The English Riviera

Breakfast at Rokeby Guest House was excellent if not memorable.  We ate at 8:00 and got an early start in the car for our next destination, Torquay (pronounced tor-key) in Devon, home of the Devon Cream Tea.  The Devon coast is known as the English Riviera.  It was about a two hour ride and our first stop was in Babbacombe to visit the Babbacombe Model Village, an English institution.  It’s four acres of miniature landscapes — sounds corny but it is oddly fascinating.  Very well done.  Here is a slide show of some scenes from the village

 Click on the Slide Show for an Enlarged Version

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Babbacombe is a village that is just a short distance from Torquay.  We bought some cheese, bread, and apples in a shop for a picnic lunch.  Then we headed for the Babbacombe Downs (no, not a race track) for a nice scenic spot to enjoy the food along the cliffs.

Then it was on to Torquay for a walkabout around the harbor before heading for our next B&B.  It’s a busy place, the waterfront, and the highlight is a large ferris wheel right at the harbor.  Naturally we had to take a ride for some great views.  We walked then to the Torquay Living Coasts but decided against going in and seeing the animals and exhibits.  Time for a pint!  We picked Seamus O’Donnell’s, an Irish pub right on the waterfront.  Good beer which we enjoyed sitting outside.

As always, Click on the Photos for Larger Images

Then it was on to the Charterhouse, our home for the next two nights.  It’s a very nice establishment (with a pool) in a quiet neighborhood.  We unloaded the luggage and rested up in our very nice room.  At about 7:00 we headed out for the 20 minute walk back to the harbor for dinner.  Our first choice was full up, but we had a very nice meal at the Marina Restaurant.  The owner was very engaging, and it was a good meal (pictures below).

After the return twenty minute walk to the Charterhouse, it was time for bed.  Tune in tomorrow.