Across the Pond: Southern England and the Olympic Torch

Last Wednesday Brian and I went to the southeast corner of England, spending two nights in Dover. The town of Dover didn't have a lot going for it but the natural beauty of the white cliffs was its redeeming grace. I spent probably 8 hours walking along the top of the cliffs and also had a chance to walk to the ocean shore below. On Thursday, we went to Canterbury in the morning to see the cathedral made famous by St. Augustine, the murder of Thomas Beckett, and consequently Chaucer's Canterbury Tales.

Canterbury Cathedral

The white cliffs of Dover

The next three nights we stayed in a hostel on the south bank of the River Thames in London. We didn't stay exclusively in London though; one day was spent on a bus tour to Windsor Castle, Stonehenge, and Oxford. Windsor Castle was a little too perfect of a castle - but I guess it has to be if it's a residence to the Queen. The feat of moving the stones at Stonehenge still puzzles me and putting them in line with the Summer solstice sun just makes whoever put them there look like show-offs. As for the town of Oxford, it gave a new meaning to "college town". On campus, I walked around areas that were filmed in Harry Potter and at the end of our short time there, Brian and I relaxed at The Eagle and Child pub where J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis would discuss their work.

Windsor Castle

Stonehenge

Look familiar? This statue was the model for Nearly Headless Nick in Harry Potter!

London's size provides months of possibilities but we hit a good selection in our few days there. We saw all the major buildings like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Tower Bridge as well museums... Tate Modern, British Museum, British Library, National Gallery, and National Portrait Gallery. On our last day we even took the walking trek up to Abbey Road and walked across the road just as The Beatles did (only they did it with more grace, better fashion sense, and a talented photographer).

Big Ben

Tower Bridge

National Gallery

Me trying to be the fifth Beatle

We returned to Chester late Monday night and on Tuesday night, the Olympic torch came through Chester. I've read reports that approximately 60,000 people turned out to see the torch relay, making it one of the biggest events the city has ever seen. Not too bad for a Tuesday.