for our lounge. I purchased an antique purple glass vase, and a dress within half an hour. The search for a picture was compelling, and costly, as we bought plenty more along the way.
We loved lots of artists’ styles, especially rustic planks painted with wildflowers, but the sizes weren’t right for the space we were thinking about.
And then we came across the perfect item hanging in a home interiors store. A flock of dark blue birds, their wings tipped with lilac, in an elongated frame. We paid and left it there ready to collect later, as we were going to Tate St Ives.
I’ve always admired the stylish white circular structure housing contemporary art by Cornish artists alongside international associates, but hadn’t realised it was inspired by the gasworks originally standing on the site. The inside is just as stunning. The work of creatives within its walls is varied and absorbing. I was intrigued by Surrealism, an art form I hadn’t taken notice of previously. Now I have decided I quite like it.
The Barbara Hepworth Museum and Sculpture Garden had also been on our day’s itinerary, but we had left it too late and it was closed. It couldn’t be missed, so I’ll let you know all about that outing in another blog post.
Until then, best wishes,
Sue. X