Royal Pavilion and other bits...

This week has just flown by and been packed with so much.  I finally got may day in Brighton to explore a bit.  George had an appointment there so we all piled in the Volvo station wagon family style including Lauren squished between 2 car seats in the back seat (I got the car seat squish on the ride home) and headed to Brighton.  The car ride was filled with the musical stylings of Rudi singing "Squash and a Squeeze" from the Gruffalo soundtrack.  For those of you who are wondering about the Gruffalo it is a really great kids book however the soundtrack is a bit rubbish and even worse when repeated over and over and over because it is so hard to say no to sweet Rudi's " Again Please...Squash Squeeze"
Upon arrival in Brighton the lovely rainy English weather sets in and kind of screws up my plans for walking the famous pier with all the original bandstands and exploring the cute eclectic shops....change plans to the huge crazy pavilion and hope the rain ends.

Royal Pavillion

This Pavilion is beyond words.  When it comes into view in this adorable victorian town the first thought I have is the song from Sesame Street "One of these things is not like the others "
It is a massive Indian inspired Palace on the outside then Asian inspired on the inside.  Complete with chandeliers with fire breathing dragons and everything!  To me it was a hot mess made by an extremely extravagant, eccentric (slightly mad) rich prince spending all of daddies money.  I wasn't allowed to take photos inside so you will have to look it up but it is the really the tackiest place I have ever seen.  It really was very well done but super tacky.  I did think the outside entrance arches were nice but still the whole thing was a bit over the top.

Entrance Arches

   Once I left the Pavilion it was still raining so I found shelter in the Brighton Museum.  I learned all about it's history...apparently it is where people would go to have a "dirty" weekend since it was a more open and free thinking town...so there is Brighton for you...cute and high society during the day, dark and scandalous by night.
  The rest of the week was filled with rubbish weather and a revisit to the Victoria and Albert Museum.  Such a great museum if you are ever in London you must go.  I did also take a night out to go to a 70's inspired bar in Soho called "The Player".   Lauren and I both were quite unimpressed ... there was a cover charge on a weeknight and the ambiance was mediocre.  The one thing they did have going for them was the cocktails.....really great!  Might be a different scene on a weekend night.  It's always great to get out and try something new and Lauren and I always find a way to make whatever we are doing fun.
This week has been non-stop though.....gotta catch my breath.