An Exotic Day

Our second day in Brighton proved Carol right.  Yesterday she said enjoy the pier while there is sun and today there is definitely rain!  Good planning so thank you Carol. 

After a delicious breakfast at the generous buffet of nice hot foods and fresh fruit we bundled up and made our way out the back door to The Lanes.  I am glad there was a ramp to use as the steps had no rail and the pavement is slippery.  The Pavilion opened at ten so we left the hotel by about ten minutes before.

 

As we walked we peeked in at the shops that were slumbering last night.  There is a surprisingly large art supply store but Brighton is only one of the towns along the coast.  It actually is now Brighton – Hove as the two places joined councils and are really one city currently.  So the shoppes in this larger area probably supply several groups of townspeople.  Like many quaint historic areas it also caters to an artistic element in society.  So no surprise to see a beautiful bookstore as well.

The Royal Pavilion was quite a surprise to the well – traveled Elva.  I will give you a link to find some mages of the Chinese styled interior as cameras were strictly forbidden – but, as always here, in a very polite way!

The first room is explained as being limited in style to give visitors just a taste of what is to come.  The second, a drawing room and state entry is a bit more exaggerated.  By the time you reach the Long Hall ‘wow’ is becoming your thought and when you entry the dining room you have to express your amazement out loud!

George IV, as Prince Regent, spent all his money and a lot of state money to build is fantasy palace.  No expense was too great and every idea had to become reality. Porcelain statues with bobbing heads, iron filigree stair cases, elaborate carpets and wallpaper in Chinese motif are just the beginning.  A six ton chandelier is literally over the top!

 

The kitchen was state of the art of the times and perhaps even modern.  The rotisseries were driven by steam powered motors over the fireplace.  Before this invention they had a dog who ran on a treadmill all day chasing morsels of meat to keep him moving.  At night they gave it beer so it would pass out, sleep and be chasing rabbit again in the morning.

The Gordon Ramsey of the day once created a 100 course meal for George and his guests.  Feast for Grand Duke Nicolas Today the kitchen showcases many of these preparations.  Since I cannot show 

you pictures that I have taken I am including a link to the Virtual Tour of the Royal Pavilion which you may enjoy.

There were apartments for his brothers, William who succeeded him but had no living heirs so the throne went to the one remaining niece, Victoria.  Her statue stands across from George’s behind the Pavilion.  She spent very little time here, it was not suitable for her young family. 

It appears that the Queen is giving her blessing to the repaving of the paths in her park!

We however spent about two hours oohing and aahing and wowing!  When we went outside the rain was still coming down although the sky seemed brighter.  The museum couldn’t be visited, closed on Mondays.  I chatted with the ladies at the gift shop on the way out.  What else should we see while in town?  They suggested the large shopping mall that has been newly built.  Or to take a bus to the next town down the road to visit the shops in that place. Or to go to their artsy movie house.  We returned to the hotel.

Yes, quite polite a place, isn't it!

Elva chose to read in the room and watch some TV.  Carol and I headed out again and luckily the rain was letting up.

I thought to myself, only Brits would luncheon outside in the rain.  But as I got closer I could see it was a Terot Reading.  This was being done in a Gypsy style wagon on the pier yesterday!  Either it is very popular here or one of these ladies is a shill for the other.  They were still at it later when we passed by again.

We just wandered in The Lanes and down the Queens Road.  It is a very neat place to visit but can be easily done in a day if the museum is closed and there is nothing going on at the Dome. The Dome is a concert venue but was built as a stable for George’s horses.  Later in life, when he could barely walk and often had to be pushed in a wheeled chair due to his love of good food, he had a tunnel built so he could visit his beloved animals but he could no longer pursue one of his favorite hobbies – hunting.  There was no horse that could carry him.  The tunnel was only one of the things needed to support him and his lifestyle.  One was a form of an elevator to take him to his upstairs suite of rooms.  When the men who operated the pulley system couldn’t lift his weight anymore he moved his private quarters to the main floor.

 

Side note:  I think I will skip dinner tonight!

But we did not skip dinner on our last night in Brighton.  The House was not serving Fish ‘n’ Chips not roast beef on Monday so we stumbled upon the Sussex Pub and ate there.  Just a little pub life and very nice.  

Perhaps I should think to take the picture before I dig in!

 And yes, Brighton is in Sussex of Meghan Markle fame.