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9/24/2007 Jul. 28th, 2007 @ Hastings<Leeds Castle & Canterbury Tour>
Joined the "Discovery Tour" to Leeds Castle & Canterbury with my hostmate. Heard that Leeds Castle is the most beautiful castle in Britain, I was looking for a chance to go.
Again(!), our hostmother kindly take us to the meeting point by car. With several other people, we get on a bus and departed. Firstly went to Canterbury city. Got off the bus at the meeting point and walked inside the walls… actually, walked "on" the walls. The city is surrounded by the high walls. Went into the Cathedral. Immense. And had a beautiful facade decorated by the sculptures of soap stones. Led by the guides, went into the Cathedral.
While taking pictures, missed the guides and other tour members. Where are they? It was like a free time so that was not a big problem, but wanted to listen to the explanation what to see and how special they were. Oh well, got a guidebook and we knew the way out, at least. Liked the pipe organ and gorgeous stained glass. Hope could listen to the choir. After stayed more than one hour(!), left the Cathedral. Didn't have enough time to try "Cream Tea," just bought a plain scone and a tart cake. Walked back to the meeting point, then the bus headed for the next attraction, the Leeds Castle. The clouds were getting thicker. Felt a few drops on my cheek. We hurried to the Castle. This is the first castle with roof on my visit!!! Borrowed an audio guide at the souvenir shop and stepped into the huge castle.
The audio guide was too far in details so that it sometimes couldn't catch up my walking, but helped me to notice fine or unique furniture. There was an interesting handrail along the spiral stairway. Two salons which were next to each other but had totally different taste were my favourite. The castle was once owned by a noble lady and she worked hard to keep and/or fix it. Still a foundation, to which the lady donated it, is using some rooms and furniture for meetings or staying. Oh yes, not only the castle but also the boundless garden, or back yard, or field, or … including lots of ponds, woods, and a golf course!! Maybe it will take more than a day or two to walk along the border of the property. Strolled around the garden. Lots of swans, geese, and other birds were enjoying the sun. (By the time, rain seemed to be stopped.) Found a Bird Sanctuary. Owls, parrots, and more unique birds from all over the world were in each cage. The former owner liked birds very much, as the audio guide had explained. Tried the big maze. We couldn't go anywhere, just came back to the entrance. Time to go back to the parking? Took the other way to the gate. What's that huge white tent? It was a garden wedding party by Arabs. 3 Limousines!!! They must be rich, for sure. The music and loudness didn't fit the scenery, I thought, but they Arabs were the only people who could do that, probably. Wedding at the Leeds Castle! There was a balloon near the gate. By whom and when it is used?! It would be superb if I could try. Dropped at the souvenir shop but couldn't find anything nice, light, and small. (My suitcase is already full!!) Get on the bus and it departed to the Hastings. Walked a lot and got tired, but now I feel content. 9/23/2007 Jul. 26th, 2007 ＠ Hastings<Boadium Castle mini tour>
One activity coordinator came into morning class and explained there were several seats for whom want to go to the Boadium Castle Excursion with other students THIS afternoon. If I would go, I had to skip the afternoon class... and I was not sure which castle I was going this weekend with host family.
Asked my host mother who was working at the school office. "Which castle are we going on Sunday?" "Boadium Castle." Then, asked the coordinator sitting next to her. "Which castle are you going this afternoon?" "Boadium Castle." Same. Knew it might be more fun to go with my host family, but on that particular day, didn't feel like attending the afternoon class for some reason. (won't tell you why :-P) A good excuse just came up! Hmmm.... While wondering, "Go, go! If you want to go, just go. It might be rainy on Sunday." host mother said. Did she know what I was thinking??? Well, decided to go. When I told my host mate (a student staying the same host family's), she said she wanted to go, too. Then we told to our bus mate (a student using the same bus route), she also said she would go. So we joined the tour together. Packed on a tourist bus with a bunch of teenagers, we set off. Took a lot of pictures along the way toward the entrance of the castle, already, since my host mate didn't bring hers today. She loves taking photos so that can take more than 100 in a day!! Went inside of the castle. Click, click. Climbed every stair and peeked every hole. Watched a video... made me a little bit sleepy, though. It was a kind of palace for a person, not for the king. (Hope I didn't take the story wrongly....) He wanted to make it like a castle to protect from aliens. At first he was not allowed, but somehow he made it. Now it is situated inland, but at that time, the seashore was nearer and there was a wide river along the village, so strangers could come easily by battle ship. There were some traps such as holes for throwing stones, a slit for dropping the heavy fence made by metal, etc.
