18/7/19
Today we vacated the Barleycorn Inn to move to a hotel closer to Gatwick Airport as we leave for Dublin tomorrow. Paul decided the Inn was too far to travel for a stress free early morning departure.
David had suggested a drive around the south cost of England to get to our hotel at Crawley, passing through some forest, Southhampton, Chichester and Arundel. Sounded good and off we went.
Southampton was too busy for a leisurely drive through and it was difficult as neither of us could remember why we were going to Southampton. We found somewhere to park and it turned out to be a council building with amenities. Parking plus toilets. Jackpot.
Also time for a reappraisal of our plans. We decided we would go to Arundel as that sounded the most interesting of the options and then maybe go to Brighton on the way to Crawley.
I was hoping to get some nice photos of water/beach/coastline. Why? Nothing compares to our coastline.
We were driving on reasonable roads for a change but i was hoping i might get a photo of the tunnel formed by hedges right up to the side of the road on some of the local roads we had travelled. This is as close as i got
We arrived in Arundel and found parking easily and unstressfully only a short walk to the Castle. It is a very pretty town and the castle was amazing. And look, more stones.
These are actually not stones nor are they in any way related to henges.
It is actually Blackfriars, the ruins of a Dominican priory from the 13th Century.
And then on to the Castle.There was a sign for a Jousting competition next weekend. Damn, i would like to see that.
A lift in a 13th Century Castle!!! thank goodness i was able to get to the first floor and avoid quite a lot of stairs but it is a castle so stairs are omnipresent.
Paul walked 136 steps to the 'keep'. I did not.
The inside of the castle was amazing. We were able to view amazing rooms
And lots of rooms highlighted the hunting culture. I have never seen so many stag horns and even lions.
And i made a new friend too
More beautiful rooms
And of course a chapel
And thank goodness that getting out of the castle down the long winding path was easier thanks to
He offered!!!
And then a relaxed lunch by the river and i even found a swan
I like swans.
On to Crawley and to what we thought would be a nice hotel and opportunity to explore. The Arora Hotel is an airport type hotel, close to the airport but not much else.
The doorman gave Paul some instructions on a local pub which he maintained was better than the hotel food. Sounded good and off we went. However we had no idea where we were going and ended up miles away (not kilometers). We had to ask a local where to find a pub. We found 3, none of which was the one recommended but we needed to stop and eat.
Good news for Paul as it was curry night. Bad news for me.
On our way back to the hotel, we found the one recommended. Not that great anyway.
Back at the hotel for a drink and coffee, these chairs were the most interesting and out of place things in the entire hotel.
Today we vacated the Barleycorn Inn to move to a hotel closer to Gatwick Airport as we leave for Dublin tomorrow. Paul decided the Inn was too far to travel for a stress free early morning departure.
David had suggested a drive around the south cost of England to get to our hotel at Crawley, passing through some forest, Southhampton, Chichester and Arundel. Sounded good and off we went.
Southampton was too busy for a leisurely drive through and it was difficult as neither of us could remember why we were going to Southampton. We found somewhere to park and it turned out to be a council building with amenities. Parking plus toilets. Jackpot.
Also time for a reappraisal of our plans. We decided we would go to Arundel as that sounded the most interesting of the options and then maybe go to Brighton on the way to Crawley.
I was hoping to get some nice photos of water/beach/coastline. Why? Nothing compares to our coastline.
We were driving on reasonable roads for a change but i was hoping i might get a photo of the tunnel formed by hedges right up to the side of the road on some of the local roads we had travelled. This is as close as i got
We arrived in Arundel and found parking easily and unstressfully only a short walk to the Castle. It is a very pretty town and the castle was amazing. And look, more stones.
And then on to the Castle.There was a sign for a Jousting competition next weekend. Damn, i would like to see that.
It looked amazing but was a steep walk to get there. However once we got there, i was very surprised and grateful to find this:
A lift in a 13th Century Castle!!! thank goodness i was able to get to the first floor and avoid quite a lot of stairs but it is a castle so stairs are omnipresent.
Paul walked 136 steps to the 'keep'. I did not.
The inside of the castle was amazing. We were able to view amazing rooms
And lots of rooms highlighted the hunting culture. I have never seen so many stag horns and even lions.
And i made a new friend too
And of course a chapel
And thank goodness that getting out of the castle down the long winding path was easier thanks to
And then a relaxed lunch by the river and i even found a swan
I like swans.
On to Crawley and to what we thought would be a nice hotel and opportunity to explore. The Arora Hotel is an airport type hotel, close to the airport but not much else.
The doorman gave Paul some instructions on a local pub which he maintained was better than the hotel food. Sounded good and off we went. However we had no idea where we were going and ended up miles away (not kilometers). We had to ask a local where to find a pub. We found 3, none of which was the one recommended but we needed to stop and eat.
Good news for Paul as it was curry night. Bad news for me.
On our way back to the hotel, we found the one recommended. Not that great anyway.
Back at the hotel for a drink and coffee, these chairs were the most interesting and out of place things in the entire hotel.
Dare i say, they were incredible!
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