First stop was to the Exchange Art Gallery in Penzance. We actually stumbled across another one of Imran Qureshi's exhibitions, this one called "See How the Dark of Night is Red". You may recall we saw two other exhibitions of his, one in Tryro Cathedral and another in the Newlyn Art Gallery. While this was an interesting exhibition it was unfortunately just about the only thing on display at the gallery.

From there we walked a few streets to the Penlee House Gallery and Museum. Unfortunately photography was not allowed so can't show you how interesting the exhibitions were. The main exhibition contained paintings and etchings of the Cornwall coast and had some paintings by Turner. Another exhibition was artwork done by artists of the Newlyn School.

Then into the car and off to Marazion and St. Michaels Mount, a town of very few permanent residents and a castle on an island which has been owned by the St Aubyn family since the mid 1600s with some of the buildings dating back to the 12th century. Although still owned by the family it is managed by the National Trust.

You can walk to the island on a causeway at low tide which we did. If we are unable to walk back then there are many little boats operated by the locals on the island to bring us back.

We started looking around the village and took in a short film before going to a short talk about some of the history and present activities of the island. We then headed up (and up and up) a cobblestone path to the castle. The castle obviously has some history to it which you will be pleased I am NOT going to go into. We wandered through the parts of the castle where the family do not live. It has a very interesting little church which took up quite a bit of our time.

Once back outside we headed down and around to the gardens on two sides of the island. Very nice well groomed gardens with some remnants of the second world war (3 pillboxes). Apparently the Germans had already identified someone to live at St. Michaels after they conquered England.

We left just as the island was closing for tourists. Had to go back by boat for a nominal fee.