DOVER ENGLAND

SUNDAY 8^th JULY 2012.

Overnighted across the English Channel to Dover, the Gateway to England, in moderate seas to a cold, miserable and rainy day of about 13 degrees, which is supposed to be the English summer.

Well, half the cruise is gone, we are half way around the world and approx 16,000 nautical miles from home. It’s been a great 52 days and we are looking to the second half of the voyage.

No London visit this time,today we had a full day land tour to Leeds Castle and the city of Canterbury, which was only about an hours bus run from Dover. The castle was built in the 13^th century which was originally the home of Henry VIII. The castle is now run by a trust and open to all visitors. It is a magnificent castle set on about 200 acres of beautiful rural and landscaped grounds. We took a self directed tour through the inside of the castle and through the grounds. The rooms have  been beautifully restored with paintings, tapestries and furnishings. It was well and truly worth the visit and the rain did not spoil the day.

The City of Canterbury was originally a walled city built during the 13^th and 14^th century’s atop roman foundations. Much of the old wall still exists and the city is a typical English rural city with narrow streets and a mixture of medieval and modern buildings. Canterbury is also the home of the magnificent Canterbury Cathederal. This visit was time on your own thing for wandering the city,do some shopping and have lunch. It was a relaxing couple of hours which gave us a good appreciation of what a nice city it is, then it was back to the ship. Again, well worth the visit.

Tomorrow we have a sea day before we reach Bergen in Norway, which we are really looking forward to.