Monday 21 January 2008

A gloomy day in Canterbury

This lunchtime I went for a walk with a camera. A dull, windy one, as you can see!
Canterbury City Walls, originally built by the Romans and rebuilt many times since!

The little place where I buy lunch and where I got hooked on Bagels...


Canterbury City Centre. Bombed flat during the Second World War, and rebuilt, the last 10 years have seen a rolling redevelopment of this area. Looks much better than the old 1950s buildings used to.

The newest part of the University that I work at - or at least it will be!


The Dane John Mound. This is the site of the first Norman fort in Canterbury - a wooden tower was on top allowing the Normans to keep the scummy Saxons in line.


The ruins of the later castle, something of a fixer-up-er? In the middle ages criminals were often chained to the outside of the walls for the duration of their punishment, their fate being at the mercy of passers by. Now that is justice ;-)


The main gate to the Cathedral. The figure of Jesus in the middle is a new replacement for the original which was pulled down by Oliver Cromwell (1650s). We take our time, but things get done eventually...





I told you it was windy!

19 comments:

The Moody Minstrel said...

Windy or not, thanks for the tour!

Wish I could join you there for a bagel...and a jam session...

Logzie said...

THAT WAS AWESOME!!!
What a treat it was to get to see some of the sights you frequent and a piece of the world I have never seen. Loved it!

I noticed that all of the cars in the first picture look very new. Does anyone drive a junker there? Ha!

Also, are there walls all the way around Canterbury? (forgive my ignorance if that is common knowledge)

I love how you said that things "eventually get done". LOL!

And finally...I'm doing the happy dance b/c we finally got another picture of our Rock Chef!!!!!! :0)

mr zig said...

Awesome post - It was great to see pics of your world!

Rock Chef said...

Minstrel - Nice to see you! Bagels and music, what more could you want?

Logzie - Glad you liked it. Yes, people drive some awful heaps of junk, don't get the idea that everyone has nice shiney new cars. These days the wall only goes about half way round the city.

Zig - Glad you enjoyed it. Pictures are fun, must do them more often.

Ali said...

Oooh - yay for posting such fantastic pictures! Everything looks so...England!
I realize that probably sounds completely idiotic, but you always picture things in your head a certain way...you know? Then when you actually see it...
Okay, I'm going to stop babbling now for fear of making myself sound even more ridiculous - thanks for the pics!

Jen said...

Mmmm. . . bagels . . . One of these days/years, I am going to make the husband take me to the UK. I've always wanted to go & see some castles!

krista said...

Awesome pictures! Specially loved the last one! Loved seeing your end of the world. Makes me want to travel again.

m said...

Nice pictures. I wish I lived in England. America is so boring by comparison.

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

Thanks for the tour. I plan to get there one day. It's my roots man, plus a little Scotland.

Rachael Rae Diaries said...

Wow great pics! I love pics! I have never been there but would love to go sometime. I love old architecture and buildings. If you got more pics hook us up!

Jahooni said...

Love it! I want to travel. Invite us all over Rock Chef!!! We shall eat tons of bagels!

terri said...

I loved this post! I often find myself imagining what your world looks like as you describe it. It was fun to get the photos... especially the last one!

Princess of the Universe said...

Ooohh! Those photos make me want to go back to England...

Kiki said...

I think that it is amazing that you have all these wonderful old relics around and everyone just kind of wanders by them, never taking time to wonder...that "Mound" was my favourite bit, and at the end a pic of the real Rock Chef...wonderful!! I loved seeing it all through your eyes and gloomy or not it was a bright spot because you shared it with us. I hope you will do more posts like these, take us all around your lovely city!!!

Rock Chef said...

Ali - Don't worry, I know exactly what you mean.

Jen - We have lots of castles, most of them in much better condition that Canterbury's poor thing.

Krista - But you were only over here a while ago!

Mindy - Do you really think so? America and Canada always seem exciting to me. Maybe it is one of those "the grass is always greener" things?

Reggie - Well if your search for your roots brings you to this part of England (London/Kent) let me know and maybe we could have a beer or two!

Rachael Rae - I will be posting more pics soon. I think a visit to England is very enjoyable for most people, especially if you like the buildings.

Jahooni - As with Reggie, if you ever get to this part of England I would love to meet up!

Terri - My photography is clearly not to your standard, but I am glad you liked the pics.

Princess - you have been here before?

Kiki - you are absolutely right. We have amazing stuff here that people travel around the world to see but we just wander past. If I look out of the window behind me I can see the ruins of St Augustine's Abbey, founded in 597. I rarely look...

All - More photos coming soon!

kenady said...

WOW!!! I was so excited to see this post! I love walking around with you on your lunch. And Cantebury? The first thought that came to mind was the Cantebury Tales. Please take us out with you on your lunch more often. I wish I could post pics of old castles and cathedrals, but alas all I have are pics of Target and Publix and the kids as we do our everyday errands. And I especially love the self portrait of you! Thanks again Rock! That was fun:)

Reggie Hunnicutt said...

All I know is a few boats came from that general direction.

Aaron said...

Wow, nice tour.

Thanks for the pics with descriptions for all the folks that don't get out much. :)

Um Naief said...

i agree w/ moody, thanks for the tour! love, love, love the pics.

i love the smalltown feel to the areas. how are ppl in this area? welcoming to outsiders?

we also love bagels. i'm enjoying them all i can while here because once we're back in bahrain, you only get the kind at the grocery, which is limited to three flavors, if i'm not mistaken!!