Summary

Lisa Bolin recounts her visits to Cornwall, UK, where she experienced the natural beauty and historical significance of the region, particularly the St Nectan's Glen waterfall, while celebrating her friends' handfasting and their commitment ceremony.

Abstract

Lisa Bolin shares her experiences from two trips to Cornwall, a region in the southern UK, within a year. The first visit was to attend a handfasting ceremony at St Nectan's Glen waterfall, a site of historical and mythical importance. The second visit, a year later, was to celebrate the couple's first year of commitment. Bolin describes the enchanting atmosphere of the location, emphasizing the palpable magic and the sense of continuity as visitors walk in the footsteps of countless others. She highlights the beauty of the blue skies, the old trees, and the stones that have been touched by many over the centuries. The ceremonies were made even more memorable by the necessity of borrowing Wellington boots to navigate the stream, a detail that added to the charm of the experience. Bolin also mentions other picturesque locations in the area, such as Charlestown with its tall ships and the coastal views near Tintagel, all under the vibrant blue skies that defy the stereotype of constant rain in the UK.

Opinions

The author expresses a profound appreciation for the natural beauty and historical significance of Cornwall, particularly St Nectan's Glen.
She finds the act of borrowing Wellington boots from a shed to be an endearing aspect of the visit, indicating a sense of community and shared experience.
The repeated visits to the waterfall for the ceremonies have left her with a lasting impression of the location's magic and serenity.
Bolin is captivated by the blue skies of the region, which contrast with the common belief that it always rains in the UK.
She views the coastal drive with its expansive blue views as a testament to the region's ability to surprise and enchant visitors.
The author's reference to the "Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue" challenge suggests she sees her experiences as a fulfillment of a traditional wedding adage in a unique and personal way.

Glorious blue sky and pebble beach at Porlock in the UK (photo: Lisa Bolin)

Walking In The Footsteps Of Others

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

I have had the incredible fortune to travel to Cornwall, situated on the southern tip of the UK, not once, but twice in the past year.

The first time it was to celebrate something new. The handfasting of friends in a waterfall in Tintagel. Talk about amazing! The second time I visited, in September of this year, one year and one day after the initial ceremony, we were there to celebrate the first year of their commitment to each other — another new thing!

This newly minted commitment was performed, both times, at the foot of St Nectan’s Glen, a waterfall just outside of Tintagel, a tiny (yet historically and mythically significant) town. As old as time, this waterfall has seen thousands of pagan pilgrims and nature lovers over the past thousand years.

Photo: St Nectan’s Glen waterfall, complete with borrowed Wellington boots (photo: Lisa Bolin)

Walking into this special place, you can feel the magic. Every old tree root and large stone has had a thousand hands brush past it, a thousand feet stepping over it, over hundreds of years. The sound of the waterfall is always there, a sweet watery soundtrack to the wonderful walk into this paradise.

People leave piles of stones, an offering to the spirits (photo: Lisa Bolin)

Flying in from northern Europe meant we had to borrow Wellington Boots (aka gumboots) to walk into the stream and participate in the ceremony. A little shed at the top of the waterfall houses a collection of boots for visitors. I was grateful for that!

The blue skies of the south of the UK (photos: Lisa Bolin)

The magic of this place was enhanced by the beautiful blue of the sky! Charlestown was a little gem of a place, complete with (old) tall ships. But the small sand beach and beautiful blue sky were what caught my attention.

The view from a pub in Tintagel, more blue skies, this time without a cloud.

And did you know there is a place called Westward Ho! Complete with exclamation mark?! What an amazing stretch of coast in North Devon. Blue skies, big tides, and rock pools.

The drive along the coast, near Tintagel, with blue as far as the eye could see. Who says it rains all the time in the UK?

A magical place.

A place of old, celebrating something new, with borrowed Wellies, and skies of blue.

Thanks to this challenge:

SNAPSHOTS Mini Challenge

Something Old, Something New, Something Borrowed, Something Blue

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Lisa is an avid traveler, poet, and writer. She lives in the Åland Archipelago between Finland and Sweden. Lisa enjoys being surrounded by this beautiful natural environment. ~stay in touch~

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