Monday was a Bank Holiday here (the first of two this month). I went down, up, or across (I still have no idea - I had faith in the bus driver... I almost started singing "the wheels on the bus...", but managed to stop myself in time) to Brighton (I think it's down...). The weather was poxy. Well, it wasn't that bad. There was no sun, but there was a bitterly cold and strong wind (think: Wellington strong; or even after 10 cans of beans (but without the smell) strong). Kind of made it annoying to do anything, but I can say I've been and wandered around for the day (any longer and I'd consider suicide. Don't get me wrong, it's an OK place...just not really my cup of tea. I think 'cos the buildings are quite drab). Actually, just as Cambridge was "quaint", I think "drab" is the best word for Brighton. I don't have anything against the place, but it wasn't really that exciting. There's not that much to do - or it could be just 'cos I went on my own; but I was in Cambridge on my own. Maybe it was the weather then?
^ Brighton, from the pier. Getting a feel for the weather then?
^ Brighton beach...well, I guess a beach doesn't *have* to have sand...
I went and had a look around the art gallery/museum they have there. Nothing spectacular, though I was very interested in footage they had from WWII, and people recalling their experiences as kids during the blitz - that was well worth going in for alone. Art wasn't really that appealing. The museum part was of more interest to me.
After that I went into the Royal Pavilion. This was the home of George IV. It's kind of Indian/Asian style. Very...erm, disgusting. Like, it was just too overdone for me. Bits and pieces impressed me, but generally speaking, it was just tacky. I guess in it's day it would've been luxurious. Some of the rooms were amazing (even if I did think tacky). There was quite a lot of illusion in the place. For example, when you walked into the 'long room' (a hallway with two fireplaces!), it looked like there was a lot of bamboo used...but it wasn't really bamboo. It was just the way the wood was coloured/painted. Very effective. The kitchen, too, was quite amazing. Granted, it's a wee bit dated now, but for the times... I never realised that the building actually belongs to the Brighton & Hove Council - not to Lizzie. Queen Vic sold it off in 1850 or so (after taking something like 150 carts of furniture etc). Much of the furnishings in the place are on loan from Lizzie. She's a good sport is our Lizzie.
^ Royal Pavilion - you can see the Indian/Asian influence already!
The Brighton Pier was rather OTT in terms of the arcades...and the number of food stalls. But all were very busy! I bought some chips from one place and they were disgusting! Okay, could be because my body's not used to such food these days, but they just tasted yuk! Could also be because they were more like wedges than chips. Dunno. But you could get all sorts of junk food there - chips, donuts, candy, ice cream (and the number of people eating ice cream on a cold day!!!).
^ Brighton Pier - the flags were really cracking in the wind
^ Kids avoiding the waves (not always successfully)
Then another wave came - bigger than that the previous one and from a different angle. Mother-f**king thing went up through the boards on the pier right by where I was. Needles to say, there were (including me!) a lot of soaked bodies on the pier.
Not. Impressed. At. All.
Maybe this was Karma's way of letting me know that I got let off lightly in Cambridge! Haha
All I can say is how much I love Kathmandu clothes! My jacket kept my top fairly dry; and the quick-dry material of my pan...erm, trousers (pants over here refer to undies - or something being bad/crap), coupled with the wind (no, not from me!) meant I was dry in about 10-15 minutes.
It was all good though - I say this because at the time I was not holding my camera! ;-)
While I was walking around, drying off, I wandered along the beach and nosed into a lot of little shops that line the beach front - quite well done, actually. There were some good wee art galleries. I was tempted to buy a couple of pieces - but quickly realised that I had to pay on my NZ Amex, therefore they would be too pricey at this point in time! No there was some will power!
Also went and had a nose in their Aquarium. Even though it's really old, it was quite good. The last Aquarium I went to was in Sydney, so making comparisons to the old and the new was interesting. Brighton's one had lots of little tanks, including ones in the middle of the room (rather than just along the walls). They also had lots of steps in front of them so that wee kids could get up close & personal too. I think, for wee kids, anyway, the setup here was much better than Sydney. But Sydney's main attractions were better. But that's just my opinion. The entrance fee I thought was a bit steep - 12.50 for an adult! Mind you, I paid it as I figured it was a once-r going to it...and it was warmer in there than in the wind - lol
That was Brighton. Definitely a tourist town - but I doubt it would survive in NZ. Seemed to be a place for old people and young families. I can say I have been. I am contented (now I am home and have the salt water washed off my face).
At work, I was told that apparently Brighton's quite popular with young people, and is the poof capital of Britain. Maybe it was too cold for both groups yesterday? Who knows?
Overall, another 8 quid well spent (oops - my bad - 9 quid) on a return ticket. May never return there, but at least I've been to be able to say I don't fancy the odds of returning :)
Seeyabye
^ Brighton, from the pier. Getting a feel for the weather then?
