~In jeder Sprache wohnen andere Augen.~ ~I don't know where I am going but I am on my way.~

jeudi 5 janvier 2012

Hello 2012!

HAPPY NEW YEAR - BONNE ANNEE - GUTES NEUES JAHR -
FELIZ ANO NUEVO - GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR

A wonderful Christmas was had because we were all together, this time.
The picture below is one of the wee twin grandsons, only I know who it is ;-).



After boxing day, it was time to go back to work for some. We decided to bring my son, who works in Reading now, back to the UK. A special day in Canterbury was had and son went further on by train whilst we drove back to Belgium in the evening.



The journey was longer than expected because the UK custom on the tunnel decided to check every car and every passenger that day. But even with that delay we were lucky enough to find a parking space in Canterbury. However, it was certainly one of the last left.



We have been here before, be it for to kill some time before taking the ferry or just for a hop across the channel, enabling us to breath some good English air or smelling the inside of a pub. EG's own "outfitter" gets never a miss.

I always am in awe of this sweet shop - not only its façade is inspiring but also inside is like feeling in paradise.



It was a grey day but it stayed dry and mild. Apologize for some less good pictures, I had a problem with my camera that day. It might be a good reason to look for a new model ;-). Below is the Hotel Chocolat, a paradise for chocolate lovers. It is made in St. Lucia and was recommended by my brother who discovered it during his holidays. There are now a number of those shops in franchise over the UK.



One cannot miss the cathedral, those are EG's words. I must confess, I missed it when I went on my own one time on the way back from Rugby. I must have been too concentrated on the shops then.



Here below is the old library but restoration work takes place actually, therefore only this picture.



The city has quite different aspects, old mingles with new, every house hosts a shop and it seems quite a striving activity. Which might be also thanks to plenty of French, Belgians, Dutch and German tourists.



There are nice pubs around and plenty of places to eat and sit down.



The picture below on the left - from a window display - caught my eye: the dress was hung just below the boy's head ;-).






This place is new to us, advertising Belgium mussels and many types of beer.



Our preferred pub is in the corner of the place.



Here is the cathedral's entry.



We were disappointed to see that the very shops (EG's outfitter and my craft place) were still closed until next day. However, the drive home was not as long and we had a smooth journey back - in total some 770 km.

Next day at home, the builder arrived to start the plaster work in the piggery.



Next Monday, the other builder will come and start the exciting work: break through the stone wall into the piggery. There will be interesting (dusty) moments ahead.

5 commentaires:

  1. I'm always so envious of these short trips of yours. If I drive for 90 minutes I come to a city of about 79,000 - no cathedrals, not quaint streets, few owner-operated shops - all quite boring. From there, many more hours drive bring me past small towns with no discernible centre and miles of forest and coast line. Yes, it's beautiful, but one longs for some culture, some retail therapy, some history once in a while!....so I thoroughly enjoyed this post!

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  2. Bayou, I so love that comment that Pondside has left. When I read your posts, I have a similar feel tempered, of course, by my very big city life.

    It's your geographic scale and its travel possibilities that entrances me. Canterbury is a place I saw on a train from Paris to London ages ago. Your photos encourage me to stop there sometime.

    Over here in New York, we are already feeling the benefits of the lengthening daylight hours. At the shop, we have large front display windows and big skylights overhead, and so...we do see those daylight gains and celebrate, every afternoon.

    Let me also tell you how much I enjoy seeing my blog listed en Francais in your sidebar. Isn't it marvelous to link our neighborhoods?

    Happy 2012 to you and yours.

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  3. Happy New Year to you!

    You've shown me more of Canterbury than I have seen before. Even on this small island that are many places still to be explored. You put me to shame!

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  4. I love your pictures but it makes me nostalgic – I really would like to be there too and most of all in one of the old pubs – I like pub food. I’d like to spend some time also in the Olde Sweet Shoppe …..it looks so tantalizing!

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  5. Che meraviglia Canterbury, ci passo ogni
    anno e devo dire che mi piace molto.
    Grazie per il giro e....per il tuo commento.
    Un abbraccio
    Susy x

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