The top of the Castle had a panoramic view. Couldn't imagine how huge trade ship came along, but did enjoy the scenery. Hills, fields, little houses, ... how relaxing! I saw a steam locomotive twice, but to my regret, I missed to take photos of them!! Oh, no.... Should go again? Jul. 14th, 2007 ＠ Hastings<Short trip to Portsmouth>
Went to Portsmouth with two of my friends on Saturday. It was cloudy and very windy on that morning.
Met in front of the St. Leonard Warrior Square station (isn't it quite long for a name of a station?!), and bought ticket somehow from "nice man" -- when we were standing by the ticket machine and wondering whether valuable return tickets were valid on Saturdays or not, three attendants came along. So we asked them about that. One replied pointing at another man, "Ask him. He will tell you. He is a nice man. Yeeees, he really is. Don't worry," and left him then gone with the other guy. The tormented man, smiling shyly, opened the ticket office and gave us economical tickets. He was a nice man actually.
As the train went on, clouds were cleared and it became brighter. Still windy, but good thing was that we didn't need to worry about umbrellas. Changed trains at Brighton Station and arrived at Portsmouth Station before noon. After visiting the Tourist Information Centre, strolled around the Portsmouth Harbour Dockyard. Couldn't get on the ships because didn't pay the entrance fee, but had a good time to look "around" the ships and took lots of pictures.
Had a little lunch and walked to the other side of the station. Huge shopping mall was there! Got through the mall and found the Spinnaker Tower. Only me went up to the top. On the "first" floor ... a glass floor 100m above the sea level! The thing I really can't do is to step on the glass floor!!! Of course it was not for the whole floor but just a few square meters. I know people who weigh three times more than I do can stay there without breaking it. I know ten people can walk thorough on it at a same time. I know, I know, but I'm scared.... It was OK for me to look down, so took some pictures of the foot of the tower, as well as marvellous view from the "side" windows.
Met friends again, strolled around the mall and had some drink on a sunny terrace, then head for home. Sunny all day, no rain at all. That was a truly enjoyable trip.
Jul. 7th, 2007 @ Düsseldorf＜The Dom>
During my stay in Düsseldorf, one of my friends living there kindly took me to Koln on Saturday. Her 6-year-old son was with us, too. We met at the station, bought tickets, and then got on the train. Both the station and the train were a bit crowded, mostly by young backpackers. The car was new and clean, and went smoothly.
Before long, arrived at Köln station. In front of the station was The Dom. How huge and so elaborate! Got a nice postcard instead of taking a picture by myself. Inside, the mass was in service, so firstly, we went up 515 stairs leading to the steeple of the church. We but the tough boy were out of breath when reached at the top. He said he would do it and he did it! After came down carefully to the ground floor, explored the inside of The Dom. The stained glass windows were so beautiful and the treasury museum was quite impressive.
After having lunch, strolled around the old town area. Festival was going on lively. Had a little snack (a cup of fruit cocktail for me ;-) from a little booth on the way to the Lindz Chocolate Factory. An interesting museum, a warm (or I'd say hot) greenhouse for cacao and other tropical plants, chocolate machines actually in use with a lady checking them all the time while finishing the packaging of wrapped chocolates were there. I personally do not eat lots of chocolate but it was really amazing.
Walked back to the station, ate a sandwich (German bread is so tasty!) on the train, had a little chat over some dessert at the nearby cafe, and finally came back to the hotel before dark. Both thighs were tired but I certainly had a really good time.
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