Well, today was certainly a long day.

We all woke up several hours before breakfast because the light was just streaming through our windows. After loitering about getting dressed and packed and wasting time, we had breakfast hear at the inn. First things first, we walked over to Canterbury Cathedral. Sadly, the crypts were closed but otherwise visitors are given nearly free range. The cathedral itself was quite impressive, as were the tombs of the assorted dead Arch Bishop, and we saw that of the Black Prince, that were set between the columns—forming a solid wall. We saw where Thomas Beckett was murdered and buried, and from where his body was later dug back up, burned to ashes, and scattered. All that for one man, at the word of another. Kings can be rather vindictive, it seems.

We walked out the Cathedral and into a crowd, waiting for a parade. It was to honor the local regiment, recently returned from Afghanistan, and was a fine affair. From there we went to The Canterbury Tales! Full of Life Size Dioramas and with Real Authentic Medieval Smells (horse manure and sweat) Pumped In. I can’t help but wonder where these smells were pumped in from. It was marvelously tacky, simply wonderful. We went from room to room holding these telephone shaped devices to our ears and it summarized background story and recited to us five selections from Chaucer’s great work. As they did so, lights would spot light the various and vaguely grotesque life size statues of the speakers, the beggars, the rats. By far the best room was that which illustrated the Miller’s Tale. It featured doors that slid back, revealing windows into which various painted, flat wooden figures would noisly clack up, and then fall back again when their part was done. There was even a more than life size bum that hung down from a window. It was used to represent two people, of different genders, and did so rather poorly but that only made its appearance more comical.

From there we walked to the train station, stopping for lunch on the way, out to Dover. That was fine and well, and from there we took a “ten minute” twenty-five minute walk down to the harbor, where we found we had missed the boat tour by 15 minutes and the next one was in two hours. So we meandered down the very windy beach, and along the very windy road, and watched the very windy ocean for a bit. We were walking, we thought, over to the cliffs of Dover but those turned out to be rather a far way away. So we thought we would have a bit of a desert and take a taxi over closer, so we barged into a Best Western, got some desert, and demanded they call a taxi company. The taxi company told us, sorry, we’re busy. So they called another taxi which took us to the cliffs.

The cliffs were wonderful. We walked out on top of them. Papa and I walked way out further, past some wheat fields. Really, only picture could do them justice. We sat down in a little shelter from the incredible strength of the wind and read aloud “Dover Beach” but the effect wasn’t quite the same since it was written on a dreary, foggy day and today was just lovely. Although the winds were incredible, we held on to granny so she wouldn’t blow away.

So, three or so hours later we called a cab. And they told us they were busy. So we called another, and they told us fifteen minutes. When, thirty five minutes later, we called another cab. Shortly after the first showed up, told us it was no big deal to wait twice as long in the cold and dark, and then refused to give Papa the three pounds in change. Mom got back in the car and demanded it.

Well, that went rather longer than I had expected. We’re all tired and laying out in our beds. Don’t know how much longer we can stay awake, with another day of sightseeing and travel ahead of us. Alright then. End Blog Post.