When my therapist advised me to take a leave from work and take care of myself, I immediately thought about my long-overdue trip to Tynemouth, where one of my close friends is currently living. She’s been telling me to visit her ever since she got married to a Tynemouth resident and I’ve always refused because of my job that demands so much of my time. Now that the advice came from a professional, I knew it was the perfect timing, especially because it was summertime. The stress and anxiety were killing me. Besides, Kate promised to eliminate most if not all of that negativity after the trip.
Beach Fun
To cut the story short, for my first day, Tynemouth – and Kate – didn’t fail me at all. We went to the beautiful beaches that the village was known for, which were almost always packed with locals and tourists who were so eager to have those tan lines when the day was done. We had lunch at the King Edward’s Bay, where we met with some of Kate’s friends who were just as cool as she was. It was a satisfying lunch. Food was great, as I expected since Tynemouth is popular for its varying choices of gastronomical treats. In the afternoon, we did some summer fun at Longsands, an awesome beach with fine golden sand and a vista that was worth waiting for the sunset. I couldn’t remember the last time I felt so light and relaxed.
Kate’s friends brought some sports gear, and we had a lot of fun playing Frisbee while burning those calories from the slabs of barbeque I ate for lunch. We also had a game of volleyball with some of the tourists who were also there just for the summer.
Pub Crawl – A Night To Remember!
The next day, we woke up late. It felt great not to be running around at six in the morning, anxious and nervous about a presentation or in a hurry because you have another company meeting. I just went with the flow – the slow, rejuvenating flow of the Tynemouth summer. We were getting our energies refueled for the most-awaited British Pub Crawl later that evening. I read that the place had more than 20 pubs that were just a few meters from each other, so we had various options on where to drink and get drunk! Our route was one that would tour us around town and stopping by the main clubs, and then we end at the Metro station for the last trip home.
The Cumberland Arms was the first pub we tried. We had a pint of bitter, as suggested by Kate – and Google – and a pint was more than enough for me to feel initially dizzy (no way, not on my first pub!). It was a little expensive, and the music was not my type. So after 30 minutes, we transferred to the Turk’s Head, a unique pub located in a lovely Victorian building. It was surrounded with eccentric historical structures, is conveniently nestled on the town’s main street. Drinks were cheaper, and it was more fun than the Cumberland Arms.
We visited three more pubs before we headed to our last destination for the night – the Head of Steam. A relatively new pub and one of the busiest at the moment, the Head of Steam served strong mixed beverages, particularly the long island iced tea. The intoxication was freedom for my soul, and I shamelessly danced with the live band music, marking the end of a great evening.
Curry, Chips, And More
I couldn’t enumerate all my favorite restaurants because there are a lot! I just listed a few below that blew my taste buds away.
Plaza Tandoori. I’m a ‘curry’ fan, and Kate knows this, so she brought me to this curry house, which was near the beach. The Tandoori is also the locals’ favorite. I was lucky to go on a Thursday where I experienced their delicious and satisfying 5-course meal.
The Davanti was Tynemouth’s popular Italian restaurant. It was classy and the cuisine – grilled duck breast in barbeque sauce to name one – was the epitome of Italian food made perfectly delicious.
For great food that was relatively affordable, we chose to check out the Village Bistro one afternoon. This place is also located near the beach, so people flock there to buy sandwiches and other snacks and take them to the sand for an afternoon picnic.
Worth The Visit
On the way back home, I had a clearer mind that was ready to go back to work. I would say my Tynemouth summer trip is one I will not forget. I’m happy that now I have somewhere to go when I need an anxiety and stress-free break.