I'm back - Part 2

I did so much in one short break that it is taking two write ups!!

Dover Castle was my next visit and after catching the Road Train to the top my first visit had to be to the Roman Pharos or lighthouse.  Built in 43AD and still standing after all these years, next to the later built Anglo Saxon church -

The Pharos

Inside the Pharos

I imagined Romans lighting beacons also those years ago.  Then over the drawbridge -

and into the courtyard of the Great Tower built in 1180.

I went everywhere I could inside and recreations have been made of the way it would have been used -

Anyone for lunch??

I climbed a spiral staircase to the very top of the Great Tower and marvelled how people would have run up and down in medieval times.  There should have been wonderful views on a fine day but it was so misty I could hardly see the cruise ship moored in the docks.

The Deputy Constable of the Castle's home in the foreground

Following the highest point I then went into the medieval tunnels under the walls - very clever because this photo shows two slits (there were actually three but I couldn't show it in the photo) where the soldier could see in all directions and could actually fire arrows into the backs of soldiers trying to scale the walls!!  Very clever.

NB:  Not sure whether this photo is in the Medieval Tunnels or not as I took so many!! 

This seagull insisted on being in the photo!!

 

Peverells Tower

 You can stay in this Tower!

The defensive earthworks going down the hill

Note how misty it still is; I spent most of the day dodging showers!

I walked back down the hill for my next visit and to bring me more up to date. 

The entrance to the wartime tunnels

There are several levels of tunnels underneath the Castle and white cliffs.  This level, Casemate, were used to direct the evacuation of Dunkirk at the beginning of World War 11.  Fascinating and interesting and when I came out the sun was almost shining!!

The cruise ship is now visible

 

The ferry port but still I couldn't see France!!


So that was the end of a very full day and the fine weather didn't last because as soon as I got on the motorway there was torrential rain!!

Over the weekend I spent some welcome time with the grandchildren and we all went to see the Battle of Britain Memorial.

 

Winston Churchill's famous words about "The Few"

We walked through the site -

The wall with the names of all those who took part

The memorial statue looking out over the Straits of Dover

the children loving the statue of Bob the Squadron Dog

Is that a real tennis ball?

and the fighter aircraft

The Hurricane

 

The Spitfire

A wonderful morning out.

With all this gadding about I have not done much in the way of crafty things.  However I did finish this 'Dreamcatcher' that my youngest granddaughter had requested -

and it is now hanging in her bedroom window.

Since coming home I have started a new piece of crochet, almost completed my Mini Mania for June and have washed the fabrics to make a new batch of PJs for Wrap Pyjama Fairies.

So watch this space for some welcome 'craftiness'!!