Whew, what a trip. Had a very hard time getting everybody up this morning, but we
were finally on our way to Shanklin. We are meeting up with Alrik there and are
going to visit some of the sights around the town.
Shanklin
We found a great little hotel to stay at while we are here and I hate to say it,
but it even has a bar for Jurak and Gal.
OK, everybody stop staring at the beds and get a move on. There will be plenty
of time to sleep tonight. You might get at least 6 hours. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/biggrin.gif" alt="" />
Shanklin has a beautiful Old Village at the bottom of High Street and that is
where we met up with Alrik and head off to see the sights.
Have you ever heard of Keats and Longfellow. Well, Shanklin was one of their
favorite places. Keats began his long poem Lamia in a cottage under the cliff in
the days whenhe came to the islandin his pathetic search for health. Longfellow
came to the inn on the slopeof Shanklin Chine in the old part of the town. The
verse he wroteis let into a brick pillar from which water trickles for the
thirsty traveller.
0, traveller, stay thy weary feet;
Drink of this fountain pure and sweet;
It flows for rich and poor the same,
Then go thy way, remembering still
The wayside well beneath the hill,
The cup of water in His name,
The little spring discovered by the court
physician to Charles II is still running bravely.
Longfellow's fountain is outside the Crab Inn.
And yes, Jurak you can take time out for a drink while the rest of us explore
the other shops.
Pencil Cottage Gift Shop
Village Inn and the Tea Shop
Don't you just love these old thatched roofs. I wonder how well they keep the
rain out. Well, they must be pretty good because they have been around a long,
long time. This village is absolutely fantastic.
Shan <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/alien.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
