July 23, 2017

Rain Rain Rain and more Rain

We catch the Bus and head to Portsmouth just south of Southhampton for the night. The two hour bus ride at $15GDP each allows us to see the countryside. The bus and ride were very nice and comfortable once we got used to the wrong side of the highway and the passing lane in the other lane. We sat in the front seat which meant a lot of initial panic.

We arrive at Portsmouth and it is a beautiful seaside community- grab a cab which was right there and check into our hotel trying to decide what we would like to do. We decide to go to Isle of Wight. We ride a hovercraft over 10 minutes to a small island with chaulk cliffs- much like I saw in Dover. Only problem was it was raining so hard we could not see anything AND no one bothered to tell us we had to get to the other side of the island to see the cliffs- and there were no cabs. In fact we did not learn all this until 3 hours later. We grab lunch at an old castle- traditional pot roast which was both beef and pork. Interesting dogs everywhere and allowed in- even in eating places and pubs- odd.

4 dogs in this pub

Roast with yorkshire pudding- Moms is better

Hovercraft- said to be the last used in the world

We end up in a small coffee shop and learn all shops were closed due to rain and the beach and views were the other side of the island. We decide to cut our losses and return back. Getting back we look for cabs- no luck, Then we find cabs- all require "pre booking". We find a nice uber driver and since I have an uber app we think Im in luck- however it will not work and will not contact him. Naturally the rain begins to pour again as Im trying to use my phone. Finally we get a mean cab driver who brings us back- charging 2GDP more than the trip over. In talking to the desk we learn that things are opposite here. Uber costs by time, taxi by distance so take a taxi. Also there are many companies and they charge different prices. They call cab it works great- getting home is more of an issue without a phone- they are not just going up and down the street like everywhere else.

Lilly learned of a street with many shops- since we don't have to leave until 11 we will go there at 7:50 (yes they open so we are told at 7:45) and try to shop and get a cab back to take us to the pier in Southhampton- a half an hour drive.

Todays lessons

1. In hindsight- the bus was great idea- saved money- nice ride worked well.
2. Hotel not so much so- bad location-
3. Hovercraft fun, Isle of Wight nice on the other side- not so nice in the rain
4. Portsmouth is little community with messy complicated transportation- a bus system that is odd and without information- but we saw the buses.

Ready to cruise and have people wait on us for next 12 days!