Scarborough

It is the school holidays so we decided to take a couple of days off, we worked Monday Tuesday but only us and the caretakers in school.

Up and away with a stop at Castle Howard follow link to see their web site.

Amazing place, Simon the current Howard living there drove past in his range rover and then when I got inside I saw his portrait on the wall.

As you can see a really magnificent place. They filmed Brides head Revisited here.

After exploring the grounds and house we headed off to Scarborough.

A visit to the Hotel and their was no parking until 6 so we went for a drive and went to the castle and looked down over the town.

Went back and checked in and P went to park the car, I got lost trying to find out room on floor -3, yes thats right the 3rd floor below ground. It is built on the side of a cliff above the beach. I walked round and round and it was very like being on a cruise shop, lots of corridors. Finally found our room and it was clean, new bathroom with spa bath but as you might expect when it only cost £34 there was no window.... so even more like a cabin in steerage.

There is a lounge/foyer and every seat was taken, some of the guests had their dogs staying with them, one even had a large Alaskan malamute, I wonder where it slept.

Went up to meet P and we went for a walk along the promenade, typical English beach with amusement arcades, lots of games that cost 50p and you get tickets back if you win or a really cheap toy.

we played 2 games of pool and went 10 pin bowling. Dinner was fish and chips from the Chippy but although the fish was nice the chips were soft. A long walk in the dark around the harbour and then back up to the hotel as every night they have entertainment.... couldn't wait. The similarity to a cruise got stronger as the ball room was full of retired folk, the dj kept annoucing dances that I hadn't heard of like the box tango. No one got up for ages until two old ladies got up and danced together and then they were joined by 3 other couples.

We sat up in the Circle with other nearer our own age and a teenage girl with her parents who looked like she would rather be having her toe nails pulled than be there.

Finally the main event, a man came and sung really loudly to us. He also told jokes....

Then at 11 it all ended and we went off to our windowless room.

Then next day up for our (included in the £34) breakfast and then off to Robin Hood Bay, a very nice old settlement.

Then we headed off to Whitby and first stop the Abbey.

This is where Count Dracular fled to when the villages chased him out of Transyvania, the story goes that a boat arrived and was wrecked off the coast ( trying for America) lots of coffins split out of the boat and they had bodies int hem. Then a large black dog leapt from the boat and swam ashore hiding in the Abbey cellars.

The town is now a centre for Goths and thus weekend is a Goth festival. We went fo a walk in the town ( after our Abbey ghost tour ) and there were a lot of people dressed in black with long coats and boots. What surprised me is how many were over 40 I thought goth was a young persons thing. . Quite fancy clothes with black lace and layers and lacing, but always the long coat and boots.

P visited the Capt James Cook Museum and I wandered the town, watching the kids crabbing off the wharf etc.

Then home. photo link