The Downs

Alex

Alex and I went on an amazing bike ride yesterday up to Devil’s Dyke. It’s up in the rolling grassland just outside of Brighton, aptly called The Downs. I slept well last night and woke up a bit soar from the uphill riding, but it was totally worth it. England is much greener than I expected and it was the perfect day. Since I arrived, the weather has been cloudy and wet; yesterday, the sun was shining all day long and made for a splendid ride. At Devil’s Dyke, we stopped for a pint to soak in the views from the patio. Alex told me that when it snows in the winter you can snowboard down the valley, if you know someone with land. We didn’t stay long because the wind was blowing fairly strong making it considerably colder than it should have been.  I snapped a few pictures and then we hopped back on our bikes to head back into Brighton.

Me

We made a stop at the Booth Museum on our way back, a taxidermy museum showing off many specimens of natural history from across the globe. There was even one from a film you may have heard of, the badger in The Chronicles of Narnia. Some old lady totally kicked us out of a section where they were having a teaching with kids. Of course, it was after we already walked through ¾ of the exhibit, go figure! Nonetheless, a good example of the cultural scene Brighton has to offer. The rest of the evening was spent getting to know Alex and his girlfriend, Natalie. They are a dynamic couple that has a great rapport with each other. My plan was to head to Cornwall the following morning but Natalie kindly offered me to stay an extra night. After Natalie went to work, Alex followed through on a challenge to try some blazing hot Indian food around the corner. I was utterly defeated. It was delicious but I barely finished the two peppers Chicken Vindaloo. I was supposed to go three peppers, but after talking with the owner, I didn’t have the stones to go for it. I may have been hospitalized… Even though he was right, I was still rewarded. Alex introduced me to scotch. I think I need a few years before I dive into that nightcap. It definitely helped me relax for the evening though.

The Booth Museum

Wednesday was low-key and calm. I took a leisur bike ride through Brighton to make a quick stop at Nick’s. While there, I met his mom who is a pleasant woman. She is a freelance photographer with a very outgoing personality and is also well-traveled. She was telling me about where to go in the US to have some fun (Sand dune surfing anyone?)! After saying goodbye, I cycled back to Alex and Natalie’s where we cooked up some homemade pizza creations. All of them turned out amazing but the sauce and dough Alex made was utterly fantastic! When I email him asking for the recipe I better get some details. After letting our flavorgasms digest, Alex and I will attend a CouchSurfing meet and greet.