Our day trip yesterday was a blast, and it was hard to take it all in knowing that I may never get to see these things again in my lifetime...so pictures were a must!
An early (we always leave so early) morning two hour bus ride took us to our first stop: Dover. We were supposed to see two things in Dover...the Dover Castle and to see the White Cliffs of Dover. It rained the entire way there, and we all bundled up to get out and walked up only to realize that the Dover Castle was closed due to rain. So it was a quick turn around to get right back on the bus to see the White Cliffs, but I did snap some pictures...
The Dover Castle
Documenting being in front of it even though we didn't get to take a tour!
,The Dover valley thick with fog
We made out way through the city to the White Cliffs of Dover. It was so much fun going to the eastern coast and seeing the English Channel and the cliffs. It was absolutely gorgeous and one of my favorite things I have seen since being here in England. The white cliffs were breathtaking, even amidst the fog. We ran out to the beach covered in pebbles and ran through the water of the English Channel. We watched the little waves crash in the shore, took pictures, and took a pebble with us from the shore to remember our time there! It was fun to see the shore...even if it was a pebbled beach and there was no sun!
The Pebbles :]
Pictures on the shore...
Kinsey and I
,and Liz...
The shore with White Cliffs in the background...it is just super foggy!
Canterbury was our next stop on the map! This town is full of history! We got there and were able to explore and eat for several hours. One of our most fun stop was at the Olde Sweet Shop. It will filled with candy and chocolate! No, I didn't eat anything, but it all looked good...one thing they don't have here in England is Reeses Peanut Butter Cups! (Lindsey and Dad you would be sad) But they did have TONS of black licorice and I thought of my Mom because its her favorite! There was also a fun hotel called Hotel Chocolat across the street. Rumor is it has the best chocolate ever tasted!
The sweet shop
Jars of candy
Black Licorice (love you Mom)
Hotel Chocolat
Downtown Canterbury
After the several hours of exploring, we toured the Canterbury Cathedral...you have been reading my blog posts for almost a month now and are probably saying to yourself at this moment, "How many cathedrals are they going to go to? and why are they so important?"
The answer to the first question...I have no idea. We have been to I feel like a million cathedrals, but to answer the second question...they all have historical significance.
So here is what happened at this one...
During the time of King Henry II, he had a close friend Thomas Beckett. When the archbishop of Canterbury died, the king appointed his friend to the position. He did not have to go through the ranks before being placed in this important role. Over the years, Thomas Beckett craves power and eventually King Henry II has his men kill Beckett "autonomously". The Canterbury Cathedral is the place where he was killed. It is also the place where the first archbishop Augustine worshiped and his seat can still be seen there. So it was fun to walk around and see the cathedral...it was filled with Gothic architecture! It was huge and has tons of stain glass. Even though it was the 5th cathedral we have gone too, it is different and unique in it's own way!
The Cathedral:
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Our trip was a success! We all had tons of fun and enjoyed what we saw...I hope in some little way you enjoyed it too. :)
I would have loved to tell you all about the Opera we are going to tonight, but it was postponed...so I will be sure to blog about it when it happens. Tomorrow we are headed to Cambridge! I am excited to see what the universities are like here...they call them "unies". So apparently I am going to a "uni" and on study abroad! Gotta love British slang...
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