The "Spirit of France" left Calais on a partly sunny but warm morning packed with French and Belgian schoolkids on their way to their own pilgrimage to Canterbury and London. I couldn't help, as I watched these hundreds of young teens full of life and boisterous energy, think of the almost 300 Korean children on another ferry voyage earlier this month who tragically drowned when their ship capsized and sank. I shook these gloomy thoughts from my mind and went on deck to see the white chalk cliffs slowly come into view, the old town of Dover and it's castle dominating the skyline. Once ashore Marie and I dragged our luggage down Castle street to Blake's of Dover, our pub and inn for the night, and as it was lunchtime headed for the nearest fish and chips shop. We were only in town for a day so after a very tasty meal decided to walk up to the castle on the hill and learn about Dover's early history and the role it played in wartime.
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| view toward Cap Blanc Nez from ferry |
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| First signs for Canterbury! |
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| Castle street with view of Dover Castle |
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| St Mary's church, Dover |
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| View of ferry terminal from castle |
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| Castle grounds |
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| Peverell's Gate |
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| Church of St. Mary-in-Castro |
The fortifications here overlooking the Channel across to France have protected the English coast for over 2000 years, the present castle having been built by Henry II in the 1180s. The views were spectacular from the great tower and battlements. We also saw the secret wartime tunnels from WWII and the church of St Mary-in-Castro, the finest late Saxon building standing in Kent. That evening when we returned to the inn we met a friend of Marie's cousin Andre in Menton for a pub supper. Doug lives here in Dover, director of the local LivingArts Association. We spent a great time together enjoying some pints and very good food served by a lovely amd friendly redhaired waitress who was genuinely sorry to see us go. But Canterbury beckoned to us as it has beckoned pilgrims for many centuries past and we had to answer the call..
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| Helmet Buffs E Kent Regiment from 1900 |
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| Buffs Battle Honors |
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| Blake's of Dover |
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| Marie, Doug and I, Blake's pub |
