We started the morning with a second attempt at the Brighton pier. It was still windy and cold but we were going to be brave. Especially since brekkie wasn’t on for another hour! We wandered down and looked at the beach which was pretty amazing – it was all stones—pebbles and stones, all about 2-3 inches long. We got to the pier, but it was closed! So, we didn’t get to wander onto the Brighton Pier after all.
THE ROYAL PAVILION, BRIGHTON:
After brekkie, we walked around to the ‘Royal Pavilion’. King George IV built the palace and filled it with amazingly ornate sumptuousness. We took the audio tour, and we would recommend a visit to this place if you are ever in Brighton. It was all really well set up, very informative, and never boring. The Banqueting Hall left us all breathless. An enormous chandelier hung from an elaborate dragon in the ceiling. Every wall had huge painted scenes of Chinese characters and there were gold urns, plates, platters and dishes everywhere. A huge rectangular table was set for thirty guests in the middle of the room, directly under the chandelier. The ceilings were about 20 feet up – it was all tremendously impressive, which I guess was the idea. We walked through the kitchen, which was filled with brightly polished copper pots and pans, with big wooden tables in the centre displaying all manner of pheasant and wild animals. A ‘typical’ menu was set up on an easel, and it contained over 100 courses. I counted 11 soups alone. They said that the King and his guests would dine over a period of four to five hours, and then retire through a series of other rooms to sit and talk, take tea, or have a dance. There were concealed doors everywhere, which lead into large corridors that the staff would use, set up this way so they were seen as little as possible by the guests.
We then walked into a music room – there was a huge pipe organ at one end, and ceilng to floor drapes that were held back by a big green snake figurine, which wound its way around the curtain. More dragons adorned the cornices. It doesn’t really matter what I write here, I won’t be able to describe the total decadence and opulence on display. It was just mind blowing.
The tour took us on upstairs into the bedrooms, which were just as interesting. All beautifully hand painted wall papers and huge four poster beds which had their bed heads pointed into the room rather than up against a wall the way we have them today. One room was Queen Victoria’s bedroom, and the bed was stacked with seven mattresses, a real ‘Princess and the Pea’ set up. The Kings’ bedroom had concealed doors that lead to his bathroom where a bath could be drawn with hot water, or sea water (to save him from having to go to the beach).
Google ‘Royal Pavillion, Brighton, UK’ and take a look for yourself as we were not able to take any photos and it really is something that needs to be seen to be believed.
STONEHENGE:
We said goodbye to Brighton (after a good coffee in a nice little Italian café) and headed west towards Southampton, on our way to Salisbury and Stonehenge. We drove past all the fabulous little change-sheds on Brighton beach, and then an enormous port area. It seemed like forever before we hit a motorway. We’re still kind of trying to work out speed limits and stuff, signs are few and far between and everyone drives at completely different speeds in different lanes. The satnav talks to us in Imperial measurements, so we are slowly learning how far 200 yards is (generally by missing a turn off).
After about two hours on the road, we found Stonehenge. We saw all the people, before we saw the stones themselves – and because it was still rainy and pretty grey, they didn’t quite stand out against the skyline. We grabbed an audio tour, but I gave up on that as it was slow and boring, particularly compared to the informative Royal Pavillion in the morning. So, Stonehenge – what to say? It was fabulous being there, it’s amazing that we’ve seen it. I don’t think I expected any hugely mystical feeling or anything, but it didn’t feel like any type of spiritual place in any manner. I don’t want to be insulting in any way, but I think for me, it was more of a case of “wow, we’re here at Stonehenge” rather than feeling all tingly and awe-inspired like I have at some temples. It was great, it was ancient, it was Stonehenge, and we walked around the rocks and took lots of photos. Jamie and I did the ‘Today Show T’ and the ‘Jetstar jump’ for fun piccies, and well, that’s about it! I guess if there was anything spiritual for any of us, it was the crows/ravens that were hanging around, sitting on top of the rocks. It was like they were old spirits, claiming their place, so we liked that part of it.
BATH:
About an hour later, (plus about half an hour in peak hour traffic when we got there) we arrived at Bath. We spotted the town through a clearing on a hill on the way in, and all the houses were in rows, all made of the same coloured building blocks. It was an impressive sight. I’m going to hand the description of the Roman Baths over to Mark now, as it’s my turn to drive. :-)
Mark says; I didn’t realize just how extensive the roman baths actually were. The main bath made famous by post cards is just one of about 10 different baths, all serving different purposes. The Romans progressed through a number of the baths in the same manner we do today – hottest to coldest – only they also received massage and a “scraping down” as well. A nice way to spend a day!
The pool that is the original hot spring continues to run, and steam constantly rises from it. We weren’t allowed to touch the water in any of the pools as it is now contaminated, that was a real shame as they looked very inviting despite the green colour of the water.
The ancient complex also included a temple to Minerva. While the temple no longer exists, archaeologists have excavated what they can underneath the streets of Bath, making our experience at the baths quite amazing.
The baths are almost 2000 years old, and around the upper terrace that surrounds the main bath stand former governors of the Provence, including Julius Caesar, who was easily the shortest of all the governors on show.
All in all it was an amazing experience walking through the ruins of these ancient roman baths, and one that I will not forget.
SIDENOTES:
• Brighton has the BIGGEST seagulls I have ever seen! They are at least 3 times bigger than Aussie gulls and sheesh, are they loud!
• We’re still trying to figure out what the ‘normal’ speed limit is on the highways! We keep seeing these signs that are a blue circle with a big red cross on it, but we’re not too sure what it means. We’ll figure it out eventually. Slow cars keep to the left hand side of the highways though – it’s fabulous!!
• Driving through the country roads are just what I pictured them to be. Narrow, yes, but lush and green, dotted with fabulous old farm houses made of stones and covered in ivy. Love it!
• Some friends suggested we buy membership to The National Trust. It seems to be the best £25.00 we have spent as it has given us entrance to so many things already (Knole, Bodiam, Stonehenge). We made our money back on it the first day and National Trust chocolate bars are yummy.
• I am now the proud owner of a Union Jack brolly!
• Jynks – no sign of Richard Hammond yet mate, but I am keeping my eyes peeled and my lasso ready. I did try to get a photo of me ‘licking’ the Prada store in Seoul, but they wouldn’t let us take pics – I am sure it had nothing to do with my licking attempt though!
The sign you don't know what it means is to tell you no stopping or parking allowed. :) Welcome to Europe!!! LOVE the blog!!!
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