A Canterbury Tale
Sorry for the corny title, I just couldn’t resist!
- The train station is right downtown, so you almost immediately find yourself in the historical core around the cathedral, with its cobblestone streets and timbered houses. Pieces of the Roman/medieval wall are intact (perhaps restored) so it really feels a bit like walking into the Tales!
- The Great Stour river divides for a while into two branches, both of which run through Canterbury.
- A quiet street. Check out the ancient building on the right! It’s quite amazing that anything is still standing, as Canterbury was targeted by Hitler and heavily bombed in 1942. (For some heart-stopping photographs, see https://www.kentonline.co.uk/canterbury/news/the-day-bombs-fell-like-126561/). Thank goodness some of these old structures have survived.
While we couldn’t help stopping here and there on the way from the station, the cathedral was our initial destination. There’s a small admission fee, and then you’re inside the cobblestoned grounds with the cathedral ahead. Part of it was closed to visitors for a service; that just meant we got to explore the rest of it while listening to the choir!
- I love seeing modern art in ancient buildings. This cathedral is so large that even my wide angle lens just couldn’t capture the awesome scale. I’ve cut off the ceiling, there is much more to the left and right, and the archway visible under the glass art is the quire, only about halfway to the end.
- Looking up…
- A few details outside and in
- I love cloisters! The light is always amazing, and I try to imagine what it might be like to live here and walk the halls free of tourists.
- The crypt… the light and shadow were glorious!
We spent quite a lot of time in the cathedral, and then went out for lunch and to explore the rest of the town.
- Back out on the street, you can’t help but marvel at the contrast, and the continuity of time. A chain coffee shop in a 1573 building.
- The cathedral has loomed over the narrow streets for centuries.
- An opening in the defensive wall, for an archer. The flint walls (see closeup next photo) are typical here. We’ve noticed flint on many of the beaches too; they’re unremarkable rocks, but when broken the shiny, smooth black inside is revealed.
- Closeup of a flint wall. Each of the flint stones is 2-4 inches across.
- This was finally my chance to go punting! Our guide (next photo) was very knowledgeable about the history of the town, with plenty of stories to tell.
One of the crookedest buildings we’ve seen.
Before we knew it we were back on the train to London. Afterward I was tempted to re-read the Canterbury Tales. I did find my old well-thumbed, marked up copy of the Norton Anthology, but it would definitely be a challenge! Even just a few lines, though, bring back memories of this lovely town.
You MUST CONTINUE your work travel blogging! I see travel books in your future. In fact, consider a year in the life, as your photos are award worthy, and your writing is glorious. I need to go through all of these, but would sure do it in a photo book!! Love this post!
Leah, your words mean so much to me! I need these comments when the self-doubt creeps in. I would love to do a book, and have been slowly looking into it…