Site-Seeing England's Southern Coast and Midlands

Beachy Head Lighthouse

After hitting Paris for the weekend with my parents, we drove back to my temporary home in Chichester from London in my parents rental car, or care hire, depending on what country you are from!  My dad had quite the experience driving a "manual" on the opposite side of the car and on the opposite side of the road in a country he is not familiar with!  We did make it back safely, though, thank the Lord!  I had to go back to work on Monday, so my parents settled into my flat and figured out what sites they wanted to explore during the days while I was working.  It was so nice to come home from work and have my parents back from a day of site-seeing, mom making an amazing dinner and talking about their recent adventures over a glass of wine.  They went around to Portsmouth Harbour, Southhampton, out to Portland, Winchester and Arundel all during the week while I was at work. On Friday, I had the day off, so we decided to head East to the Seven Sister white cliffs and Beachy Head lighthouse.  It was a beautiful sunny day, perfect for the walk along the high cliffs along the coast!  On our way back, we stopped in Brighton, walked down to the Pier and through the Royal Pavilion, then decided to have dinner at a Wagamama.  It was a great day!

My parents at Clifton Suspension Bridge

On Saturday, my parent's last, full day here, we got up early and headed to Stonehenge. I grabbed a coffee and a scone and ventured around while my parents went inside to do the tour (I had already done the tour, so didn't want to bother ;-)).  It was lucky I didn't go inside, because I got to see a pack of hare's jumping around and playing tag right in front of Stonehenge!  I got a great video of them too!  After Stonehenge, we jumped back in the car to walk across the Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol.  Man, was it high! Built in the early 1800s, soaring across the Avon Canal.  My mom did well, considering here extreme fear of heights as we walked across it and took some amazing pictures with an incredible view looking out over the town of Bristol.

Me at the Roman Baths

Backtracking back to Bath, where we first passed by, we parked and walked along the Avon Canal and into the city, where we stopped at a Pasty Shoppe to get some lunch first before going into the Roman Baths for a tour.  It's really amazing how so many years ago, they had a full service day-spa with natural springs and saunas!  I loved it!  It made me want to go get a massage and sit in a mineral bath.  The Bath Abbey beside it was large and gorgeous, as are all the cathedrals in this country!   I just can't stop taking photos of them all.  There is so much history here!  Before heading home, my mom and I grabbed some cappuccinos, we stopped in the Jane Austen Centre, where she lived for six years and then were set, ready for the 2 hr drive back.  We went into Chichester city centre for some burgers and fries and then back to my flat so my parents could pack up their stuff for their flight on Sunday.  It was sad to see them go, I have to admit.  It's always nice to have company to enjoy the days with!  Especially when its family!  I am heading to Sweden on Wednesday to catch up with Kim, so that will be exciting!  Stay tuned for more fun travels while I'm out here.  Only 56 days left!