Hastings

Visited 8th June 2003--------

Report by Midgey & Shimmer

Move your mouse pointer over each picture to see the comments

We went on holiday to the Hastings area in 2002, so this was our second visit to Hastings in as many years. There is a lot to see there so it really merits a good two or three days looking around. Getting off the coach, we decided to get something to eat first. We found a nice family owned restaurant just a little way down the street near the front, and filled ourselved up in there - very nice! After visting tourist information we walked along the front toward the centre of town and found a wonderful shop in a back alley that literally had books stacked from floor to ceiling. We could have spent all day in there, but since we were only in Hastings for a few hours we made do with a quick look round. Definitely somewhere to go back to next time we're in Hastings!

Last time we were in Hastings the West Cliff Railway was out of order, so we didn't get to see the remains of the castle. After getting a little lost, we found it to be operational this time so we got a ticket and jumped on. The train is an experience in itself as it is on the side of a cliff and works via a pulley system, with one lift rising as the other decends.

When we finally got to the remains of the castle, we had a quick look round then went to see the 1066 experience, a short film in a tent about the castle's history. I didn't realise it used to be so massive before most of it fell into the sea/was knocked down/blown up/thrown at people. We looked around the rest of the remains and took lots of photos, the wind up there was amazing, luckily the weather was warm otherwise we'd have frozen to death! Most amusing to see seagulls flying backwards, bemused but slightly concerned looks on their faces.

The interesting looking bookshop that was shut last time we visited Hastings was open this time, and in it's window was a book on arms and armour that, fluke of flukes, contained pictures of a good half the exhbits of the Wallace collection! That was a great find Sarah managed to find herself a book too, so we did well out of that. We went on to roam around the shopping centre there and visit several amusement arcades where we spent far too much money on the machines, but did come away with a cuddly Eeyore and several care bear keyrings!

We met up again with the coach after a bit more shopping and took it easy on the ride back to Enfield - a great day out!