ADVENTURES IN HASTINGS
Day No. 1 - Arrival in Hastings
We entered Hastings in the wee hours of the morning after fairly calm travel from Scotland. I was awakened by my friend as she had parked her Land Rover next to a San Franciscan-style row of houses. Tasha had already texted our Airbnb host and she was at the door in her pajamas and trying to stifle a deep yawn. I looked at my watch and barely made out the tiny hand pointing to 1 am. Yawning, I began to wake myself up and started to strategize how to get my son out of the car seat without waking him up. A foolish wish. I decided I would wait until the last minute for my son and started to unload my camera bag and diaper bag when I heard a large crash coming from the house. I didn't hear any frantic calls or yelling so I continued to unpack. I thought perhaps some had missed the last couple of steps on some carpeted stairs which made a similar sound to one I have heard and experienced before. I later learned that my husband was the one who had been the source of the loud noise as he had been the one who fell down the stairs. Fortunately, he was unharmed from his sleepy-eyed misstep. Both of us being a little worse for wear, hoped that no more tumbles would occur for the rest of the trip.
The time had come and I carefully tried to unbuckle and pick up my son, but sure enough little man woke up. I cautiously walked into the dark house as I made my way down the stairs, I was careful to catch every step. The last thing we needed was for me to fall downstairs with my son… again. I made my way down to the garden suite and was tired from our travels I hardly noticed the eccentric decor. I placed my son in the assembled pack-n-play and oriented myself with my new surroundings. Our bed looked comfortable enough so I went to scope out the kitchen and bath. The suite was well set even if it was on the small side. There was no shower head above, but an antique bath that I knew was going to be quite the experience for my 6’4” husband. Exhausted, I said goodbye to our host and our friends and then tried to get myself into bed as quickly as possible. Although woke for a little time during our transition, we all seemed to settle in once we were all in bed.
We woke to find lots of sunlight against the floor-to-ceiling curtains and little streams of bright light seeping through the sides. Although we had a late night, our son was still awake near his usual time of 7 am. It was slow going, but once I was washed and dressed I began to take in my surroundings. We were in a large room with some of the strangest decor I had ever witnessed. Amongst the normal Airbnb items of tourist books, maps, and photos were other tidbits that we found interesting. There was a lot of different art on the walls from a Banksy print in the hall to Andy Warhol classics in the kitchen and small framed vintage postcards from local spots in Hastings. There were heart-string lights around the converted fireplace which added to the eccentric style and many different types of books to peruse. Although the decor was not to my taste, it was a comfortable space and the outdoor patio was tranquil and lovely.
After some much-needed rest (and a glass of wine on the patio), our friends picked us up and took us to visit Bodiam Castle. Bless their hearts, our dear friends were determined to show me an active castle, but alas, Bodiam was also a ruined castle. In much better shape than the castle we saw in Scotland, the castle at Bodiam was fantastic. The towers are enormous and the moat around the castle very much helped one imagine the place as it were back when it was in use. We arrived at the castle fairly late in the afternoon and only had enough time to climb up a couple of the numerous towers. The narrow passageways and the steepness of the stairs brought back memories for both my husband and me. We took exceptionally great care to take our time climbing the steep, smooth stone stairs that took us farther and farther away from the ground below.
At the top of the tower, the view was simply incredible. The vastness of the space and greenery that spread out and away from us was amazing. The English countryside could not have been more picturesque. I also loved that my son continued to be himself even at the top of a castle tower. For some reason, he started dancing and I love the video I captured of him.
After being shooed out of the Castle because it was closing for the day, we all headed back to Hastings. My friend’s husband drove us around the sleepy town while both he and my friend shared what they loved about Hastings, and gave suggestions for what to do during our stay and the general history of the area. When asked what we would like to eat for dinner, my husband and I promptly said, “Indian, of course,” and then we ventured into the town of Hastings.
Day No. 2 - The sea and old town
Besides the brief mentions of Hastings in novels like Pride and Prejudice and historical references, I had very little knowledge of the city of Hastings. It was a very gentile town. The many boats by the sea, the dozens of seafood restaurants, and the shops made it evident of the vocation that has dominated the town, fishing. We walked along the path by the shore and glimpsed our first view of open water in two weeks. To some, this detail may have gone unnoticed, but being that we live in San Diego and near enough to the ocean to be able to see a glimpse of the Pacific quite often, the English Channel was a sight for sore eyes. Unlike our beaches in California, the land that led out to the sea was not sand, but pebbles. The sound of the waves crashing on to the shore and then receding into the sea was something like a rain stick. The ocean is where I go during times of stress to calm my nerves and I was delighted to find that although the sea looked and sounded very different from home, it still provided me with much-needed tranquility.
Although we tried to eat lunch around noon or 1 pm like the local crowds, we could not help but be starving at the 11 am mark. As were surrounded by fisheries and good seafood, we decided to give some real fish and chips a go. We stopped at one of the few places that was open so early, The Seagull Restaurant. Everyone was so kind and loved talking with my son. It was quite cold outside, so the we received our piping hot plates our bodies started to warm and relax. After several days of a friend of mind commenting that I needed to try the ciders in the area, I decided to partake in the libation. A beer for my husband and a cider for me helped balance the meal and all of us were satisfied. I was sort of sad to reenter the cold weather outside, but time was on the move and we needed to get the little man back home for a nap. If you find yourself in Hastings, I would seriously give this restaurant a try. The building was quaint and the food was so good.
After my son’s nap, we decided to explore the old town part of Hastings. The buildings and shops were so lovely. I loved the use of different colors. Unlike the seaport town of San Diego, the buildings had a brilliant ancientness to them. The worn edges, the faded colors, and the erosion of time were present in nearly every structure.
Before we were halfway along on our walk, my husband pointed out a coffee shop. I fell in love as soon as I walked in. In Hanushka Coffee House the walls were lined with books. It was so cozy and relaxing that I almost settled myself into one of the couches with my cup of tea to read and pass the day. But my son was not about to sit in his stroller for an hour while his parents relaxed with their warm beverages. Even after I found a kid’s book section, I could only persuade my son to read a few books before he was ready to move on.
We finished our adventure in a park near the main stretch of the small town. I enjoyed the fall colors and the freedom my son had to run around. It was at this point that I was missing home. Two days in London remained and I was beginning to wish that we were heading home the next day. Even so, I enjoyed seeing the change of seasons and the fresh air by the sea.
