Un comfortable Chairs

Now of course on the ship all the chairs were of the finest quality, and comfortable beyond compare.

Staying at the BW in Brooklyn little did I know that there was an international competition to see which hotel or Guest House could provide the most uncomfortable chairs on the planet.

The British have won this competition cheeks down by furnishing our room with these masterpieces of restlessness from Ikea.

The Ones In Our Room Are Dry

These chairs are so bad that you can even put a pillow on it, and you still can’t sit there for very long.

Since being ship less we have had to forage for our own food and pay for it out of our own meager funds as our cruise cards are now worthless, and the exchange rate is against us as $1.13 is worth 1 pound Sterling.

Since there was plenty of lamb served on board for our first meal on British soil we found The Real Greek and I don’t know how we found it as we have no phone data, and the only wi-fi I could find was from the mall, and it only lasted for a few meters outside of the building. 

The restaurant is a UK chain, but they had lamb shish kebab on the menu, so I was sold. The kabobs were very good, but as I was trying to cut them into smaller pieces, I discovered that I was using a butter knife, and remembering back to dining on the ship, all the meat I ate, I had to cut with a butter knife. Can the British not be trusted with a steak knife?

The meal was good though. The Spanakopita was strange as it was not in Filo dough but rolled up in some breading and deep fried. Must be a British thing.

Southampton among other things was a Medieval city, and in old town where we went exploring are the remains of the old city gate.

The Gate To The Old City Of Southampton

It is a impressive structure. You can walk along it for quite a ways. We did and came to the sales display for Ford electric Mustang, and hybrid SUV. I bet the Medieval peasants that built the wall and gate never saw that coming.

Medieval Wall Electric Car

A ways down the old city wall is a Memorial to the Mayflower and her sister ship the Speedwell. Both ships stopped here before embarking on their journey to the Colonies.

Mayflower Memorial

I also discovered Homer Simpson smiling face on a curb all done up in mosaic.

Homer The UK Loves You

I guess Homer is popular here.

We took a Uber out to the new forest at Beaulieu  to visit the national car museum. They have buildings full of beautifully restored vehicles.

Part Of The National Car Museum

I am sure that most of them are in operating condition.

There is also a monorail here that we took.

The Monorail That Only Stops Where It Starts

We thought it would stop and let us off at the castle, but it just rolled right past the station. When we asked the driver why It didn’t stop at the station for the castle. He explained that they haven’t stopped there for quite a while as when they run two trains it is difficult to know where the other train is. He also told us they haven’t ran two trains in quite a while, as only one is in operating condition. Maybe this is why there is never a steak knife on the table.

There is also a castle at Beaulieu.  it was the home of  Montagu Family, who also were auto racers and responsible for most of the cars.

The castle has everything you would expect in a castle. Huge kitchen, and dining room. Sitting rooms. Music room. Even actors dressed in period costumes as maids. It was quite fun.

The gardens feature plants clipped into the shape of people and animals. It’s a fitting tribute to animals are most likely extinct in this part of Great Britain because back in the day the Brits had steak knives.

Plants Made To Look Like Tasty Animals