^ Brighton beach...well, I guess a beach doesn't *have* to have sand...I went and had a look around the art gallery/museum they have there. Nothing spectacular, though I was very interested in footage they had from WWII, and people recalling their experiences as kids during the blitz - that was well worth going in for alone. Art wasn't really that appealing. The museum part was of more interest to me.
After that I went into the Royal Pavilion. This was the home of George IV. It's kind of Indian/Asian style. Very...erm, disgusting. Like, it was just too overdone for me. Bits and pieces impressed me, but generally speaking, it was just tacky. I guess in it's day it would've been luxurious. Some of the rooms were amazing (even if I did think tacky). There was quite a lot of illusion in the place. For example, when you walked into the 'long room' (a hallway with two fireplaces!), it looked like there was a lot of bamboo used...but it wasn't really bamboo. It was just the way the wood was coloured/painted. Very effective. The kitchen, too, was quite amazing. Granted, it's a wee bit dated now, but for the times... I never realised that the building actually belongs to the Brighton & Hove Council - not to Lizzie. Queen Vic sold it off in 1850 or so (after taking something like 150 carts of furniture etc). Much of the furnishings in the place are on loan from Lizzie. She's a good sport is our Lizzie.
^ Royal Pavilion - you can see the Indian/Asian influence already!The Brighton Pier was rather OTT in terms of the arcades...and the number of food stalls. But all were very busy! I bought some chips from one place and they were disgusting! Okay, could be because my body's not used to such food these days, but they just tasted yuk! Could also be because they were more like wedges than chips. Dunno. But you could get all sorts of junk food there - chips, donuts, candy, ice cream (and the number of people eating ice cream on a cold day!!!).
^ Brighton Pier - the flags were really cracking in the windI was leaning over the pier watching the waves crash up against this other pier-type thing. Was quite fun. Enjoyed being out in the sea-air again :-) There were these kids (teens, actually) at the far end running to avoid the spray from the crashing waves. It was fun; they were having fun. Then attention wandered, as it always does, to some chicks that were on the beach (if you can call stones - not pebbles; stones - a beach). They too were avoiding the water, but as it came up the beach. I play this game sometimes - y'know, just avoiding getting your feet wet by running back as the water approaches (please don't look at me in that tone of voice...you used to/still do it, too!). Now, these chicks would've been about 15-16, in stylish clothes and carrying their silly little handbag things that no doubt had money, make-up, mobile etc in them. All of a sudden, this wave came up from out of nowhere (okay, I admit, I know where it came from, and yes, like many others on the pier and the boys on the other pier, saw it coming). The girls were too dumb to realise until it hit them. And it hit hard; knocked two of them down. You should've heard the laughter around (and the shrieking from the girls)!
^ Kids avoiding the waves (not always successfully)Then another wave came - bigger than that the previous one and from a different angle. Mother-f**king thing went up through the boards on the pier right by where I was. Needles to say, there were (including me!) a lot of soaked bodies on the pier.
Not. Impressed. At. All.
Maybe this was Karma's way of letting me know that I got let off lightly in Cambridge! Haha
All I can say is how much I love Kathmandu clothes! My jacket kept my top fairly dry; and the quick-dry material of my pan...erm, trousers (pants over here refer to undies - or something being bad/crap), coupled with the wind (no, not from me!) meant I was dry in about 10-15 minutes.
It was all good though - I say this because at the time I was not holding my camera! ;-)
While I was walking around, drying off, I wandered along the beach and nosed into a lot of little shops that line the beach front - quite well done, actually. There were some good wee art galleries. I was tempted to buy a couple of pieces - but quickly realised that I had to pay on my NZ Amex, therefore they would be too pricey at this point in time! No there was some will power!
Also went and had a nose in their Aquarium. Even though it's really old, it was quite good. The last Aquarium I went to was in Sydney, so making comparisons to the old and the new was interesting. Brighton's one had lots of little tanks, including ones in the middle of the room (rather than just along the walls). They also had lots of steps in front of them so that wee kids could get up close & personal too. I think, for wee kids, anyway, the setup here was much better than Sydney. But Sydney's main attractions were better. But that's just my opinion. The entrance fee I thought was a bit steep - 12.50 for an adult! Mind you, I paid it as I figured it was a once-r going to it...and it was warmer in there than in the wind - lol
That was Brighton. Definitely a tourist town - but I doubt it would survive in NZ. Seemed to be a place for old people and young families. I can say I have been. I am contented (now I am home and have the salt water washed off my face).
At work, I was told that apparently Brighton's quite popular with young people, and is the poof capital of Britain. Maybe it was too cold for both groups yesterday? Who knows?
Overall, another 8 quid well spent (oops - my bad - 9 quid) on a return ticket. May never return there, but at least I've been to be able to say I don't fancy the odds of returning :)
Seeyabye
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