Brighton!

Tim and I had big hopes of goin on a quick European vacation weekend like most of our American friends in London. Due to Tim's work schedule and our desire to save money while we are here, we are lagging far behind in the travel throughout Europe department. So we had an idea to go on a quick family vaca before the girls and I left for the US. Some ideas were Paris, the west coast of Ireland, Berlin... we decided to stay much closer to home and traveled just over an hour by train to Brighton. It is an English seaside resort town that's on the southern coast (English Channel) of the island. There is a mix of tourist traps, lovely shopping and good food. A perfect 3 day weekend with small children.

The girls loved the pier that was along the boardwalk just beyond our seaside hotel. Who wouldn't like carnival rides on a giant dock dangling above the frigid English Channel?

Due to a foggy and chilly Sunday morning (our last day in Brighton) we almost returned back to London early but were unable to change our train tickets. It turned out to be fortunate for us because the day quickly became our favorite day of the trip! We weren't up for another pier visit or shopping and the water was much too cold for a third dip, so we wandered back to the grounds of the Royal Pavillion which we toured the day before. One of the things that the English do quick well is relax and picnic in parks on a lovely (or not that lovely) day! The sun came out and warmed up nicely. We had a fantastic time lounging about in the park listening to local musicians and having ice cream. This is something that almost never take the time to do normally. I think its against our American genes... always must be busy doing something!!