A windy day in Whitstable

The weather being really nice lately in England, three of us jumped in a train, (actually a train, a bus and a train), to the lovely seaside town of Whitstable.

I always get impatient and exited, when I find myself walking from the further away station, up to the center of the town; Eager to finally see, with my own eyes, the charms of the surrounding, and to discover what the small streets have to offer. 

Well, we were not disappointed. We spend quite a time walking along the seafront, breathing the air laden with the fresh scent of sea salt; Taking pictures, picking up shell, and filling our eyes, and mind with this long desired landscape. The beach is actually full of broken shells, that goes on to small rocks down to the sea.

We spotted that small restaurant named Samphire, on the high street, before going charity shopping (I love going the charity shops in small English town, I always found the best stuff!). 

I'm not sure how to pronounce the name of this place, neither what it means, but we had a delicious meal, that I will remember for a while. I don't want to sound pretentious, but being french and used to that well known cuisine, it's hard not to be picky, sometimes.

The three of us had the same dishes. 

Gnocchi with beetroot, goat cheese, spinach and walnuts, coated with coffee liquor. 

It was delicious !!!! We were trying to have all those different taste in our mouth at once.

Then we couldn't resit to the apple and pear crumble, with gypsy tart ice cream. The crumbs were just baked, not too much sugar, and the contrast between cold and hot was perfect. We had to ask the waitress what was in those recipe.

We spend so much time enjoying our food, that we had just an hour to visit all the nice shops before they closed.

Pearl & Hemingway

The black board of this one was saying "maybe" for being open on Sunday. Well it was not.

I really like the small selection in Anchors aweigh vintage, and the display inside.

Franks had a very nice selection of illustration books.

We had some time to kill before our train depart, so we went back to wonder on the seafront, taking silly pictures, and for myself making some so called "land art" with the shells. 

Another shop that is worth mentioning is Oxford street books. A second hand book shop with million of books about many subject. I was so happy to find this one, with a good selection of Man Ray pictures and beautiful portraits. My friend found a nice one with Aubrey Beardlsey drawings for a good price.

It's settled, We're moving to Lewes, Sussex.

Last Saturday, 3 explorers headed to the big megalopolis town of Lewes. 

A small burg one hour away from London, and 20 minutes from Brighton.  Lewes sits on a small hill, surrounded by more hills, with its charming Castle on the top, its High Street, and above all its cow field !!! We didn't visit the Castle as we wanted to save some time to check on the green hill we could see above the houses.

Also I found this great article about the vintage and antiques shops of Lewes.

Near by the ruined Castle you will find a wide piece of grass with a few group of players. Players of what ? Good question. Us french thought it was a heavier version of your dear "pétanque". This game though not identified, we had pleasure watching its participants, properly dressed and all concentrated to strike the ball. 

It was so peaceful, and the weather so perfect, a not too cold, fresh autumn day !

Spying over the fence. 

This round (hobbit) house was apparently occupied by Virginia Woolf at a time.

An old shop filled with old books, that smelled like a wet dog. We figured out that the books were part of the architecture, so basically, you can't take them, if so the walls crumbles.

My crew, yo. 

A town full of Antiques !!!!!!! 

This shop, Closet and Botts, is my "Coup de Coeur". The outside and inside decoration and set up are lovely. 

Ceramics, linen with an old style, candles. They, as well, sell vintage look like clothes made from old 1940s rayon !!! The design is so lovely !

We finally ate at a great great café, called Flint Owl Bakery. It was so delicious, and in big portion, I couldn't finish what I had ordered. Well after the ham and mustard foccacia toastie, the black quinoa aubergine courgette salad, go and add the huge slice of red velvet !!!

That kept us going to stroll up the hill, to the cow field (golf club), where we could witness a beautiful sunset on Lewes and its surrounding. 

It was a great day, Lewes we will be back !!