Plymouth Rocks! (get it?)

Rain.

The next day brought us the only rain on our holiday, but it was a day of driving over to Plymouth, so we weren't too disappointed, as it allowed us to just plow ahead and make good time.  Fortunately, the sun did indeed shine on Plymouth, so we had a wonderful afternoon exploring the city.

Rick had an epiphany - Devon cider!  We stopped at a place near our hotel, and right on the harbour, for an afternoon tipple, where we discovered over 40 ciders on tap (or in boxes), which turned out to be nirvana.  During our entire time using Plymouth as our base, we ate as often as we could there, not only because of their lavish assortment of ciders, but also a very intriguing selection of pizzas, their other specialty (I remember Rick having the Lamb Roast pizza while I had the Plympton Pecker).  I don't remember my favourite cider, but Rick's two faves were Black Rat Vintage and Westons Old Rosie, as I recall. 

On our route, we stopped at this hotel/pub for lunch.  The food was passable, but when Bob was paying, it turns out that they don't take Scottish pounds as payment.  Now, this is a big issue with the Scots, as their pounds are actually no different from English pounds, but there are places in England, like this one, that refuse to take them.  We could have had a nice big argument with the landlord, but we just headed off with a bad attitude instead.  If you find yourself in this area of the country, give this place a miss.

Our first view of Plymouth Harbour, or at least a section of it.  What a tranquil setting, and the perfect time to find our afternoon refreshment.

Which we did, here, which is a small chain in the English southwest.  We can't recommend this place more highly.

Three thirsty travellers and two pints of cider.  The bloody battle that ensued disturbed the tranquility and left us embarassed.  Honestly, travelling with these 3 really takes it out of you!

An example of the old buildings lining our part of the harbour.

It was down these very steps that the pilgrims left Plymouth for North America.  They did use a ship, they didn't just walk into the water.  That would have been silly.

Just in case you thought we were imagining things.

Boom!  We really wish we had ignored the little sign next to the fuse that said "light me." 

Plymouth is an interesting place.  While we found Brighton to be neglected and tatty, Plymouth has a waterfront that is run down, but in a rather fascinating way.  It is almost as if you are visiting some old ruins as opposed to simply neglect.  Hard to explain, really.

More of the waterfront.

While this may look like the remains of a once glorious swimming pool, we were assured that it is spruced up and used in the summer months.  It would be fun to visit it when it is full of happy splashers.

Beyond the lido pool, on the other side.

A lovely old hotel.

Part of the harbour in the twilight.  As was said before, very peaceful indeed.

Outside our hotel, in the middle of a roundabout, sit the ruins of this church.  The more modern looking building behind it is a shopping mall.  Once again, the old and the new.

On our evening wander window shopping down the old streets and alleyways, we came across Plymouth Gin, which we had forgotten should have been distilled here (the clue is in the name).  Sorry gin, but the cider won the day!