It was getting ridiculous: in more than 10 years living in London, I had never been to Brighton. What was worse is that I had only heard good thing about the town for years and longed to discover it!
Now this August, finally, I made it! I was even lucky enough to have Daniel as a charming guide around town, who parted with local knowledge and anecdotes as we wandered the windy streets.
It took just under an hour from Victoria station to Brighton, and time flew by easily with a good book.
The first thing Daniel pointed out to me stepping out of the station was a graffiti wall. It was a striking work all over. Then paying more attention to details, I saw it, the Banksy iconic urban art. Daniel informed me that a few years ago, it was not covered or protected from the public. However, it was bought recently and, as you can see on the picture, it has now been isolated. Is it still the real one underneath, or a copy? We wondered; not that it makes any difference.
There are lots of chilli shops around. Why? No idea. I did a little search on Google when I returned and couldn’t find an explanation.
For the same unknown reasons, there are many, many, many, MANY vintage shops and leather shops. It is a real discovery paradise for the shoppers who like the unexpected and creativity. The urban art covers the walls everywhere and in a talented way. There are even several chocolate bars!
Some of the shops have an interesting ‘raison d’etre’, too. The streets and lanes of the city center shimmer from the windows of numerous jewelry shops. Thanks to Daniel (again), I learned that it is due to the open-minded and relaxed mores of the town in comparison with the rest of the country. After the war, it was current for lovers to come to Brighton. It was one of the places they could rent a room even though unmarried. The jewelry business thus flourished, as the men would treat their mistresses with a precious gift as a proof of their affection.
Brighton has established a culture of being avant-garde on social behaviour a long time ago, from the time of George IV. In the late 18th century, George IV had the Royal Pavilion built there when Brighton was essentially a fishing town. There, his parties were renowned for its banquets of wine and food as well as their loose morality, often turning into orgies. He had the Pavilion built for love, though, as on the other side of the road lived his mistress. Legend has it that a hidden passage underground linked the Royal Pavilion to her house…
In the summer, the main attractions of Brighton are its beaches and its pier. Although I visited in August, the weather was not for sunbathing and venturing into the sea. It was a red flag day for swimming. The sight and the sound of the waves crashing on the shores were so beautiful, I wish I could have felt them on me too.
I will go back to Brighton (and hopefully not waiting 10 more years)!
Thank you for reading,
Virginie
