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| A man of Kent returns home to Canterbury! |
We left Dover by train the next morning, arriving at Canterbury East station to a beautiful sunny day. First thing to do was have breakfast at a cafe that was recommended by two friendly pilgrims that we discovered served free range eggs from Chartham Hatch and then hail a taxi to the Old Gate Inn that we would call home for the next four days. Then to take advantage of the good weather - which wouldn't last - we set off to explore. I wanted to show Marie all the places I remembered from my childhood - the Dane John, the River Stour, the bus station, the ruins of Canterbury castle, the Roman walls, the High Street and clock, Westgate, and of course Canterbury Cathedral. I had planned the following day for a trip to Chartham to see St. Mary's church where I was baptised and Grandpop's home in the Hatch. We also popped in on Aunt Betty, mom's best friend from the war years and had a chance to see one of her daughter's, Pauline, and her husband Rob. Her son Stuart came over with his little boy, Frank, while we were visiting one day, the first time I had seen him since 1978. My cousin Pat and I also met up after many years and our last night in Canterbury had dinner together, with her friends Val and Bob. Val was a wonderful help in getting Pat and I together and we were amazed at her tales and knowledge of Chartham Hatch.
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| first breakfast in town with Chartham Hatch eggs! |
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| the Dane John |
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| Enjoying a scone and a cuppa! |
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| View of the city from Dane John |
We also took in a show at the Canterbury Tales, an old building on the High Street which humoursly recreated some of the colourful characters created by Geoffrey Chauser on their pilgrimage from London to the shrine of St. Thomas in the Cathedral. We spent a very interesting visit to the Greyfriars Chapel, the oldest Franciscan building spanning the River Stour, walked back through the Dane John Gardens and, as the rain began falling, ducked into a tea room for scones and tea. It was a nice break from the overwhelming crowds of tourists, cars and buses that jammed the streets, and the rather grumpy locals who seemed to be fed up with it all as well! Our inn was nice to come back to each evening as the pub was friendly and the food very good, the big bed comfy and the water hot! Next blog I will post the tour of the Cathedral, the Mother church of millions of Anglicans worldwide, the seat of the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the site of the murder of Thomas Becket in 1170.
gws
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| Outside Canterbury Tales |
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| Roman wall |
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| Canterbury Cathedral |
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| Marie relaxing , Dane John |
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| Pub at Old Gate Inn |
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| Cheers! |
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| me and cousin Pat |
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| Pat, Val, Marie, me and Bob |
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| me and Aunt Betty at Orwell |
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| St Augustines |
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| St Mildred cemetery |
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| Me and Aunt Betty |
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| Marie and Pauline |
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| Rob, me, Betty, Marie and Pauline |
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| 12th century painting, St Augustines |
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| River Stour |
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| Canterbury Castle |
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| River Stour and Old Weavers |
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| Westgate |
