Bay View Plaza provides a stark contrast to the City Pier and most of the other housing along the shores of the island. In place of the clapboard and faded wooden structures we have a pale peach ranch-style mall. It is not offensive as some new constructions can be . . . but it didn't fit with my view of town!

There are a mere halfdozen shops in the arcade and the masterful ice cream emporium Mama Lo. The shops are of the craftsy, boutique style souvenir ilk with 'The Museum Shoppe' selling marine based antiques with a strongly American flavour. There is some nice stuff in here and if I had a mantlepiece big enough -- and the Blonde would've let me -- I might have been tempted.

And that's kind of the story for the whole mall -- there's a French-themed gift shop which was quite unexpected and quirky. Nantucket Bay revisits the high-end souvenir market and there's a funky clothes shop too with a range for all ages.

Now, the blonde likes shops more than me . . . but I quite enjoyed a browse round these. I think it is related to the number of shops -- knowing it can't go on all day . . . and that there's ice cream close at hand.