I’m spending a lot of time these days going through photographs. I’m finally taking my own advice and PRINTING! I’ll tell you more about that later; for now, though, I’ve come across images from almost exactly one year ago and thought it might be a good time to share them. I know many of us could use a little virtual travel these days!
Last May, I once again tagged along on Marc’s business trip to London. And while hubby was busy slogging away (I always feel guilty about seeing new things while he’s working), my buddy Jonathan and I hopped on a train for a day trip to Whitstable, a seaside town about 65 miles southeast of London.
It was still off-season so the town was quiet and some things were closed, but the weather was perfect!
We made our way down the hill from the train station, to the harbor. Years of childhood trips to Maine seem to have given me a love of harbors and fishing villages, much more than beaches. The waterfront handicrafts and local arts market was sadly closed—a vendor who was painting her stall told us it would soon be opening for weekends, and then on weekdays in the summer. But there was still activity in the harbor. Whitstable is known for its oysters. Soooo good! Having eaten a fish and chips lunch I wasn’t really hungry, but got one just to try it—now I know what it means to say something tastes like the sea! Flavors and smells really do enhance memories; if I close my eyes I can imagine I’m right there again. Freshening up was the order of the day. These fishermen’s huts now seem to be mostly B&Bs. A street just off the harborThere is a little downtown area; a typical small town with shops and restaurants, although not particularly picturesque. Apparently I didn’t take any pictures of it other than this side street!The oyster industry in Whitstable goes back to the 1400s, and has seen plenty of ups and downs; these days it seems to be holding its own (I’ve seen Whitstable referred to as a foodie mecca), and old buildings house new businesses like this restaurant. You can see from Jonathan’s hat and jacket that it wasn’t exactly hot there in May, but we kept putting our jackets on and taking them off again, depending on whether we were in the sun or shade, wind or shelter.This could easily be a beach town in California, with the surf board in the garden. After walking through the town, we looped back to the waterfront. Pretty waterside homes. Groynes can be found on many beaches in England; they prevent erosion. I love the contrast and the texture. The groynes also break the wind if you sit right up against them! If you look carefully at the ocean you can see the rows of oyster beds. And offshore, windmills in the distance.Every English town with a beach seems to have beach huts, and they’re almost always colorful.Not everyone waits for summer to enjoy their hut!
In the spirit of virtual travel, I leave you with this. If I stare at it long enough, I can just imagine I’m there.
These are beautiful pictures of Whitstable, Linda. Thank you for sharing. Although I,too, have visited there, somehow I missed most of the beauty that you recorded!
Thanks Pam! I can see how that could happen… the high street was not particularly lovely, and if you don’t get lucky with the weather it can be harder to find the beauty!
These are beautiful pictures of Whitstable, Linda. Thank you for sharing. Although I,too, have visited there, somehow I missed most of the beauty that you recorded!
Thanks Pam! I can see how that could happen… the high street was not particularly lovely, and if you don’t get lucky with the weather it can be harder to find the beauty!
Thanks so much for the virtual revisit! I enjoyed that day twice now. ❤️
Wow what a lovely little place. I wold love to visit someday. For now, thanks for the tour.