Well Rested and Well Toured

Today is Saturday and it's our second day off. Yesterday was our first day off and it was great to just wander around Canterbury and get a feel for this wonderful city. It's how much the cathedral is the center of the city, acting as a large magnet drawing one back towards its heart - whether on the meandering roads or visually as you find yourself casting a look towards a stray roof top and seeing the cathedral tower off in the distance centering your senses in the direction of home.

A small band of us meandered around yesterday taking a leisurely flat boat ride (punting) down the mill race, off to have a pint with a hearty meal. Then off to the castle ruins (echos of "Have fun stormin the castle." ringing in my ears!) where a group of young people were having a poetry reading. From there we walked along the old walls overlooking the city and Don John park. Dinner was near the cathedral and then we shared another pint at a local pub.

The pictures are of the vesting room at the cathedral were we would line up and wait for the Dean to come out and pray with us just before the service. (I should point out that the room is dedicated to St Andrew!) You can see the remants of the Norman cathedral architecture - most filled in when the added on and "updated" to the spiring gothic arches.

The other picture is of course of our fantastic director, Dr. Deborah Simpkin King, and our wonderful host and precentor, David Mackenzie Mills.