Today is Görans last day and we decide to take a tour over to Cowes on Isle of Wight – one of the yachting centers of the world. We take the catamaran service that speeds over the Solent in 20 minutes at 40 knots. As we land, we take a stroll out to the Royal Yacht Squadron that hosts races. We get a chock as the starting gun all of a sudden is fired next to us. Continuing out on the beach, we look at the racing yachts and we walk back. Today, we have two urgent tasks – Göran should get new reading glasses and I should get a haircut. The press freaks us out so we decide to complete this before we go for a beer in the sun.
Cowes
Narrow streets in Cowes
Starting cannon goes off again
Yes. Thanks. We know. Now.
Lions overlooking the Solent
More lions
The beach at Cowes
After calming down, we decide to take the chain ferry to east Cowes and visit Osborne – the castle where Queen Victoria lived. It is a steep climb up a hill and we reach the nice park that surrounds the castle after half an hour. The castle was built to feel “cozy” according to the German word “Gemütlichkeit”. It is a beautiful castle overlooking the Solent but I would not call it cozy. Long isles with statues, a ballroom decorated in Indian style, dark bedroom with dark paintings of Jesus on the cross etc.
Aerial photo of Osborne. With a green frame of course
A walk in the park
The ”cozy” castle
Interior
The ballroom
The garden overlooking the Solent
We take the chain ferry back to West Cowes and settle down in the harbour for a seafood dinner before returning to Southampton.
The chain ferry between the East and West Cowes
Relaxing in the harbour after a stressful day