Holiday Pictures - Post 2
Here we are at the Strand - the riverside leisure area I frequented as a kid. Some of my best memories are from the Strand, and it's super special to see my kids enjoying the same things I did. Being a complete gypsy all my life, this is the first time I've experienced something like this and it's magical.
The Strand at low tide......
...and high tide.
The Strand is the shallow bank area where boats can be stranded in low tide. Our Strand is in Gillingham, on the River Medway. The Medway flows through Kent and empties into the Thames estuary, where the Thames meets the North Sea.
Southwest along the Medway is Rochester; we visited the cathedral and the castle.
Rochester Cathedral - consecrated in 604 and built as it is today in the 13th century.
And a view of the cathedral from the keep of Rochester Castle. The castle's keep dates to the 12th century and has been recently opened to the public. So yes, we did climb all over that castle. Twice.
Gratuitous castle pics follow.
Looking up from the ground floor; what would have been the food/weapon/livestock storage area.
A view across the second floor, where the great hall would have been. The square indentations are where the beams once lay, supporting the floor of the great hall.
The spiral staicase leading up to the keep. Meeting on the Turret Stairs, anyone???
And, at last, the top of the keep.
*cue God Save the Queen*
Next post will include our visit to a farm which included a recreation of a wartime village. 38 days is just not long enough! I wanna stay!
The Strand at low tide......
...and high tide.
The Strand is the shallow bank area where boats can be stranded in low tide. Our Strand is in Gillingham, on the River Medway. The Medway flows through Kent and empties into the Thames estuary, where the Thames meets the North Sea.
Southwest along the Medway is Rochester; we visited the cathedral and the castle.
Rochester Cathedral - consecrated in 604 and built as it is today in the 13th century.
And a view of the cathedral from the keep of Rochester Castle. The castle's keep dates to the 12th century and has been recently opened to the public. So yes, we did climb all over that castle. Twice.
Gratuitous castle pics follow.
Looking up from the ground floor; what would have been the food/weapon/livestock storage area.
A view across the second floor, where the great hall would have been. The square indentations are where the beams once lay, supporting the floor of the great hall.
The spiral staicase leading up to the keep. Meeting on the Turret Stairs, anyone???
And, at last, the top of the keep.
*cue God Save the Queen*
Next post will include our visit to a farm which included a recreation of a wartime village. 38 days is just not long enough! I wanna stay!