Canterbury, Rye, and the South East of England

Last weekend, my friends were gripped with a sudden urge to visit a small medieval town called Rye in SE England, so they rented a car and asked me if i wanted to go. Since i'd never been to that part of England before, and i wanted to go to Canterbury (they were quite keen too), we decided to make a day trip out of it.



To begin with, the weather was great last weekend. it was bright and sunny and warm...actually it was a bit too warm given the cold weather we've just been having a couple of weeks back. but the scenery along the way was nice, as usual - this is something i've always liked about england.



First stop, Canterbury. I've always wondered how Canterbury cathedral looks like, since i studied the Canterbury Tales at A Levels and read about all these kinky people making pilgrimages there. Today, the place is still thriving with visitors and has since been made a UNESCO World Heritage Site - here's a bit of history about the place:

"Historically Canterbury is the cradle of English Christianity, and has been associated with the development of the Christian church in Britain since the 6th century onwards. Since the 11th century it has been the seat of the primate of all England. In Medieval times, following the martyrdom of St Thomas, it became one of the three most popular places of Christian pilgrimage. Today it is to Canterbury that all Anglican churches throughout the world look to as their spiritual home and to Canterbury that some 1.3million visitors come every year to worship, to re-live the past and to enjoy the beauty of the present."

Anyways, Canterbury did not disappoint. The town was quaint and charming, and the cathedral was gorgeous.




(imagine the people who have climbed these same steps!)


(the town square, where we had lunch accompanied by the music of street performers playing medieval instruments)

Next stop, Rye. My friends were the one who suggested going to Rye - they had heard from someone who works in the tourism office or something how it was one of those 'unspoilt' medieval, quaint little charming towns (there are lots of them, you just have to know which ones they are!)...and it was. The main street was a little narrow street paved with cobble stones all the way, and there were lots of peculiar houses on either side, some in tudor style.






(English people are very strange - the girl must think her mother is a kook).

another great thing about these little towns is - tea and scones!!! i love cream tea!!! it was actually like someone's little cottage, very cosy. scones weren't bad too. :)



After Rye, we hit the coastal roads...saw some coastal towns along the way, but the beaches here are really nothing to shout about lah, they're just full of big ugly pebbles.


(Hastings)

we did get to see some nice old castle ruins though...this one is Pevensey Castle i think...




(click to see panoramic shot)

By the time we got to Beachy Head, which is the southernmost tip of this part of england, we were beginning to wind down and the sun was beginning to set. The whole area is lined with steep chalky cliffs and we realised then that this was a popular suicide spot...so much so that the edges are cordoned off now and there is a warden walking up and down to make sure nobody flings themself off.



very scary...



but also very beautiful...



we stayed to enjoy the sunset....which was surreal but don't think my camera or my camera skills do justice to it...





I think when i leave england, these are the things that i will miss the most - the nature, the idyllic lifestyle, the being able to drive out and enjoy a day in the country, and return with a camera full of memories.