Bopping Down to Brighton
A seaside stroll was calling my name when my friend, P.J., and I determined to take a day-trip by train to Brighton. Perched on the water, it is a quaint, if quirky town with beaches of beige stones and lapping waves. The first settlement there dates to between 3500 BC and 2700 BC; what we saw was more current!
The Royal Pavilion was a mind-boggling peek into the 1700's and takes the term "elaborate" to dizzying new heights. It is built to resemble Indian architecture with spires, onion-shaped domes, and detailing; inside it is Chinese-ish in decor. The "ish" is evidently because it is done with such European flair, but features Chinese-like art and furniture. Built by King George IV, it indulged "his architectural, decorative and technological vision which included the very latest in heating, lighting and sanitation" (from brightonmuseums.org.uk).
It's impossible to recap the place in total, but here are a few interesting observations and factual tidbits:
* The banqueting room was especially staggering to view with its huge domed ceiling decorated with exotic plantain leaves. Attached to that was a 1-ton crystal chandelier with mirrored starbursts, held in the talons of a gigantic, silvered dragon and featuring tens of thousands of crystal drops and lights.
* Over 10,000 hand-painted cockleshells make up the music room ceiling and the room is completed with painted dragons, silk drapes, rich wood and lotus-shaped chandeliers.
* Mahogany banisters were painted over to look like bamboo! (who does that?!?)
* The huge kitchen was located by the banqueting hall (which was very unusual for that time) so the food could arrive piping hot. It boasted steam heating technology and a constant supply of water from a well on-site.
* King George's lavish parties (some meals included 116 dishes in 36 courses) were evidently wildly popular with many guests and it must have been a coveted invitation for them to be included in his opulent events. Parties went on for days and guests could lounge in the music room, the galleries or the saloon (which was a reception room), dance to the music of the king's own band, play cards, and be refreshed in the sea air.
* The Royal Pavilion was also used as a hospital for Indian soldiers during WWI.
Quite the place to be sure!
(photo credit for the palace interiors and lit up exterior go to the Royal Pavilion postcard photographers -- had to use theirs as they don't allow any photos to be taken inside by visitors)
Later, P.J. and I also took a stroll down the Brighton Pier to get a bit of salt air. Ended up getting a bit more than I bargained for from the wildlife -- a ravenous seagull took an aggressive plunge and plucked food right out of my hand. Fortunately the finger he bit didn't go with it! haha!
Good times with P.J.! So sorry she and her husband, Mario, had to leave for the U.S. now; work in Colorado calls for him. We enjoyed spending time together in London and doing the expat thing. We'll miss 'em!
Venturing!
A free Saturday meant a fun field trip for Mike and I. We caught a tour bus for ease of transportation and took these great places:
Warwick Castle
Exploring the 1,100 year old castle of Warwick was great! Several of the rooms have recreations of life-in-the-times from 1471 when the army was preparing for battle. Figures and props created an atmosphere that transported us to the areas where the blacksmith was pounding out horseshoes, armor was being forged, food was being prepared and served. There were also dungeons, towers, ramparts, a catapult and gardens. Yes, a right proper castle!
We also took in the castle's more modern apartments which the Earls of Warwick lived in through the years, complete with bed chambers, sitting rooms and a chapel.
This Tudor town is the birthplace of William Shakespeare and he's all about town -- in sculptures, in name, in a theatre company that bears his name, etc. Visiting the home where he was born, grew up and lived the first five years of his married life was so interesting, especially with it's slanted floors, tippy roof, Tudor styling and workshop of his father's glove-making business. I imagine the gardens are marvelous in the spring and summer, too. Being there made us want to go see one of his plays again!
The Avon River runs through Stratford and is quite picturesque with its canal boats, gardens, cobbled lanes and such. We noshed a pasty (meat pie in pastry) as we ambled up and down streets and even popped into a local Peter Rabbit store to "visit" briefly with him and with Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle from Beatrix Potter fame -- favorites of mine since childhood. Paddington Bear also greeted us! A Brit Lit (erature) meet & greet from Shakespeare to children's classics! ;)
Oxford University
What an unusual set-up they have at Oxford. It was not at all what I expected! They have 38 different colleges and no main campus. Would-be students apply to one or two of those colleges, which are all run completely separate from one another. If accepted, they become one of the college's some 200-300 students who rarely attend lectures -- they're optional; instead, they meet one-on-one with professors for tutorials and work quite independently. Upon graduation, however, their diplomas do not identify which college they attended; they simply read "Oxford University."
Walking past many of the colleges like St John's, Christ Church, and Trinity, we saw some of the libraries, inner courtyards, a Gothic-style theater and zillions of bikes and racks -- no cars allowed. Also interesting to know is that the students wear black robes over their clothes when in the college confines. Quite different from our U.S. universities!
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