I woke up at 7am because one of the other girls' alarms went off, so was in a flurry to check the time because it sounded just like mine. I got back to bed and reset my alarm for 8.30. I went downstairs for my included breakfast after having one aborted shower and another successful one across the corridor. The French girl in my room locked me out so I found her in the breakfast room and borrowed her key. Breakfast was fairly ordinary with awful croissants. I sat with the French girl, who works for the Uni of Bristol from France. We had a bit of a chat about universities and fine art. I took some margarine, sugar, and milk with me.
I packed up and left at about 10.15. I walked to Temple Meads, taking a photo or two on the way. The train to Torquay was at 11.10 and was quite comfortable, though I managed to sit in someone else's seat all the way to Exeter St David's. The countryside got more and more beautiful and somehow I felt more and more comfortable. The man in the food car was an absolute scream - he had a broad Westcountry accent and a very refreshing mode of expression. I arrived in Torquay at about 1.30.
After studying a map at the train station, I walked up the hill towards the town centre. I went up and down what I thought were the main streets looking for either the backpackers or the tourist office to get a map. I kept on down to the harbour and finally found signs to the tourist office. I followed them all the way around to the pavillion, and even across the road (at which point I discovered the REAL town centre) until I discovered the signs were misleading and went back over the road. I found it eventually and the man gave me a map and marked where the backpackers was.
I went up the wrong street but soon set myself right and found the backpackers. There was a note on the door to say that reception wouldn't open until 3pm (as I had been warned on the phone) so I sat beside the door to wait until 3pm. One of the inhabitants went in the door after about ten minutes and insisted on me going inside. I was cold, wet, tired, and my feet were aching, so I didn't complain. I checked in, got my shower token, dumped my gear, and went back out.
I made a beeline for a bakery I had seen with marvellous-looking pasties. There were only smalls left in the shortcrust variety so I got two. They were rolled and sealed in the same way Dad used to do them. I also got something called a strawberry shortbread which was a slice of jam tart. I ate my pasties while walking slowly back down to the harbour in the same direction I had taken from the station, taking photos this time. I went out onto the pier but didn't try to walk right around as the waves were breaking over the top. I kept walking around the water up to the high section with the weird black netting and found a nice little cove and a man walking his dog. We decided it was too windy for us.
I walked back to the town centre past a takeaway shop (with a vast range of products served with chips) to the mall. Once there, I got soap from the Body Shop, feet supports from Superdrug (and some moisturiser as a treat) and dinner (lasagne and juice) from Tescos. I took the lot back up to the backpackers and had a lie down and drifted off a few times. I roused myself just before 8 and went downstairs to warm up my lasagne and to do some socialising. The lasagne was awful but the people were interesting.
I washed up my things, bought another shower token and went back upstairs. I washed my hair since it was foul, and had a reasonably early night (10.30?).
I packed up and left at about 10.15. I walked to Temple Meads, taking a photo or two on the way. The train to Torquay was at 11.10 and was quite comfortable, though I managed to sit in someone else's seat all the way to Exeter St David's. The countryside got more and more beautiful and somehow I felt more and more comfortable. The man in the food car was an absolute scream - he had a broad Westcountry accent and a very refreshing mode of expression. I arrived in Torquay at about 1.30.
After studying a map at the train station, I walked up the hill towards the town centre. I went up and down what I thought were the main streets looking for either the backpackers or the tourist office to get a map. I kept on down to the harbour and finally found signs to the tourist office. I followed them all the way around to the pavillion, and even across the road (at which point I discovered the REAL town centre) until I discovered the signs were misleading and went back over the road. I found it eventually and the man gave me a map and marked where the backpackers was.
I went up the wrong street but soon set myself right and found the backpackers. There was a note on the door to say that reception wouldn't open until 3pm (as I had been warned on the phone) so I sat beside the door to wait until 3pm. One of the inhabitants went in the door after about ten minutes and insisted on me going inside. I was cold, wet, tired, and my feet were aching, so I didn't complain. I checked in, got my shower token, dumped my gear, and went back out.
I made a beeline for a bakery I had seen with marvellous-looking pasties. There were only smalls left in the shortcrust variety so I got two. They were rolled and sealed in the same way Dad used to do them. I also got something called a strawberry shortbread which was a slice of jam tart. I ate my pasties while walking slowly back down to the harbour in the same direction I had taken from the station, taking photos this time. I went out onto the pier but didn't try to walk right around as the waves were breaking over the top. I kept walking around the water up to the high section with the weird black netting and found a nice little cove and a man walking his dog. We decided it was too windy for us.
I walked back to the town centre past a takeaway shop (with a vast range of products served with chips) to the mall. Once there, I got soap from the Body Shop, feet supports from Superdrug (and some moisturiser as a treat) and dinner (lasagne and juice) from Tescos. I took the lot back up to the backpackers and had a lie down and drifted off a few times. I roused myself just before 8 and went downstairs to warm up my lasagne and to do some socialising. The lasagne was awful but the people were interesting.
I washed up my things, bought another shower token and went back upstairs. I washed my hair since it was foul, and had a reasonably early night (10.30?).
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