I spent a happy hour walking under the ribbon of Christmas lights that canopied Fore Street in St Ives and made a lasting memory of Christmas magic
We parked above the town and took one of those mammoth runs of granite steps that snake down to the sea. We emerged seamlessly quite near to the town centre and followed a single line of lights towards the harbour.
The Christmas Lights of Fore Street in St Ives
The piece de resistance for the Christmas lights of St Ives, has to be spectacular curtain of lights above Fore Street. The mellow glow is so atmosheric and redolent of another era in the narrow granite clad streets.
We were so sheltered amongst the closely packed cottages. Later when a light drizzle fell it only added a romantic gleam to the well worn granite sets.
How we lingered to window shop as each enviable, niche brand name competed for our window gazing attention! As we unapologetically joined the evening sightseers to bask in aura of Christmas, before finally emerging beside the harbour.
A stroll along the harbour in St Ives
We were already delightfully satiated with the sheer nostalgia of Fore street as we strolled back along the harbour. We had arrived early to avoid the evening crush, yet a throng of evening revellers were already sitting outside the Famous Sloop Inn.
The tide was out, as we reached the harbour, just as it had been for our autumn visit to St Ives . This time it was the bright light of Christmas that danced across the sand to us.
As we walked, we glanced up sometimes at the bursting restaurants, enveloped in a wonderful garlicky Mediterranean aroma. Happy laughter filled the air and we glimpsed early diners seated at tables – unknown strangers who had become part of the atmosphere of Christmas in St Ives just for one night.
Finally replete, we made our way back up the flights of step to the waiting car. Time to leave the all absorbing town of St Ives. A town that has reinvented itself so frequently over the centuries. Changing from a fishing village to artist colony. It has laterly become a major tourist destination, a surfers dream, a food lover and artists paradise – yet it has never lost it authentic heart.
For sheer atmosphere the narrow streets of St Ives, the tumble of cottages punctuated by the occasional, almost Dickensian ally way, mysteriously enshrouded in velvety darkness, is a wonderful spot to just absorb the Christmas spirit.
Happy New Year!
Tonight St Ives will celebrate New Years Eve and tonight I’d like to wish you a very Happy New Year and thank you for joining me throughout the year.
