Shannon Harbour is a delight, where the river and canal meet. A haven for fisherfolk but just a joy. It is being 'improved' (hopefully not too much) but the old bonded warehouses still stand in grand dilapidation.
The Harbour Master's House is now a B&B of top quality and Grainne serves up the best (and biggest) Irish breakfast.
Great place, great people .

The Harbour Masters House,
Shannon Harbour,
Birr,
Co. Offaly.

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This is a delightful town - one of the original Cinque Ports - which claims to have 'the most timbered framed buildings in one street in England'. Full of charms and interest; take the 'town trail' audio walk.
But be sure to stop at the Fisherman's Wharf pub next to the bridge as you enter Sandwich. Not only is the food and outlook great but you might just get to see the best sight Sandwich has to offer: a bartender/waitress of translucent Pre-Raphaelite beauty who would have had Rosseti et al reaching for their brushes and canvasses

On the river side - just a few minutes from the car park and next to the arched entrance to Sandwich's old town.

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The Mint was one of the places where Australia’s coinage was produced but now it mints mainly commemorative medals and the like – the 2000 Olympics medals for instance – but it stages a ‘Gold Pour’ half a dozen times a day. This is industry as theatre, as a bloke melts down gold (and they do use real gold, unlike other mints that have a similar attraction) and pours into a mould, plunges that into a bucket of cold water and then presents the finished article for the audience to admire – all of this done with an informative and witty patter. It was fascinating and the Mint also has a very upmarket gift shop and tea gardens.

This was, I reckon, the best cuppa I had for the entire nine weeks I was away from home – a fresh pot of Orange Pekoe made with leaf tea not bags, slices of lemon instead of milk, piping hot water for top-up and a plate of excellent scones with raspberry jam and cream - terrific.

On the excellent free tram circuit.
www.perthmint.com.au

Google map: tinyurl.com/m8rk28

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