Holiday Day 13: A new view of Plymouth

OK, this is an account of a day spent walking Plymouth.  No idea how many miles but it must have been several.
We started at the railway station and walked along to Mutley Plain.  I haven't been there for years but the charity shops were still in place and so was the Swarthmore Centre where I used to go circle dancing.  The new additons were not one but two Polish shops, must be a demand.  Having done both sides of the Plain we walked down the hill to the museum and took in the exhibition about Scott of the Antarctic and the other excellent exhibits before skirting Drake Circus and heading for the Barbican.
We strolled along to the Mayflower Steps and the other memorials there.  Must have been a sad place of departure in the old days, but today with a bright blue sky (and a piercing wind) it did look magnificent.  We stopped for lunch and to observe a little urban drama unfold on the pavement in front of the cafe.  Had the lady dropped her keys down the drain?  If not, then why did she ask a nearby workman to lift the cover and look for something?  Who was the man in the red scarf who drove up soon after her phone call, examined the car and made another call?  What happened to the younger woman and the toddler in a pushchair who were there at the beginning of it all and then walked off?  Finally they all drove off and left us with questions only.
We continued up along the side of the Citadel towards the Hoe and then noticed paths leading down towards the shore.  Uncharted territory to us, so off we went on an enchanting voyage of discovery.  Down to the waters edge (much warmer here out of the wind).  We even noticed a mad fool or two swimming in the sea!  There are brightly coloured beach huts here, a cafe, plenty of places to put up a deck chair, sit down and admire the glorious view over the Sound.  We walked on and came to the (fairly) newly restored Tinside Pool.  I'd never been down there before and even drained of water the place has a certain art deco feel, and photos on display boards show just how popular it was in the 1950s.  What a refreshing walk this was - sea and sun and general loveliness all within striking distance of Marks and Spencers!
We headed up to the Hoe, and thence the market and shops, back to the station and home.