Brighton by the Sea

Monday

Nerves again – I had to navigate a new route today, although I shouldn’t worry when I have the expert Natalia for directions. Catch the tube to here, change to this line and get off at Victoria – so easy when you know how. And, I caught the correct train to Brighton, yay!!

View from Ainsley House, Brighton, England

Caught my first English cab too, alas, not a typical black one;  it was the same shape but most of them are painted white and aqua in Brighton. The cabbie was a nice man, helpful with directions and tips about the Netherlands and Belgium too. Also I have to say I’ve made a g00d pick in Ainsley House – tiny room on the top floor but oh so cute and in a great location; 3 houses from the beachfront and close enough to town to walk there. There’s also a park running down the middle of the street, a bit like a traffic island dividing the two lanes of traffic but about 30 metres wide with a fence all round and flowers and grass throughout.While I was waiting for my room to be ready, I spoke with another guest-house owner, Tony, who was there to visit some-one. He, too, was lovely and entertaining; and the owner, Wayne, is a great host.

Not much left of my hotdog!

So, the Brighton Pier is maybe 500 metres from the guest house and was my first stop. And, I learnt a good lesson, don’t expect to buy food on the pier and walk along eating it unless you keep it hidden in a packet. I had no sooner spent a couple of pounds on a hot dog, walked away with it, than a bloody huge seagull swooped and took the lot, cardboard container, breadroll and sausage on the ground with about a dozen birds fighting over it. I didn’t even get a good pic because most of them had taken off again with my lunch before I could get the camera out. I stopped at a place further down the pier and had a hot chocolate and muffin instead!!