The Isle of Wight, Day Two,

started with a early breakfast, 

saying it was early, the staff had not started laying out the food, although yesterday evening we were asked what time we wanted to eat, 

but all was ready soon enough,

eyes down to truck in,

a great start to the day!

we were soon walking up the steep hill, 

and onto the bus, 

we were going to the Needles, 

and here we are, 

a tad early, 

but not to worry, 

as we had a look around, 

up to the viewing platform, 

Diana arriving there first,

and there they are, 

the Needles and their lighthouse, 

looking to the right from the platform,

the chair lift soon to be opened, 

a quick look at some of the dinosaurs, 

these around the go-kart track,

I am not sure that many dinosaurs have been found here,

but there are plenty of fossils from a earlier time to be found, 

the chair lift was now open,

scary-dairy!

it was a long way down, 

looking to the right, 

and down, below us a graveyard, for shoes and hats!

you can take the steps, 

but for myself, I could not have managed the steps, my knees would have given out

there are 2 boats go to the Needles, a slow one and a speedboat, 

we walked along the beach, 

you may have heard of the coloured sands of the island, 

and this is where they see the light of day, 

but no sand on the beach, 

it is all shingle and pebbles, 

a quick pose, 

originally the strands of colour were horizontal, but due to Technomic pressures they became vertical, 

just scrape at the black looking top coat, to reveal the coloured sands underneath, I should say there are notices up saying 'private beach', so I guess that means you can not take sand samples yourself, 

into the boat, 

and we were under way,

the sea nice and calm, 

although it was a bit blowy, 

grey skies were creeping in,

the last Needle and the lighthouse, 

as we started making our way back to shore, 

Diana happy as we made our way back, the sea was starting to get a bit bouncy,

a pose, 

and then we picked up a guest, 

or I should say he picked us, 

back on to the chair lift, 

and we were soon on our way up, 

selfie time!

then some fun, in one of the shops there were empty bottles you could buy, 

and coloured sands you could fill them with, 

they had so many samples of the different coloured sands,

so you could make your own unique coloured glass souvenir, 

so Diana filled her bottle with hand selected colours, 

which were then expertly tapped down and sealed, 

a look at the jewellery shop, 

and then a demonstration into glass blowing, 

to say it was warm inside was a understatement, 

I hate to think what their gas bill must be!

the gaffer, 

took us through,

 the various stages of making a vase, 

and then a chat, it was so amazing to watch him as he crafted molten glass into such a decorative piece,

next into the shop, 

Diana admired so many pieces, 

then on to a bus for our next stop, 

Shanklin Old Village,

so many thatched homes and shops,

some painted, 

in pastel colours, 

it all looked so nice, 

even the hotel,

I made my way back, 

to Diana, 

who was looking at the Christmas shop, 

opposite this imposing building, 

we went for a walk looking for red squirrels that live on the island, but alas none to be seen,

another neatly named fish & chip shop,

we walked up to the bus stop, 

and back to our hotel,

for a freshen up, before our evening meal, 'Cheers!',

we had decided on a Indian meal, 

a tofu dish for Diana,

a prawn puri starter for myself after some poppadoms, 

then our main course, a lamb and chicken dish with vegetables and rice,  

well I just had to, then back to the hotel for our evenings sleep.