Brighton...aka party central.  A large attraction to this area is the club scene.  A vibrant live music culture permeates several of the downtown entertainment corridors.  The pier and boardwalk are also a focal point for visitors and locals alike.  Brighton has documented history dating back to the Neanderthal, based on what we heard on the street in the early morning hours, they are still around!  Lol..  Party town.  The city has a predominantly 20th century architectural perspective, having been severely bombed during WWII.

A beautiful old theatre with black striped legs on top. A perfect metaphor for this city.  Cultured and crazy at the same time.  A short trip west, we find the town of Lewes.  A quaint town with many pedestrian streets, filled with antique shops, pubs and a brewery dating from the 1700's, all in the shadow of a 12th century castle.  Johanne and I made a deal. She got me to join her in the antique shops and I did the same with the pub.  Happiness for two!

Our main event for the day was to visit the site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings between William the Conqueror and Harold II, the then Anglo Saxon King of England........   turns out that William and Harold were brothers, both wanting the throne..... something had to give.  The battle was nasty, starting at daybreak, it continued throughout the day, with over 7000 dead.  The blood in the field flowed like a river.  We visited the Abbey that was built by William in recognition  of those that lost their life in one of the most important battles in English history.  The tour is interesting and well worth the visit.  It's starts with a 20 minute video detailing the events and the players that lead up to the battle.  Once the film is completed you can walk the grounds supported by a hand held radio that will describe the area, while you walk.  Even if you don't like history you can't help getting caught up in the magnitude of the battle.

Today the Abbey is used as a private boarding school.

 The site of the battle above.

Hastings, is our stop for the night.  Another seaside town.  We booked ourselves into a small inn called Townhouse Rooms.  It turned out to be just perfect.  We had a third floor room over the pub.  While is sounds a little sketchy, it was actually quite comfortable.  The pub food was good too.  Tomorrow it is the white cliffs of Dover and the castle.

Be well

Cheerio