6/17/2009
Dover England
We docked around 8:00am and got going soon afterwards. We never try to get out early because the shore excursions get priority getting off in the morning. So we eat a nice breakfast and then get going. From out of our balcony we could see the famous white cliffs and Dover Castle. We took the double decker bus to Dover Castle to start our day. The castle was first built in the 1000’s and then was added on to and rebuilt for many years. It is just amazing how old it is and what they did there. It was built as a castle but used for many years as a fort and lookout for enemies coming from Europe. France is just 20 miles across the English Channel so we could see it from the top. There are many defensive areas and underground tunnels experience.
From Dover Castle, we walked to the town center and shopped and walked around for a while then went to the train station to go to Canterbury. The train ride was only about 15 minutes. Canterbury is very walkable. We walked to the city centre and shopped and saw the cathedral. We were heading to St. Augustine’s Abbey and went into a local pottery shop. We found some great things and talked to the store owner and potter. We also shopped at a market area that had all kinds of street vendors. He told us of a neat church that we should see too. St. Augustine’s Abbey was such an experience. It is considered by many of the birthplace of Christianity in southern England. Even though it is just the ruins of many buildings, it was amazing. We took many pictures that we can share later. From there we went to St Martin’s Church, it is the oldest parish church in England that is still in use. It is very small but so cool. The church is in the middle of a cemetery, or the cemetery ended up around it, but it is pretty eery. I am sure that we were the only ones off of the ship to see St. Martin’s Church. At that point our feet were pretty tired. So we went into the city centre and had a beer and some chips(fries) and onion rings. As we were heading that way I saw a place that sold Dr. Pepper so I bought one. It was not Dr. Pepper!!!! It tasted like it had licorice in it. Gross!! I could not even drink it all. I always like to try the local beers at least once to see what they are. We do seem to find the most local of places. This small pub with an outside sitting area seemed to be only locals. When ordering the food one patron could tell I was from Texas even before seeing my TTU t-shirt. We got to experience a homeless lady at the pub also. One patron and the bartender did a very good job of keeping her away and making her leave once she started bugging people. It is interesting to know that they have this problem too. At this point we headed back to the train to get back to Dover and the ship. Even as simple as it all sounds we wanted to make sure we got on the right train and get off at the correct station. From the station I thought there was a bus to take us back to the port, but there was not. Since we had time we walked the 30 minutes back to the ship. We are very worn out, so we just went to the buffet and got food to bring back to our room. We can drink wine and enjoy it just as much with out paying the corkage fee. Now we are going to just relax and get ready for tomorrow.
Cheers, tomorrow Brugge Belgium (drinking some beer)
C&D
Dover England
We docked around 8:00am and got going soon afterwards. We never try to get out early because the shore excursions get priority getting off in the morning. So we eat a nice breakfast and then get going. From out of our balcony we could see the famous white cliffs and Dover Castle. We took the double decker bus to Dover Castle to start our day. The castle was first built in the 1000’s and then was added on to and rebuilt for many years. It is just amazing how old it is and what they did there. It was built as a castle but used for many years as a fort and lookout for enemies coming from Europe. France is just 20 miles across the English Channel so we could see it from the top. There are many defensive areas and underground tunnels experience.
From Dover Castle, we walked to the town center and shopped and walked around for a while then went to the train station to go to Canterbury. The train ride was only about 15 minutes. Canterbury is very walkable. We walked to the city centre and shopped and saw the cathedral. We were heading to St. Augustine’s Abbey and went into a local pottery shop. We found some great things and talked to the store owner and potter. We also shopped at a market area that had all kinds of street vendors. He told us of a neat church that we should see too. St. Augustine’s Abbey was such an experience. It is considered by many of the birthplace of Christianity in southern England. Even though it is just the ruins of many buildings, it was amazing. We took many pictures that we can share later. From there we went to St Martin’s Church, it is the oldest parish church in England that is still in use. It is very small but so cool. The church is in the middle of a cemetery, or the cemetery ended up around it, but it is pretty eery. I am sure that we were the only ones off of the ship to see St. Martin’s Church. At that point our feet were pretty tired. So we went into the city centre and had a beer and some chips(fries) and onion rings. As we were heading that way I saw a place that sold Dr. Pepper so I bought one. It was not Dr. Pepper!!!! It tasted like it had licorice in it. Gross!! I could not even drink it all. I always like to try the local beers at least once to see what they are. We do seem to find the most local of places. This small pub with an outside sitting area seemed to be only locals. When ordering the food one patron could tell I was from Texas even before seeing my TTU t-shirt. We got to experience a homeless lady at the pub also. One patron and the bartender did a very good job of keeping her away and making her leave once she started bugging people. It is interesting to know that they have this problem too. At this point we headed back to the train to get back to Dover and the ship. Even as simple as it all sounds we wanted to make sure we got on the right train and get off at the correct station. From the station I thought there was a bus to take us back to the port, but there was not. Since we had time we walked the 30 minutes back to the ship. We are very worn out, so we just went to the buffet and got food to bring back to our room. We can drink wine and enjoy it just as much with out paying the corkage fee. Now we are going to just relax and get ready for tomorrow.
Cheers, tomorrow Brugge Belgium (drinking some beer)
C&D
Oh look! Another Texas Tech shirt! Way to represent.
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