Groucho Marx may be right...

Aline writes:

Marx says "I’m leaving because the weather is too good. I hate London when it’s not raining." OK, I don't really mean it, but it was really hot last week for a few days, so Bill and I headed down to Brighton, the fastest route to the ocean.

If you haven't been to Brighton, it is quite a place. Just over an hour away by train, it is partly a Victorian seaside resort, partly a modern tatty town. It has the most outrageous royal residence, the Royal Pavilion.



Bill and I toured that many years ago, so didn't tour it again. But we did check out the local museum, which had very nice Art Deco and Art Nouveau collections, as well as a fascinating look at Brighton across the centuries.





But it was really the beach and breeze we came for. It was warm in Brighton but with that delightful ocean cooling breeze, so we were very glad we went. Brighton still has a big Victorian pier with rides, food, arcades, etc. We did ride the water roller coaster, getting nice and wet.



We dipped out toes in the beach (which is made of stones, not sand!) and just relaxed.



Then dinner in what maybe the best vegetarian restaurant I have ever been to. My foodie friends should (you know who you are: Sara, Viv, and Alex) check out their menu - their amazing descriptions were actually justified. The Fundamentally Fungus Souffle was a masterpiece.

We took the late train home, and it was still hot and stuffy in London. But we had those wonderful breezes to remember...