Portsmouth
Posted by KaySquirrel on November 7th, 2005
We went to Portsmouth on Saturday!
It’s a seaside town, about a 2 hour drive from Bracknell. The sun only came out briefly, but even with the wind, it was still warm enough for a nice day out. The beach is rocks, not sand, and was really clean. No cigarette butts and garbage strewn along the waterside like at Ottawa’s Britannia beach — and without that horrible fishy smell, too! I found 5 little shells, which have been washed and are now sitting on a shelf in the washroom until I decide what to do with them!
It was pretty quiet when we went, as it’s out of season, but there were midway game places still open, so we lost a bit of spare change there. 
During the high season, I’m told that it can does get quite crowded, with the underlying trashiness typical of any touristy place. Having been to Niagara Falls several times, I do have a certain appreciation for tacky, so it’d be nice to go again when one can actually go swimming!
We had fish & chips for lunch! As a mere tourist in April 2004, I was not given the chance to sample this delicacy. Although I saw no reason for this oversight, in time I began to accept the the fact that more drastic steps would be needed. Apparently, along with a promise of marriage and moving everything you own across the ocean, one is welcomed into the secret society of people taken out to fish & chip shops! It was well worth the wait, though! (I was also taught the secret handshake.)
There’s a hovercraft that goes between Portsmouth and the Isle of Wight! We got to see it arrive and then depart a few moments later.
There’s a ferry that you can take your car on, but it’s not nearly as cool as a hovercraft.
We also saw a ferry bringing people over from France. Unfortunately, there was no way to stop it. 
YELLOW STRIPEY BOAT!!!
Finally, the Spinnaker Tower!
A millenium project that opened 5 years too late. It’s comforting to know that some things here are the same as back home. 
If I was going to build a giant structure that would serve no real purpose right near the waterfront, I would want it to look JUST like that!
Except mine would shoot things towards France.