To the Coast

WARNING: I wrote this two weeks ago…..

“Beach” is probably not the first word that comes to mind when you think of London, but that is exactly where we went this week. On Wednesday, we went to Dungeness and Rye. This trip was second only to the bike riding (am I getting old – I’m finding so much pleasure in simple things).

On the bus ride, while most of the students slept (after a late night including the Absolute Ice Bar and a local casino), I decided to indulge in some trashy magazine reading. I read the UK version of a popular American magazine – Cosmopolitan (eek I just admitted that on the Internet). It is mostly similar of course but a few things struck me funny! The really are EVEN MORE upfront and don’t spare the details! I mentioned before that I loved the language here. It’s not just the differences in formal vocabulary that are fun, but the slang is fun, too!

Some PG slang:

1)   Greasy-spoon (typically a meal at a restaurant) = unhealthy, fried-food cure for hangovers

2)   Hen Party = Bachelorette Party

Earlier in the week I also indulged in the Sainsbury magazine (Sainsbury is a local grocery store). The magazine was somewhere between Oprah, Real Simple, and Martha Stewart – definitely out of my age bracket, but totally enjoyable.

Anyhow, we went to the Beach. Dungeness is a small little fishing village on the southeast coast. It’s really nothing to scream about. But it was nice to get some fresh air! I picked up a lot of shells and rocks – I’ll have to leave some behind or else check another bag through on the way home! My feet took a little dip into the English Channel! The neatest things in Dungeness were the little houses made from old rail cars. Apparently, these homes are very desirable and sell for hundreds of thousands of pounds! There were also lots of little art studios dotted along the coast.

In the English Channel

Art Studio in Dungeness

We then headed into Rye. This would be the most perfect vacation town. It’s quaint and totally belonged in my “Quintessentially British” post. We sampled the local fish and chips – now I know why I loved fish as a kid in England and hated fish when we moved to the states. It was delicious and we got to eat it out of a box with salt and vinegar on top! Denise, the program director, and I explored shops in town and then climbed up into the bell tower of St. Mary’s Church. People in the 12^th century must have been tiny because we had to shimmy our way up narrow stairs and ladders. The bells in this tower were HUGE but it was the view from the top that made the climb well worth it!

Rye

Bells in the St. Mary's Church Bell Tower

On the way back, we stopped by the site of the Battle of Hastings the only date in history I think I’ll ever remember because every British person knows it – 1066. Don’t ask me what happened at this battle – clearly that fact keeps going in one ear and out the other.

Battle of Hastings

Earlier in the week, I went to Portobello Market – again. I could spend every Saturday morning browsing the shops. I am on the hunt for a pocket watch – or a cool clock. Since this is the city of time, I feel as though this is what I need. I found one beautiful shop – but since the clocks were antiques, they were much too expensive for my student budget! I’ll keep my eyes peeled.

I spent most of the day Thursday and Friday in doors doing homework – alas, I’m here for school and work and it can’t all be fun.

Nathan comes to visit tomorrow. He’ll be here for 9 days and I get to play tour guide. I’m so excited to be the “expert” and to show someone around this amazing city!