The Scallop Shell

We’ve had a fab and full day. 
Heading south to the lovely town of Aldeburgh we turned off to visit Snape Maltings and get a coffee. 
The Maltings - bottom extra - have been redeveloped and it is a concert venue where the Aldeburgh/Benjamin Britten festival concerts are held as well as others. We had a short walk through the whispering reeds around the River Alde full of wading birds. Shops too, full of Christmas ‘stuff’!

On to Aldeburgh with it’s Moot Hall and shingle beaches - extra - lined with seafood shacks. A pretty high street with colourful houses and attractive shops too. Britten lived and worked here, we saw the blue plaque, and this Scallop Shell sculpture  by  Maggie Hambling was created in his honour and features the phrase ‘I hear these voices that will not be drowned’ from his opera, Peter Grimes. Amazingly this was referred to by freespiral on her blip from NZ this morning. How crazy that I should be seeing it today.

On to Thorpeness for a cup of tea by the Meare with a view of both the windmill and the ‘House in the Clouds’, a converted water tower - extra.  We walked through the village for a closer look at them and really liked the predominantly black and white clapperboard houses every where.
Passing RSPB Minsmere we took a brief stop in Dunwich, former site of one of England’s largest ports in the Middle Ages. Now just an inn, a few cottages and one or two ancient remains as the sea has reclaimed over 2m of land here over the centuries.

Finally to Walberswick, acroos the RvBlyth from Southwold. We watched the little ferry going across to - extra - and then went for a drink at the Bell Inn. It was recommended to us last night for eating but again no bookings unless you were a resident, we would have to have driven back later as the little ferry finishes at five and although our hotel meal last night was delicious it was a bit too rich and pricey for three nights running, so fish and chips it has been tonight here in Southwold with very tasty fresh haddock  What could be better to round off a great day.