Discovering Canterbury 08/17/2023

 We had a busy day in Canterbury today.  We decided to go to Hever Castle tomorrow to visit Ann Boleyn's home and Chartwell, Winston Churchill's home.  Harry and I checked the train station for tickets to Hever.  When we inquired about the tickets, the ticket agent said, "Why do you want to go to Hever, it is in the middle of nowhere".  It turns out we would have to go back to London, then change trains for Hever.  A three hour trip, one way.  It was only 65 miles from Canterbury.  We decided to rent a car.  Tomorrow's adventure,

Today we took a walking tour of Canterbury for about two hours, then we paused for lunch at a local Italian restaurant, "ASK Italian".  Another great restaurant on the Stour River, also on the outdoor patio. 

I have not mentioned the weather over here, because I know how hot it is at home.  The weather has been delightful, highs in the low to mid seventies,lows at night mid fifties, with no rain.

We took a tour of the Canterbury Cathedral that lasted until 4:00.  Then we took a gelato break and returned to the Cathedral and attended the 5:30 church service.  This is a normal church service that is held every day.  It seemed the congregation was mostly local with few tourists.  The prayers included the Ukraine and Hawaii, and all areas of strife in the world.  It was extremely impressive to attend this service in a church that was constructed after the Norman conquest in 1066.

You can read about a lot of this in your academic studies, but it takes on a new meaning when you see this in person.  

We did see one item I thought was interesting, the "dunking chair".  This chair was formerly used to punish disorderly women who nagged too much. (and also dishonest tradesmen).

World War I monument in Butter Square

Harry's Prawns

Linda's Gelato

Devil mounted outside home to ward off evil spirits

Shrine of Thomas Beckett (where it used to be)

Cathedral Tower

Italian Beer

Canterbury Cathedral

Roman Tower, West Gate



Street Scene

Dunking Chair

 


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