a weekend in rye

P and I have just returned from a quiet weekend away in Rye, where we were celebrating our anniversary! Rye is possibly the sweetest town I've ever been to, and it was so relaxing I wish we could've stayed another couple of days! We stayed in the loveliest little bed and breakfast called The Rye Windmill. I managed to book the Windmill Suite, which was a beautiful room with an iron spiral staircase that led to the bathroom (which had a spacious shower and bathtub, and his and hers sinks), and a private terrace that we could go out on and look over the little town. 
It was a little overcast on the first day, but not enough to deter us from exploring! P and I wandered out to the Rye Harbour Nature Reserve, which boasted some really lovely views and greenery. My favorite part was probably all the sheep. That sounds silly, but I'm such a city girl that wandering through a field where hundreds of sheep are grazing really tickled me. After a few hours of wandered, we took our tired feet back to the town center. 
It was all very pretty and idyllic. Half the streets in the main part of town are still cobbled, and some of the buildings are very old. Clearly, a town with a whole lot of history. Most of the houses we passed all had plaques with the cottage names on them. Some had silly names too, like The House With Two Front Doors, The House Opposite, and The Other House. There were quite a few Tudor buildings too, that classic black beam and white wall.  
Our second day was all about relaxation. It started with a lovely breakfast at the B&B (Vegetarian Full English) and a nap. Who takes a nap so soon after they've woken up? We do, apparently, but the food was so delicious and filling we couldn't help it. I booked us in for a day of pampering at the Rye Retreat, where we indulged in a body polish, massage, mini facial, and a manicure and pedicure. Frankly, it was heaven!
The spa took up most of our day, but once we were done, we wandered around Rye some more. It's a beautiful little village, and is very picturesque. By the time we got back to our hotel, we were treated to a beautiful sunset. The perfect end to a lovely day...
Our last morning in Rye was short but sweet, as we were leaving with ample time to get back to London. With the  two hours that we had, we wandered down to The Rye Harbour Nature Reserve. It stretches all the way down to the coast, and you can walk through some of the land. It wasn't the best weather for it, and we nearly got blown away, so we turned back without seeing everything the reserve had to over. Still, it was nice for what it was. 
I was sad to leave Rye by the time we were waiting for our train. It would have been nice to have an extra day, if only for an extra day of relaxation. It was a beautiful little town, very rich with history, and certainly very quaint. I absolutely all of the old cobbled streets, the stunning buildings with ivy, and just the sheer amount of history. Take me back! 

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