"Lewes" a East Sussex Travel Page by Astralka

Britain's biggest bonfire party in Lewes, impressive little town.
You need to get there in time, the trains from Brighton are crowded that evening, and you might not get home before morning, if you dont get into the train and have to walk.
So we left the lab early and got into a mood before we get there. In Lewes there were long ques for beer and refreshments. First I could not understand why all the policemen wear earpluggs, I never noticed that before. Soon I knew how important the earpluggs were. Imagine hundreds of fireworks exploding at the same time just few meters from you. I feelt the basic instincs to run away and hide, but the scene was so impressive that I was stunned. Unfortunately the Policemen watched people not to pick up the burning flambeaus. I tried but soon they were shouting at me. I love fire so it was a big temptation and craving.
George W Bush took centre stage as the No 1 'enemy of bonfire'. And the Queen of course did not escape the attention of pyrotechnics.

You will find more info and pictures on

http://www.thisisbrightonandhove.co.uk/brighton__hove/news_features/lewes_fireworks/

You get this map when you get out of the train on the Bonfire Night, so that you could follow the parade in the right direction. But I tell you, you will have no other choice as the crowd will take you.. Please let yourself to be dragged, it is absolutely worth being squeezed and deaf.

The Bonfire Societies compete who is the best in their show, dancing in the fire, sometimes almost naked ! What was surprising, they took even babies in wheelchairs to this noisy hell ! It is sort of mass psychosis this night. I never experienced something similar. Maybe after death :)