Castle Conference 2014 pt. 3 Hastings

The second day of the Castle Conference is an afternoon off. The organizers always offer a bus tour, people can find their own way, or they can stay behind. In the past, Brian and I have taken a day trips to Brighton and Portsmouth. This year, we went to Hastings.

While we were there, we toured Hastings Castle. William of Normandy ordered it to be built in 1066 before he actually fought the Saxons in a place a few miles away called Battle. Storms have weathered the sandstone walls and the French have attacked it a few times, but it is still pretty cool.

Here I am sitting on a rock on the castle grounds.

Here's a better picture of the ruins.

King Brian entering the great hall.

Hastings is also home to St. Clements' Caves. Apparently the British people didn't like taxes any more than their American cousins, so they smuggled goods into their country for years and years to avoid tariffs. The caves have also served as a "lover's lane," a workhouse, an air raid shelter, and now a tourist attraction.

Brian loved the caves and I liked them. I thought they were cold. But the exhibits were animated and the attraction has the right amount of information--enough that I can learn something, but not so much that I am overwhelmed.

Here's some smugglers.

Here is a carving. They are all over the cave. They aren't sure who made all of them.

My favorite part was the sea. I have been to a lot of coasts, but my favorite is the South Coast of England. The water is warm and beautiful. The coast is clean. There is no fishy smell. The water is unencumbered by boats and so forth.

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