Brighton

Saturday July 25th

Since I've been working quite a bit lately (hence no posts for quite some time), we didn't have many trips booked, and hoped to take the occasional day trip within the UK. Jenna's been dying to see some ocean and the sun, so we got lucky with a sunny Saturday and headed south to Brighton.

Brighton is a beach town on the south coast, just a 45 minute train ride from our place. It is a hot-spot for Londoners due to its easy access from the city, but it is actually a not the best beach. When they say it is pebbly, they are certainly not joking. If anything, they are understating the fact that the beach is made up completely of enormous rocks. Add to that the fact that it is usually very windy and the water is frigid even in the summer, and you don't exactly get the best combination for a day at the beach.

We were able rent some cheap beach chairs, though, and the sun was shining bright, so that was really all that we needed to enjoy ourselves. We brought a picnic lunch and enjoyed the day lounging around and reading.

In the afternoon it started to get a little cloudy, and the wind (which was gale-force most of the day) got a little nip to it, so we decided to pack up and walk down the boardwalk. It was fun to see all the crazy people and shops. It felt very much like Santa Monica, except for the fact that it was pretty chilly and everyone was wearing clothes rather than swimsuits. We also had a stroll down the pier, which is full of arcades, candy shops, and even a small amusement park with carnival rides (bumper cars and small roller coasters). We've never been to Coney Island, but this is what I imagine it is like.

Anyway, not much else to say. After sitting on the beach for a while and seeing another side of England, we hopped on a train and were back at home in time for dinner. A short trip, but a great break away from the City.