We left Eastbourne yesterday morning for an excursion to Wales, although we’re taking a couple days getting there. I have enjoyed driving here in the south of England where the roads, though narrow, are always picturesque and the people pay attention to their driving, rather than trying to talk on the phone, text, eat, drink … Continue reading →

When the Normans, in the person of William the Conqueror, first arrived in Dover in 1066, they found that they were not the first ones there. Not by a long shot. In fact, the Romans had built a lighthouse on the bluff above the White Cliffs nearly 1,000 years earlier. And, there was a church … Continue reading →

The English heritage Trust has done a remarkable job of restoring the inside of the Great Tower and recreating a medieval atmosphere. The main entrance to the Great Tower is through a forebuilding, over an internal drawbridge, then up a flight of steps. Here’s the entrance through the forebuilding, taken from within the inner bailey, … Continue reading →

Yesterday, we drove to Dover to see the Dover Castle, the White Cliffs and the Ferry Port. It was a two-hour drive each way and well worth it. In this picture, you can see all three sites: Dover Castle on top of the bluff at the far left; a ferry leaving port, just to the … Continue reading →

A couple days ago, we visited Pevensey Castle where William the Conqueror established a military base upon invading England from Normandy in October 1066. After William had set up his defenses at Pevensey, he and his Norman troops engaged King Harold and his Anglo-Saxon soldiers at the Battle of Hastings, just a few miles away. … Continue reading →

Everyone has heard of the white cliffs of Dover: the chalky, sheer cliffs that are an English icon. We’ll get there on this trip; possibly, tomorrow. But, it turns out that the most beautiful white cliffs along the southern coast of England are those right near where we’re staying. The formation is called the Seven … Continue reading →

Happy Easter, everyone! This afternoon, we decided to drive to Brighton, England’s version of Key West; it’s about 45 minutes west along the coast from Eastbourne. The weather here in England this Spring has been variable: cool and sunny one day; drizzly and cold the next. Today is drizzly and cold. After arriving in Brighton, … Continue reading →

On Good Friday, we visited Pevensey, a village just five miles from where we’re staying. The English countryside is wonderful for hiking and there is a “country walk” (as the trails around here are called), starting at the Pevensey train station. After leaving the station, the walk follows the Eastbourne Road to the High Street … Continue reading →

On Thursday, which happened to be Maundy Thursday, the Christian holy day commemorating the Last Supper, we drove to Canterbury, the seat of the Church of England. The Church of England was established by Henry VIII in 1534 when the Pope refused to annul his marriage to Catherine of Aragon so he could marry someone … Continue reading →

After walking out on the Eastbourne Pier, we drove a little further down the coast to Beachy Head (I just love the place names here in England) where there are numerous hiking trails along the coast through farm and pasture land. It’s simply beautiful! From the top, we took a photo back toward Eastbourne. We … Continue reading →

Today we drove into Eastbourne for a lunch of fish and chips. Afterward, we walked out to the promenade along the beach to the Eastbourne Pier. Right at the entrance to the Pier, we came upon two British icons: the double-decker bus and the red telephone booth. The Pier was built in 1870 and, though … Continue reading →

We landed at Heathrow Airport in London yesterday and were greeted by this guy. Imposter! No. Actually, this is Toby, our cab driver, who met us at Arrivals after we cleared UK Customs. Toby shuttled south us to Eastbourne, on the English Channel, a two hour drive. Our home exchange is a second floor condominium, … Continue reading →