Deal

Because of Mom's ankle, we had a more chilled out day on Sunday and headed to Deal for a mooch around. We walked along the sea front and pier before getting a Sunday lunch. 

Deal sea front.

Dad made a friend.

Deal from the end of the pier.

After lunch we walked to Deal castle. The castle was built by Henry VIII to protect against the French and Spanish after he broke he marriage to Catherine of Aargon, his first wife, and managed to annoy every other Catholic country in Europe. It was never actually used as a defence but was built really well. The walls were rounded so cannon balls would skim off and the inside was a rabbit warren. He made it intentionally confusing so if it got invaded, it would be easier to defend.

castle

Heading inside.

The lower floors were empty, as they would have been, for fighting and storage. The upper flower was refurbished for the commanders and had panelled walls etc. 

We had a good look around but there were some extremely loud and annoying children running around, screaming. Their parents apparently thought it was just fine to let them keep on doing so. We did not. So we left after grabbing some Sloe gin and Damson Gin from the shop.

We then headed to St.Margaret's beach and sat on the beach for a while. They do an amazing hot chocolate at the little cafe there! And then spent another lazy evening at the caravan.

Foraging for an Oyster feast

The past few weeks have been busy - a visit home, meals with family, drinks with friends, wine tasting. I just haven't taken any photos. 

This weekend I went to Deal in Kent. I was planning on going to the beach on Saturday but it took my 5 hours to do a 2 hr trip thanks to the M26 and M20 being closed due to the collapsed bridge. So in the end I gave up on the beach idea and found a vineyard near my hotel, chilled out for  bit and then just went to the hotel and napped. 

But I was up early Sunday morning, up to near Margate to go foraging. I brought a voucher for a foraging experience. Thankfully the weather was lovely. Along with another couple, Lucia took us out and we went looking for mussels and oysters!

Headed for the beach

All to ourselves.

She showed us which mussels to pick, how to find oysters and what seaweeds were the best to eat. We filled up a bucket and a few strong bags full of goodies.

Mussels.

Hunting 

On the sea front.

Checking an oyster

Digging them up.

Oyster.

crab pretending to be a oyster, hiding in its shell

My favourite seaweed is called pepper dolce and is a little feathery thing which grows on sea walls. I can't describe the taste but it's amazing. We used it as a herb later.

Pepper dolce.

Good for seaweed crisps. 

After a few hours we had found enough for a massive feast and headed back to Deal to cook it up at Lucia's house. The house itself was amazing. So cute. She forages full time as has loads of home made goodies everywhere.

Yum!

Goodies.

After sweet onion soup and seaweed to warm up (it was sunny but windy and a little chilly), we had steamed mussels with garlic butter and fennel mayo. I found a number of baby crabs hiding in my mussels. So cute. Though now thoroughly steamed. 

Baby crab

We went to the sea front to open the oysters as they are messy. I have opened them before but these were huge and tricky. So we resorted to using a hammer on the shucking knife. But it worked. The ones we picked were a lot bigger than you buy and definitely a mouth full! But a glass of prossecco helped. :) No pearls but maybe next time. 

Opening them

Giant oyster

Bottoms up.

 A lot of people stopped and asked where we got them but it's a secret! :) We feasted! You would pay a fortune for these in a restaurant. But we did get very messy at the same time.

Half our feast shells

They used to be blue. Now oyster juice coloured.

We also cooked some up back at Lucia's House, which were nicer than I expected. All followed by hot chocolate and apple scones. Which were amazing. To be honest the whole meal and experience was brilliant. If anyone is interested, check out the Wild Kitchen. It is well worth the trip. And the food is to die for.

After the lunch I went for a walk along to beach to walk off some of the food.

Deal beach.

The pier wasn't wood which was disappointing but it was a nice walk.

Pier. 

There were lots of people fishing off the pier but all they seem to be catching was seaweed. :) But they were enjoying it so why not?

Sand pipers.

Start of the white cliffs

Thankfully the drive back was so much better than the drive down. Though the traffic still heading south was crazy. Hopefully it will be sorted out before I head back down there in a few weeks. And when I got home, I had oysters, seaweed crisps and an apple scone for tea. :)

Seattle - Day 1

I am in Seattle for the next week at the AAS conference. I had a bit of a lie in this morning, but not a lot. I didn't sleep well and expect to crash any second now. The conference doesn't start until this evening so I took the day to explore. After consulting the reception desk (and finding all the dodgy parts to avoid - not what I asked but good to know anyway), I decided to get the monorail over to the Seattle Centre. I was very excited about the monorail though the trip itself was a bit disappointing. The views of Seattle were not the best. They seem to be rebuilding ... well all of it.

Monorail.

At the Centre there are a bunch of museums and the Space Needle. If you have ever seen Fraiser, you'll get it.

Space Needle.

 I took the trip to the top. It didn't take long to walk around but they do nice coffee up there. Seattle is currently living up to its reputation of being wet. It has been drizzling all day.

View of Downtown

Around the Needle.

The harbor.

While I was sitting drinking my coffee, Seattle seemed to disappear for a while. The cloud was impressive. It seems whenever I go up a tower to get a view, this happens. At least it wasn't as windy as it was up the Empire State Building.

And Seattle disappears!

After the Needle, I went to the Chihuly glass gardens next door. I highly recommend this to anyone in Seattle. It was amazing!!!!! So far by far the best place in Seattle. It's a glass art museum. The displays are amazing, and really beautiful. The first room was the sea life room.

Turtle

The second room had a Persian ceiling.

Glass ceiling

No idea what the third room was but the rooms got more amazing as you move through.

Then was my favorite room. There were 2 boats with glass. It was inspired by a trip to Japan. It was so colorful and cheerful. I spent ages looking and taking photos.

There is also a conservatory with a glass sculpture of flowers from the ceiling.

With the Space Needle.

 One of the thing the artist, Chihuly, seems to love is making glass chandeliers.

And some very pretty bowls/vases. 

The outdoor gardens would be awesome in the sun but as it was raining, I didn't spend much time there.

Tree.

Glass fir tree 

 I got a voucher for the cafe with my ticket so I went there for lunch. The cafe had cool displays on the walls and ceiling and the food was really nice.

Accordions. 

Slightly creeping dolls.

After the glass gardens, I wondered around (mainly trying to find a pharmacy - got to love the recycled air in planes) and the markets. Seattle is supposed to be an amazing music scene, I will see more of it Friday, but they do have some hardcore buskers.

Busking with a piano.

The markets are pretty cool, though I didn't buy anything. There were lots of fish stalls. I am hoping to eat loads of fresh fish while I am here.

The public market

 Though the markets do have some odd names ...

As opposed to the unsanitary one?

The sea front is ... well, it was pretty miserable. They have a wheel, which might be nice in good weather, but it was way too expensive to think about.

The Great Wheel 

To you too!

The map I have suggested visiting Miner's Landing, though I have no idea why. There were a few restaurants but the inside was creepy.

Entrance

The corridor of death 

Inside a weird shop.

I had enough and made my way back to the hotel thankfully finally via a pharmacy. While I was hunting up tissues, a girl from the makeup section gave me a free book. No idea why but I never turn down free books! :-)

Now I am going to crash for a while before the reception tonight. Oh and maybe write my talk (which I haven't started yet).