Isle of Wight - part two

5.30 am in Shanklin and we know why we divided the rooms as we did.... because Dercia is still sleeping for a while and Andrea and I are already awake. That gives us time to discuss the day and get ready for a Pilates class in the morning (https://www.anahatayogaandpilates.co.uk/).

After the English breakfast for my two and flakes for me, we drive to the sports class. But before that, we still wonder: why is there a room with an extra bathtub (see photo 2) in a hotel (outdoor facilities of the hotel see photos 3-5) where each room has its own bathroom with a shower, in which every guest can bathe as they please?! It's still bizarre... or to put it in Dercia's words: "that's very weird" (she says the same thing about the pheasants that constantly run across the street).

Freshly prepared after the great Pilates class, we head to the Donkey Sanctuary. We are excited about the project (side note: 10/10 points, https://www.iowdonkeysanctuary.org/)

• there are currently 96 donkeys that come from difficult living conditions or have been retired due to age
• The animals are kept in different herds depending on their age, needs, etc.
• The sanctuary depends mainly on donations (e.g. through adoption: https://www.iowdonkeysanctuary.org/product/adopt-murphy/)
• ...

Andrea and I decide to groom Harvey, the beautiful blonde, for a donation. We brushed him in style and he clearly enjoyed it. Shiny and more beautiful than all the other donkeys, he returned to his paddock afterwards and we also left the place.

We're going to Ventnor - a beautiful town on the coast, hillier than San Francisco and the shops close at 4 pm. A bit annoying - but we find the walk much more enjoyable than indulging in consumption. And the best part: Dercia has her first cream tea experience, she loves the scones with jam and clotted cream (12/10 points).

We end up in a photo gallery and receive tips on how and where to spend the rest of the day. So we head towards..., but we never arrive. No problem: our wrong turn leads us to a large equestrian arsenal. We get to know nice two-legged and four-legged companions (6 of them work as drug detection dogs).

We end our day on the beach of Shanklin and then have our x-th, but also last meal on the Isle of Wight at the Village Inn... surrounded by Christmas lights.

Did we like it? YES - the Isle of Wight is a little paradise that has impressed us with its tranquility, friendly people, and great scenic highlights. Oh yes: you can't trust the weather forecast here, we were prepared for continuous rain and only had radiant sunshine 😊.

We're heading back early tomorrow, the sister has to work, and Andrea and I will surely find a way to entertain ourselves.