So having said all that, I will now get on with this post...:-)
The last post published was about our visit to Newcastle. Since then we have travelled south to York where we stayed for 3 nights. On the way to York we stopped at Whitby and Scarborough. After York we travelled to Folkestone which we used as our base to travel to Dover Castle. Today we left Folkestone and travelled to Canterbury in the morning so we could attend the Easter Day service at the Cathedral there.
We got there very early as the service that we were attending was not until 11 am. However by being so early (9.45) we were able to park in the Cathedral grounds...for free!!
The staff supervising the parking suggested we walk through the grounds to the coffee shop near the entrance. Along the way I stopped to pat/scratch behind the ears the Cathedral cat?...a beautiful tortoise-shell cat.
A better view of the Cathedral than in the last photo...
And what a lovely streetscape we found near the coffee shop...
Decorated shop windows...
We returned to the Cathedral long before 11 (10.15) as we could see the crowds of people walking in the gate...
I noticed people taking photos before the service so I thought I would too...I snapped this photo and then felt a hand on my shoulder...it was one of the Cathedral volunteers...oops? no photos please during the service ! I had had no intention of taking photos during the service but wanted this one photo showing people half an hour before the service. People are so generous...one man in front of me offered to email me his photo as he thought I hadn't managed to take the photo...but I'm quick!
The choir and the music were magnificent; the choir sang all the anthems which were in Latin...High Church you see. The BBC filmed this Sung Eucharist Service, so it was quite overwhelming all this pomp and pageantry...very different from our little parish church, that's for sure!
We went out the West Door and there was the Archbishop of Canterbury shaking hands. I was wearing my parish name tag and said to him that we had come all the way from Australia...he said dryly that he had noticed...I was in a panic as I couldn't remember the form of address to an Archbishop..but 'Your Grace' sounded right! :-)
After Canterbury we headed off for London, where we started this holiday on March 19. It had been raining lightly in Canterbury but by the time we got to London the rain was heavier and it was quite misty...you might have to squint to see those tall buildings in the distance as we drove into London.
Approaching the Blackwell Tunnel...
We checked into our hotel where we will stay for the next 3 nights. Then on Wednesday we will head to France on the Eurostar. The hotel is in Kings Cross and is in walking distance of Kings Cross/ St Pancras Station where we will catch the train...so after we checked in we walked to the station to see where we will leave from...
The station is very swish with lots of cafés and shops...and there were some entertainers who were playing pianos...and they were great too!
At one end there was this guy...
And at the other end were these 2! And then they swapped ends! The 2 young boys played honky tonk style and the other man played Beatles songs...including Imagine, one of my all time favourites.
Satisfied that we knew where to come on Wednesday, we then caught a train to Leicester Square. We bought tickets to a show tomorrow night, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, starring Robert Lindsay. Then we wandered around..
Nelson' Column in Trafalgar Square...
The National Gallery...l
We noticed some vintage cars there...
Then we noticed people dressed in 'olden days' garb. It was a film set and we watched them doing the last takes for the day...
These 2 were in the scene...the girl had to chase the girl dressed in male clothing...here they waiting for the cue...after 2 takes, the director was happy and everyone started packing up...
The vintage cars being driven away...Admiralty Gate in the background...
On the way to the station we visited the Horse Guards. Lots of puddles at that complex !!
The rest of our stay in London will probably be going to more museums...well DH deserves to do the things that he likes best occasionally...after all I got to see the Falkirk Wheel, The Liberty Shop and Portwenn didn't I? Lol
11 comments:
The Eurostar sign is very obvious and enticing. You must be excited about the next leg of your trip. Enjoy the next few days wandering around London, do try to visit St martin in the Fields Church, I went to a couple of Eventide services there, but there's also a great café underneath in the old crypt, and you can do brass rubbings of some of the old caskets. It's also lovely and warm down there.
I hope the weather is a little friendlier for your last few days in London. Ahhhh! I am missing my trip so much already!
Cath @ Bits 'n Bobs
Lovely photos again. I appreciate the efforts you are going to to keep posting.
I wonder if some time in the future I will see that scene in a film or TV show? I'll be looking out for it.
The time you devote to your blog posts is so much appreciated Maria.
Another chock-a-block one this is too. Glad you managed to snap one in the Cathedral (didn't hurt anyone did it!! Good on you).
So beaut to follow you around, you do such interesting things in each place.
Very exciting to hear about the next part of your trip too. All the best, hugs :D)xx
I am totally enjoying my UK experience - thanks!
Hi Maria .. I've been following your posts and enjoying the holiday with you both. You're certainly having a wonderful time and something to remember for years to come. xox
I'm amazed at how much travelling you are doing! It was a pity about the Easter rain in London. But, like a true Brit, you aren't letting the weather stop you.
I just remembered that Shakespeare's Globe Theatre on the South Bank has a free open day on Easter Monday. There are lots of activities and a tour that you might enjoy. I work there as a volunteer, but won't be there on Monday.
Great travelogue Maria, I've so enjoyed re-visiting places went to in 2009 (and well I remember the rain!!!) and sharing your trip generally...I was so excited to see you went to the Royal Yacht while in Edinburgh, I love the embroidery in The Queen's bedroom - so beautiful, that was one of my favourite places to go...I can so relate to the blogging each night thing to as that is what I did - yes it's time consuming but so worth it as a record of your trip - although I had a Macbook not an iPad so a little easier to navigate with the photos and such...Enjoy the rest of your trip, really looking forward to sitting down for more good armchair travels as you go...
Happy Easter (belated) Maria. You are packing so much into your trip, and taking us along with you to all these interesting places. Love all the pics, and appreciate your effort in posting them. brings it all to life.
You get so many experiences on your trip! I am sure it is good for you to have the travel and pictures on your blog to remember it all :) It is like a diary.
Post a Comment