We sure had a fun adventure while Clarissa was here. After picking Clarissa up from the Gatwick airport we took her to see the London Temple.
On our way back to Bournemouth we drove to Brighton and then West to Bournemouth. We saw some lovely sites but then suddenly as if from out of nowhere we saw this huge building on top of a hill. Much to our GPS's displeasure we went to explore to see what it was. Finally we made it to this gigantic building and found it to be a church for a boy's college. Sadly it was closed so we continued on our journey home. During our drive we got a little hungry so we pulled into a small village, rolled down our windows and started to sniff the air for food. We went to three different places before we discovered Tony's carvery. We had as much food as we could possibly eat and continued our journey home. The next day was Sunday and it was also my birthday. After church we went with our friends Matt and Hanna to Lulworth Castle. It was a special day at the castle because we were transported back in time to the Civil war era. The castle was full to the brim with civil war characters.
During the civil war reenactment we sat upon the steps of the castle to watch. Above us was Sir Humphrey, his wife, a close friend and another lady. Sir Humphrey was yelling commands to the Kingmen and eventually went down to join his fellows in arms. Lady Humphrey stayed and yelled encouragement to her husband and he sent her messages to her by messenger. After the battle ended (the kings men won that one) we went to the top of the castles tower and had a magnificent view of the sea and surrounding area.
After saying goodbye to the 17th century we went to explore the Jurassic coast and the majestic Durdle Door. I cannot wait to go back there on a boiling hot summer day to go swimming. It was a bit cold and windy so we didn't stay too long.
The next day was sadly our last day with our rental car. We made the most of it and travelled to Bath. On the way to Bath we stopped in Salisbury and had a quick view of the Cathedral. Next we stopped by Stonehenge to see what all the fuss was about. We didn't pay the big bucks to get in so we just took pictures from the fence. We were all satisfied for not paying the money to see it so we took off to Bath to make it in time for lunch. Parking in Bath is very expensive. They do have a service where you park outside the city and ride the bus in for a ton cheaper but we happen to go on a holiday when they don't offer that service. We all fell in love with Bath.
Its such a beautiful city where you can easily imagine what it was like to live a hundred years ago. After eating lunch Clarissa and I went to the Jane Austen Centre. We learned a little more about her life and visited a home similar to the one she lived in for the short time she was in Bath. After our visit to the centre we found Mardy and Raven again and started exploring the city a bit more. It was getting a little cold and rainy so we did exactly what you do when its cold and rainy in a city that is classified as a National Historic site....we went to the Bath Abbey. It was a beautiful and warm place to explore. Clarissa and I braved the 200 steps to the top of the tower and had breath taking views of the city. Our tour guide was a 17 year old boy who knew absolutely ever fact of the Bath Abbey. He's even sung in the choir since he was 7. We felt a little bad for Mardy because we left him to go the the Jane Austen Centre and then we left him again because Raven was too small to go up the tower so we let him do what almost every person that visits Bath does...he went to the Roman Baths and soaked in the mysterious waters all by his lonesome self. We would have gone with him but again Raven was too small to go. While Mardy was soaking up the water Clarissa and I took Raven on a boat tour up the Avon River. The tour took us out of Bath and to the small village of Bathampton. While we were trying to find a way to get to the other side of the river we asked a local for directions. He told us to turn right at the beige building and then take an immediate left. When we got to the immediate left we were a little afraid. The immediate left took us to this underground alley that looked like the perfect place to get mugged. On our journey through this strange alley we found this italian restaurant underground wedged in between the ancient rocks. We decided then that this was the place we were going to eat dinner. We felt so cool guiding Mardy to this place underground. Along the way I needed to pee really bad and I'm mad at everyone who I told we were going to Bath and failed to mention that all and I mean all of the public toilets closed at 5 pm. Walking awkwardly we made it to the restaurant and yes they had a nice little toilet there for use so I didn't need to find a spot in the strange alley where several other unsuspected tourists had squatted before.
On Tuesday Clarissa and I made our way to the Bouremouth Pier and ate our Cornish Pasties along the beach.
We took a bus to Poole and went to Primark several pounds later we made it home with a mountain of clothes and Clarissa's dilemma of fitting them all into her suitcase.
On Wednesday we went to Christchurch on a bus that seemed to take an eternity and then had a lovely 45 minute walk to Highcliff castle. We are sooo getting a car.... Like all of the castles we've seen so far in England it had the misfortune of a fire. They have done a good job of sealing it up and making it water tight but they still have a long journey ahead of them restoring it to the full glory it had in its early days when Queen Victoria would visit there.
Thursday Clarissa went back to explore Christchurch all by herself. She saw the Priory and had a 70 year old tour guide take her up to the top of its tower. She also had the wonderful experience of shoe shopping.
Friday we made it an early morning and took a bus into London. Needless to say we got terribly lost but we did manage to see Parliament with Big Ben, took a tour of Westminster Abbey, saw Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar square ate Fish and chips at the very busy Seafresh restaurant and saw the Lion King in amazing seats all in one day.
We also got swindled £15 by a guy who didn't keep our hotel reservation but ended up finding this lovely hole to sleep in under the street with a bed, no windows and a shower room you needed to access from the outdoors. The hotel staff ended up finding a different hotel for us to stay in because they said that hole in the ground wasn't a proper place for a lady to stay in. This next room had two single beds squished together, a table with two chairs and a sink. The toilet was down the stairs with room to spare for a teeny tiny shower. No room for a sink though. I dropped Clarissa off at the Gatwick express early the next morning so she could be in plenty of time for her flight. After two hours of sitting on the runway because of the new volcano explosion they took a slight detour and made it safely home. I've learned two things from having Clarissa come and visit us. We desperately need to buy a car and the next time I go to London without Mardy I need to take a compass.
