For the past couple days we have had wi-fi in our hostels, but in Bath it literally was slower than dial-up. I tried so many times to write more and add pictures but it took so long to load I gave up each time. Tonight, in Brighton, the wi-fi seems to be of decent quality so I thought I'd take this opportunity. In Bath we walked around the city, and had a 2 hour walking tour of the city by a nice lady. We saw places where Jane Austen stayed and lived, and where Nicholas Cage once owned an apartment. We got a tour of The Roman Baths. That was incredibly neat to see that. There is so much history there and it was weird just thinking that so much history took place there. After that, we just walked around more on our free time. A group of us went to the Jane Austen Center and I didn't care for it. It wasn't what I was expecting. Then later on we looked inside the Bath Abbey. That was pretty. After dinner some of us went on a Ghost Tour, where a great storyteller took us to places around town where there are ghosts and told us the stories behind them. Unfortunately, none of the ghosts made their presence for us.
Friday morning we left Bath and headed to Salisbury where we got a walking tour from a lady around parts of the city. We went into two different churches. The cooler one was the Salisbury Cathedral. I even got to see one of the four Magna Carta documents. After that, we left for Brighton. Friday night we all went to eat dinner at some place where I had grilled chicken and fries. After that some of us walked along the beach and just looked around the city. Today, we woke up and had a disgusting breakfast here at the hostel. So far I do not like English breakfasts. All they have is warm watered down milk, bland cereals, and toast with butter or jam, at least at the hostels. We had a walking tour in Brighton today and it was really neat. At the end of it, we got to tour The Royal Pavillion. That was amazing and so beautiful. That is where the Regent for King George lived..or something like that. It was so awesome to be able to see a home where royal once lived. There was so much history in there, and it even had some original furniture and paintings and wallpaper. We weren't allowed to take pictures inside of it, which is disappointing because I'd love to share the views that I was able to see. After that we had free time so we just roamed around the city and looked in the shops, and went onto the Brighton Pier. That was really neat. Then a group of us ate dinner at an Italian restaurant. Then, five of us went to a bar/pub afterwards, and we got really good cider. I had a mango-raspberry cider. It was delicious.
I wish I were able to watch the Packer game tonight. I hope they can beat the Vikings. Tomorrow morning we leave for London!
Hi Claire,
ReplyDeletePackers Won! Looked good too!
So are you touring parts of England right now? Once you get to London will the touring be over? There is so much to take in! We had driven through Salisbury but I don't remember stopping. We had to go to Southhamton so I could see Harlan and Wolff ship yards...that is where the Titanic was built and sailed from. And west of Bournemouth, there is a tiny town called Wool. Just north of Wool is Bovington Camp. I had to see the Royal Armoured Corps museum there. It is the best collection of armoured vechicles in the world. General George Patton trained there late in World War I. He later became famous for his military tactics in World War II. I know what your thinking..."Boring"...it is more of a guy thing. I guess one of my points is that when we planned that trip, those were things I wanted to see and thought about as far as historcal places. And yet once you get to the United Kingdom, you realize that it has been in existance so much longer than the United States. Like Stonehenge...a Pagan ritual site originally. There are Roman ruins from the 2nd and 3rd Century! 1600 years older than the birth of our country!
We visited Brighton as well. I think just because Elton John sang about it in his song "The Pinball Wizard" "From So-Ho down to Brighton...I must have played them all!" Sorry for the flash back...but it is one of the only places they really have a beach. Otherwise the coast has cliffs or is very rocky.
Claire, if you get the chance...you must go to Hertford. It's about an hour north of London off of the A10. There you can visit McMullen and Sons Brewery!! I'll let them know you are coming! LOL
You have to find time to visit Scotland too! The people are really friendly and interested in all of us from the colonies. You can visit Hadrians Wall...a massive stone wall built across the land to keep the Barbarians from Scotland out of England. It was started in the second or third century. Edinburgh is very nice too. So many places...so little time!
I'm glad you appreciate the history and the Monarchy. London is full of sights and wonders. You really are in for a treat. Just don't forget that at some point you will have to focus on school too!
How is the power thing working out? Do they warn you about that at the places you stay?
We stayed at mostly Guest Houses. If I remember they all seem to serve the same thing...the tradional English Breakfast. It varied some but I want to say it was sausage or ham, poached egg, ripe tomato, maybe some kind of pudding...and yeah...after a few days...your looking for Frosted Flakes!
We envy you Claire! We just loved touring England, Scotland and Wales. I would love to go back some day.
Keep us posted and keep taking pictures. These memories will last a life time!
Pat