Many steps taken

Have had a really lovely past two days walking around both Eastbourne and Hastings. My moms old high school friend (or secondary school in the UK) Amanda and her husband Alan have been very kind in showing me around. Yesterday we went to a small little festival that was happening. There was drumming and some sort of dancing I had only seen in the movie "The Man Who Knew Too Little"

We then went for some really yummy Italian food and got to watch a bridge split in half so that boats are able to go under

 Then walked along Eastbourne pier during dusk. I have discovered that no matter where you may be, no matter what it looks like during the day can be absolutely beautiful during dusk. Eastbourne is beautiful all day around but there is something so magical about dusk. Everything glows as if the world has been touched by a paintbrush. 

Today we went to Hastings, a small fishing town. It truly felt and looked like a fishing village from the movies. With antique shops everywhere and little fish shops that have been in the family for ages. It was especially cool because it was something that had always been seen from someone elses  point of view and I then got to see it from my point of view and it was just as charming as you could imagine! On our way back from Hastings we stopped in the little village of Pevencey which is known for its castle ruins. 

It was really surreal walking around the ruins (something else I had only seen in movies) because you could come up with some epic story in your mind as I did not already know the history. It was a very large ruin and you could just imagine it bustling with people hundreds of years ago before it came to a new place of beauty, overgrown and mysterious. 

There was also a small farm type place next door with baby piglets! We got there at feeding time.

I ended the day with Creme Brulee and a hot chocolate looking over the ocean, yet again at dusk.

Stratford Upon Avon

Spent a lovely day in the town of Stratford Upon Avon (there are two Stratfords) it is where William Shakespeare was born and where the Royal Shakespeare Company is located. I got to take a behind the scenes tour of the theater, which was really interesting. We could not take pictures but learned a little about the wigs and costumes which are all made there. We then got to see the original theater (swan theater) which is now used as a rehearsal stage and for smaller performances. We also got to see the main theater while they were testing sound which was pretty amazing.

The town itself is very enjoyable to walk around. 

A Day by the Sea

When you have an expectation of something it's all already in your mind. You piece together all the little parts of something you've seen like a puzzle, a puzzle with missing pieces that you disregard. And once you actually look up at the cover of the box you see everything that's there and it can either be a disappointment or a fulfillment, and for me today it was a bit of both.

There are always two sides to places, the parts that you want to see and the parts that you wish were hidden away, much like people really. Today I saw all of Brighton and there were parts that made my eyes light up and other parts that made me turn my eyes to ground. This gave me something though, that there will always be two sides to a situation, a place, and a person and you don't have to love all of it the same but you learn to except it all. Sometimes I wish it could all be perfect but then the perfect things that come into your life wouldn't be nearly as jaw dropping and awe inspiring.

I did love my day in Brighton though. It has a rustic charm and reminded me much of San Francisco. The pier I must say is much more impressive than anything I have ever seen in San Diego and going back to a pier without roller coasters or ice cream shops every five seconds will be rather disappointing. But I suppose you have to get used to things becoming less extraordinary once you've seen something that in your eyes is more extraordinary.

A Day At The Hamptons

It was my first day in England today and I got to spend it at Hampton Court as it is just a ten minute drive from where I am staying. We spent five hours wandering around the palace and gardens yet still did not see all of it. It's amazing that there are places so big and old yet still standing. It's like walking into history. The most amazing parts for me were the gardens and ceilings.

Rain Makes Corn

Last night was my first real experience of a summer storm, and it was amazing! It was so cool being able to sit outside on the porch listening to the thunder, watching the rain and lightening but still be warm. That was the first part of it. It then got sunny again and the birds started chirping. About half an hour later it all began again except stronger. The wind picked up and there were leaves flying everywhere. And watching it all from the window was better than watching a movie.

After a while of watching the storm we had to go into the cellar as it had started flooding and sweep water into a hole in the ground for half an hour. Though it might not have been fun it was definitely an experience. An experience that I will probably remember every time a storm shows up in my life.

As for the title of this post it comes from a song that is as country as it comes, but I thought it appropriate for being in the country and it having just rained. The link to the song is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vogS-Fp2QVI  

Walking Into The Past

It's amazing when a place is more than you're expecting, when you see it and your jaw drops. I had an experience like this yesterday when I went to a little medieval town in the French alps. It was truly like going back in time, something i'm sure a lot of us have wanted to do. Though there are pictures to show the scenery they do not really portray the experience when you're in it as very few images can, but they can maybe give you a little peak into the past. All of the photo credits go to my wonderful friend Kellie whom without I could not be experiencing any of these things. Thanks Kellie!

  Trying my first French crepe! Also had the best ice cream of my life.

 Kitten!!

 I had to