Canterbury

Canterbury Cathedral Cloisters

Canterbury Cathedral

After spending the night at a friend's house in the lovely Kent countryside, we left early to return to school.  I had the morning to myself as brunch is served at 11am on Saturdays.  Then we were departing for Canterbury.
I expected Canterbury to be a quaint town with lovely shops all together, but it is quite touristy.  That didn't take away from its charm, though.  Once you pass through these massive stone gates, you enter Canterbury.  Once you pass the bridge above the "river" (very, very small one) you start seeing more shops.  Eventually there is a McDonald's, Jack Wills, Office, and for some reason about five different Debenham's.  There's also a place called Fenwick, which is apparently specific to Canterbury.  I was only on the first floor, but it was a nice department store, reminding me of what Marshall Field's used to look like, or how some Corte Ingles might look.  Past Fenwick is Zara, H&M, a big Boots, and the like.

I thought these buskers were great - they were singing the entire time I was in the Cathedral, forgetting the words to the songs, but they were very entertaining.

I bought a pair of firetruck red Vans because I needed walking trainers, although I'm now wishing I had bought Superga plimsolls.  I'm tempted to buy a bubblegum pink pair.  Either that or white ones, since they're meant to look messy.  Anyway.  I also got a Cath Kidston makeup bag, and some new makeup from Boots.  I spent the equivalent of $40 at Boots buying No 7 foundation that's not actually that great, an eyelash curler (£14!) but I had coupons so I saved £5 and got the cheapest thing (eyeshadow) free.
Then I ventured off to Canterbury Cathedral solo.  No one else wanted to go, or couldnt' be bothered to pay the £8 entry fee.  It was nice to go there, though.  To be honest, not the prettiest cathedral I've been to (that title still goes to the Pilar in Zaragoza) but it was interesting to think about how old it is, all the people buried there, and the fact that there's still an Archbishop of Canterbury and there's the Archbishop from the year 1110 or something buried there.
After the excitement of Canterbury, I was quite tired.  I'm not sure if I'll go back any time soon; there's not much there besides the shopping.  It might be worth it to go back sometime in the spring an explore the side streets.  It's only a £3 train ticket or something.