Canterbury and Canterbury Cathedral
Canterbury is a small city with lots of CHARACTER! Canterbury Cathedral is the main church of the Anglican Church of England and home to the Archbishop of Canterbury. The cathedral became a center of pilgrimage following the 1170 martyrdom of Thomas Becket. A journey of pilgrims to Becket’s shrine was the subject of Geoffrey Chaucer’s 14th century classic The Canterbury Tales.
The architecture in Canterbury was so interesting, I found myself constantly stopping to take photos of the many unique buildings dating back hundreds of years. The modern shop fronts below historic buildings provide an eclectic atmosphere and a photographer’s paradise.
The highlight of my visit to Canterbury was the opportunity to attend the All Saints’ Sunday Sung Eucharist service in the cathedral. Nothing beats being in the right place at the right time! What a wonderful, meaningful experience!
Our room at the small boutique, Canterbury Hotel was small but made up for it in ambiance and the friendly staff. The breakfast buffet had delicious warm croissants and fresh fruit every morning in addition to the cooked to order breakfast. It was in walking distance to the city center and the train station. The staff, especially Simon, went out of their way to see that we were pleased with the hotel. I had one of the best hot stone massages ever at the hotel spa!
I decided to splurge on a dessert at the local restaurant, Creams, located just a few blocks from the cathedral. Their freshly made Belgian waffle was accompanied by hot apple pie, warm custard, and salted caramel gelato. It was worth every calorie!!! Our last meal in Canterbury was at a local Italian restaurant, Pinocchio’s. I enjoyed the daily special, tagliatelle with smoky mushroom and veal ragu. It was as good as anything I had during my month in Italy.
