Babbacombe

We were very lucky to stumble across Babbacombe Cliffs while in Torquay. We had planned on going to the Model Village in Babbacombe but by the time we got there we thought it was a bit late - just over an hour before closing time, and it was a bit more expensive than we had thought - so we decided we didn't want to rush it and headed for a drive somewhere else. Just around the corner though we found the most picture perfect place yet! It really was such a gorgeous day.... and it just felt so good to have the sun shinning and be looking out into that wide open space. So glad we saved our money and skipped the model village!

The view must have been good cause Emily wanted to take some pictures too... so she got out her princess camera! It was so cute to watch!

And this is Emily looking through the Eye Spy they gave us at The London Eye... came in very handy!

Leilani having a go with the real binoculars...

Hiding from Daddy...

Balancing...

And blowing of dandelions....

(Emily choking on a dandelion in the background!)

Lani and Emily are obsessed with winning at the moment - it started with racing up the stairs I think... they used to sing out at the top 'I'm the winner' but we have dulled that down now - and trying to teach them to win gracefully!! 

They both love running... and we are always playing running races - Leilani is very good and gives Emily a head start... most of the time... look at them go!

While here, we also found out why they call it soccer..... because they play in their Socks!

For tea we had Fish & Chips from the best Fish & Chip place in the South West... so we are told - they were pretty good, especially the fish! What a perfect place to end our day... the views really were quite breathtaking.

Don't mention the war... I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it alright!

The weather really is warming up, we still get a few odd cold days here and there but other than that it's near perfect weather for sight seeing. We were very lucky on the day we headed down to 'The English Riviera', which is situated on the South Devon coastline, as it was just a gorgeous day and the girls desperately wanted to go to the beach - so that's what we did. Our plans were to try and see all of the English Riviera, which consists of 3 main towns all in Torbay - Torquay, Paignton and Brixham. But because it was such a beautiful day we spent most of our time at Torquay and just drove though the others. 

As you will see, Torquay is a bit of a holiday town and is one of the UK's top holiday destinations. Torquay is a place to relax, to soak up the atmosphere and to take in the scenery. 

The town is built up on a bit of a cliff - this was the first thing I noticed here. The different heights and levels and views make it so much more wonderful, and the apartments built into the sides of the hill really give it that holiday home feeling.

There are lots of things to do here and heaps of attractions. We tried to keep it as much of a relaxing day as possible so we didn't really partake in any of these activities - but it was great to see so much going on. This is the HiFlyer Balloon which ascends to approximately 400ft allowing a 360 degree birds eye view across the whole of Torbay. The balloon is attached to the ground by a big rope of some sort, which makes it environmentally friendly, non polluting, and silent in operation.

We sat on Torre Abbey Sands beach for a while and enjoyed the sun. The sand was very different to our beautiful, soft white sand in Australia but it didn't seem to bother the kids. It's only after seeing this red, wet, heavy sand type stuff that you truly appreciate Australia's coastlines. 

It was a lovely place to be and we felt very lucky to be enjoying it on such a perfect day - could have spent all day there really, but had to get moving after a while!

Most of the beaches I have seen have these concrete steps built onto them - probably because the sand doesn't look all that 'sit-able' and sometimes it's not even sand but pebble, rock or shingle (what ever that is)!!! But along the 22 miles of English Riviera coastline there are 20 beaches and coves, some are wide, sandy beaches, others smaller and secluded.  

The HiFlyer taking off!

Leilani and Emily found a secret garden - this is Emily saying 'come on' which we hear oh so often!

And right next to the secret garden and just inward from the beach are these beautiful tulips under the palm trees. Seems quite a strange mix in some ways - but we have seen it quite a few times. As I have said before I'm sure, I am just amazed at how well they they look after their town gardens and floral displays - it makes such a difference. 

I didn't come with a very big list of things I wanted to see whilst here in England - the list has really only evolved since getting here. But one thing I said I did want to see was the Fawlty Towers Hotel at Torquay!! (Which wasn't actually at Torquay, but rather filmed in Buckinghamshire). Yes, very strange thing for me to want to see I know... but I thought it would just be so so so cool to have my photo taken outside the FARTY TOWELS sign!? It would be great. We love Fawlty Towers and it cracks me up just thinking about some of the episodes. 

Well... imagine my disappointment when I got here and googled 'Fawlty Towers' only to be told the building actually burnt down in 1991! (Major sob) 

I was glad that although I didn't get to see my Fawlty Towers film location, Torquay, which is where the show is set, and where the hotel that inspired John Cleese to write the story is found, was a great place to visit! 

Basil on the phone to Sybil, his wife - "Yes, yes, I picked it up... Yes... No, no, I haven't had a chance yet... Yes I will... Yes... No, I haven't yet, but I will... Yes, yes, yes, I know it is... Yes. I'll try and get it cleared up... Anything else? I mean would you like the hotel moved a bit to the left?"

Mr H: "Could you make me a Waldorf Salad?"

Basil: "Oh... a... Wa...?"

Mr H: "Waldorf Salad."

Basil: "I think we're just out of Waldorfs."

And lastly - an all time classic!

Basil to Manuel (after mentioning 'the war' several times in front of some German guests and upsetting them): - "Don't mention the war. I mentioned it once, but I think I got away with it alright."