Thursday, August 12 (Day 16) - A Canterbury Tale

You'd think after all that - 24 (TWENTY-FOUR!) hours of traveling - we'd take a nap or something, but nooooo, Constance wanted to take a walk and visit the Canterbury Cathedral, but first...

The view from our room...

...and the view in our room...would a nap be nice first?

So, of course - because Constance always gets her way - we did and it was gothic and interesting and...old. There is so much history here it would be impossible for me to really absorb it all in the one visit we had, and I certainly wouldn't know where to begin writing about it here, but I will say there was something awe inspiring about standing inside - and outside for that matter - this great building. I'm not religious, but I don't think you need to be to feel a deep sense of spiritutality while in the midst of such a place.

To distant shrines well known in sundry lands

And specially from every shire's end

Of England they to Canterbury wend

The holy blessed martyr there to seek

~Chaucer from the Prologue to the Canterbury Tales

Just one of the many stained glass windows in the Cathedral

Inside...

...and outside in the cloister...

While I realize that the Cathedral is meant to be the main attraction of Canterbury, what I enjoyed most was walking along the cobblestone streets and admiring the old houses and buildings that line them. I enjoy this in any new city or town the way I enjoy running in a new city or town. I think it's one of the best ways to get a feel for a place.

On our walk to the Cathedral - no cobblestones here, but still a pretty walk...

A cool view of the roof of the Cathedral

That night we had a drink in the bar of the B&B - I had a pint of the locally brewed beer, Shepherd Neame - "Britain's oldest brewer."

See - I told you it was Britain's oldest brewer (this is the entrance to the inn)

Dinner that night was good - we had a nice young server who I think we somehow intimidated by asking far too many questions about the menu. That's how Constance rolls - she likes for everyone to know who's boss.

We were in bed at a ridiculously early hour - 7:30 - which is early even for Constance and I who are typically out by 9:00...10:00 if we're living dangerously.