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If you are one of those that email me regularly as to my goings on then you would probably know I’m in Europe now. I’m at my old flat in London just enjoying some peace and quiet. My plan is to spend a few months here and then head back to Chile. It’s summer in Chile and to tell the truth I have not had a good winter in almost three years. That’s because when it is winter in the states, I am in Chile and vice versa. So I have decided to spend part of winter here in the UK. I guess I was missing the overcast weather and of course the charm of Europe. Anyways, here I sit at my computer with it cloudy and overcast outside and the Rugby parade going on in downtown London. It’s pure madness. I have written several articles, a few about Europe but most being about Chile (Get copies of past articles at my site, www.travelogue.uk.tt) but I have always wanted to give more attention to Europe so the reader would have more options. Places that one can explore to find a potential new home. This is what I am doing now, I am about to part with a secret. I am about to give you plenty information about a great place to live in the UK. A place you could easily call home or a great place to vacation to.  Now first off I have to tell you this, living in the UK is a bit of an expensive prospect. Even outside of London, which is very expensive because everyone wants to live there, the cost of living is a bit high but it is manageable. The interesting thing about the UK is that, the government here smiles in the face of the american government and always claims to be a friend but when the u.s. does something that the UK does not approve of the first thing they do is devalue the dollar.

The city of London from the River Thames.

It’s kind of steep, especially when the cost of an average DVD in Best Buy in the states is $14.99-$19.99. I rented two movies at the local Blockbuster last night and it came to about 8Pounds or close to $15.
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A pack of cigarettes is about 4Pounds which is cheap by English standards but you must keep in mind when you translate that to dollars that “cheap” pack of cigarettes then becomes about $7 bucks. This is not designed to discourage you; it is designed to get you to open eyes and have a realistic view of what to expect if you are thinking of possibly making some place in the UK your home. All that aside, there are a great many places that one could easily start a new life in. We will look at just one of them this time.

Walking along the “boardwalk” or waterfront area I can’t help but be reminded of Coney Island in New York. There’s no rollercoaster about but it has the same feel. On one side of the main drag you have shops and arcades; on the other side is the beach and ocean itself. The town is old and rustic, very little modernizations anywhere which give it a real charm and appeal.

There is alot this town has to offer. The summer is the high point. There is miniature golf, go-karting and mini bike tracks, paddle boats to enjoy on a man-made pond, arcades galore, an indoor swimming pool at the local health center, plenty of restaurants and so much more.

I have to tell you now; the arcades are the old style arcades and for many, they will take you back to happy times! Very few video games of the modern type but the kind of games you would see while at Coney Island in the penny arcades and more.

A pack of cigarettes is about 4Pounds which is cheap by English standards but you must keep in mind when you translate that to dollars that “cheap” pack of cigarettes then becomes about $7 bucks.

This is not designed to discourage you; it is designed to get you to open eyes and have a realistic view of what to expect if you are thinking of possibly making some place in the UK your home.

All that aside, there are a great many places that one could easily start a new life in. We will look at just one of them this time. 

Approximately one hour and fifteen minutes outside of London is Felixstowe. Felixstowe is a port city. In fact it is Britain’s number one port of entry for goods and imports. This town is a slice of heaven and nostalgia.
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Walking along the “boardwalk” or waterfront area I can’t help but be reminded of Coney Island in New York. There’s no rollercoaster about but it has the same feel. On one side of the main drag you have shops and arcades; on the other side is the beach and ocean itself. The town is old and rustic, very little modernizations anywhere which give it a real charm and appeal. There is alot this town has to offer. The summer is the high point. There is miniature golf, go-karting and mini bike tracks, paddle boats to enjoy on a man-made pond, arcades galore, an indoor swimming pool at the local health center, plenty of restaurants and so much more. I have to tell you now; the arcades are the old style arcades and for many, they will take you back to happy times! Very few video games of the modern type but the kind of games you would see while at Coney Island in the penny arcades and more.

The waterfront in Felixstowe

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The arcades in Felixstowe also have that “casino” feel to them. You will, for just a moment, feel like you are in the game area at Circus Circus in Las Vegas. The games all promise stuffed animals, cheap watches as well as other novelties you are sure to cherish if you win. Yes, there are a couple of slot machines too. The casinos, I mean arcades are open just about all year around and even in the winter they are a big draw for locals living there.

Restaurants and small eateries line the waterfront area and there is much to choose from when the appeal of the arcades wear off and one becomes weary of the lights and sounds. The Conservatory, on the far end of the waterfront on South Hill, is a great tea house. Ironically, it’s not located on a hill at all but for just a few pounds one can enjoy a slice of cake and a cup of tea in a small quaint setting.

Joe Crowley’s Cafe is a real life soda fountain! It’s a great place for food or just a malt shake to cool you on a warm day. It truly has the 50’s feel to it and for many it will transport you to days gone by. 

I am not bothering to give you the addresses to these places because they are all along the waterfront and you can’t help but find them all. Everything is pretty close in Felixstowe. 

Now about the ocean itself, the locals will tell you the water is cold and that it’s not a good idea to try to swim in it. In fact truth be told, if you stood on the shoreline you would instantly notice the water is very brown and not the color you would expect to see for an ocean.
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Highstreet in Felixstowe

There is also a pier that juts out into the ocean from the far end of the boardwalk and most avoid it in the winter due to the high winds. I’ve been told horror stories of those that have been blown off the pier from the winds but in the summer it is a mecca. It’s a hang out spot, if you will, for tourists, for lovers, for photographers for anyone at all. Downtown Felixstowe is only a few blocks in size. Lined with all manner of shops and places to spend your money, it’s cozy, not flashy. The shops are for locals as well as for tourists. People are generally friendly. It’s a place you will feel at home in. The cost of living in Felixstowe is not too expensive. In fact it’s alot cheaper than one would expect for living right on the water in a coastal town. Brick buildings are of course the order of the day, just about all the houses and buildings are old brick buildings giving the city its Victorian character.

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Rents vary in this area. It depends on many factors like; how old the building is, where it’s located and more. The living is alot less than beach front living in Malibu or Miami. I’ve heard of rents as low as 350Pounds which is about $670 dollars u.s. give or take.

Believe it or not there is a trailer park where you can rent a mobile home daily, weekly or monthly just a stone’s throw from the beach. The mobile home park is very clean and in a nice part of town. Not what you would expect when one thinks of the words “trailer park”, but very nice.

There is no real work in this town. In fact, this town generates its revenues primarily from summer tourism and from those coming up from London for a weekend “getaway”. During the off season things are tough all over. A resourceful person, however, can make a living under just about any type of conditions.

As I always say, it’s best to have some type of business interest on the internet. Maybe you’re using eBay to generate a supplemental income. Whatever it is, I’ve always encouraged people to use the internet as a tool to increasing your income, thus allowing you to live as you please and the way you want.

I’ve had people email me and tell me this is “easier said than done” but in a future article I will go more deeply into the possibilities and ways to generate an income from the internet, wherever you may live but for now let’s stick to new locations to call home.

www.suffolkcoastandheaths.org.uk

This is a website that will give you plenty of information on the coastal areas and of Felixstowe and in general. It’s brilliant and full of facts for anyone considering visiting or living there. 

If you’re considering UK life then you could do no worse than this fun little city by the sea.
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Jon Steele has written several articles for Escape Artist ezine. Most of his past articles are on living in Chile and day to day life there. He encourages people to escape their mundane lives in the u.s. and shows how it can be done. He splits his time between Europe and South America and can be contacted directly at steel-industries@email.com and his website is at www.travelogue.uk.tt

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