Pilgrimage Compleated

July 18, 2009

Canterbury

Canterbury has been a site of pilgrimage for nearly 1000 years. Pilgrims and Pilgrimages are usually beset with some problems. If not you would not have any stories or tales to tell. Hospices were places built to take care of the sick on the trip. Fortunately we now have both hospitals and hospices since we have learned to do a lot more for the ill.

We started our trip on July 16. Off to the airport for our 3 hour security clearance that only took 15 minutes and then a rain delay but finally on the plane and on our way to England. Unfortunately summer colds had beset Granny and then Lydia. Lydia had exhausted herself with all her studies and exertions like some Austenian character. She put on a brave face but apparently I was the only one who could sleep on the plane during the journey. The timing is off of course with us feeling like it is 2 AM when it is 8AM and so we started our first day July 16 a little under the weather. We landed at Gatwick and it was a long walk to and through immigration and control. Nice to be able to speak the language, and then we took a pleasant train ride through the beautiful country side. Lydia really did not feel well and we had loader her up with medicines, resorting at last to the Benadryl which always puts her out. By the time we got to Canterbury she was falling asleep sitting in the chair for tea, what with Benadryl, exhaustion and little sleep.

Marci took charge, called a cab and got us to Greyfriars, the B&B. Grey Friars is where Franciscan Friars came to Canterbury in 1226, which was within St. Francis of Assisi’s life time, and it has survived all this time. The building looks its age. Everyone is on edge since the actor that plays Ron Wesley of Harry Potter has Swine Flu. The Proprietress took one look at us and asked if we needed to call a doctor. Five hours of sleep later Lydia had made a good recovery.

I was able to walk around Canterbury and take some pictures and make some drawings. I tried a local “Pasty” which is lunch to go in pie crust. Sort of like a Stromboli but an acquired taste I think. The B&B is pleasant enough. We went to dinner in shifts and had a good meal. We will go down to our first “full English Breakfast” in a few minutes.