Canterbury then London

The trip to Wells is especially delightful.  Row cottages, farmland, an abundance of cows, sheep, and an especially humongous herd of gray swine (pigs).  These particular beauties seemed to be at least four feet tall.  On the road you find whatever joy you can in the small (or enormous things).  We get to Wells, a tiny village but classified as a city because of its cathedral.  A plague greets us as we depart the coach announcing Wells’ status as the smallest city in England.  Passing under a tone gate we enter a grassy “liberty” and there stands Wells Cathedral, so named for the three wells worshipped by early people.  Romans made a town there and in the 12^th century construction began.  It took 60 years to build and is now the oldest example of English Gothic church in the country. We are led on tour and enjoy the differences in architecture and design from other cathedrals we have seen to date on this trip.

The White Cliffs of Dover are an official icon of Britain.  Carter explains they are an incredible geologic site because they are made of white chalk.  Because they are a beacon, and the English Channel is known for being a difficult passage due to currents and stormy weather, the Cliffs of Dover were a sign of hope and as a welcoming into Britain, especially from France and from the continent.  They’ve been beloved as refuge for travelers, especially true today as this area is the main passage into the country, important symbolically.  We pass a traffic backup that is supposed to be an 18-hour delay into France.  We pass Dover Castle and Carter encourages the boys to think of all the people who have passed including pirates, kings and common folk.

The coach turns and suddenly we see the ocean—the English Channel—our first ocean view.   We continue on impossibly roads with deep green holloways.  Peter, our coach driver stops the bus to allow other cars to inch past us.  Boys applaud his skill.

Having seen the White Cliffs of Mohr in Ireland, the Cliffs of Dover are beautiful in a more industrial way. Dover is an active shipyard and we can see tankers and other ship-related things just off the car/coach park.  We walk along a rocky path taking pictures of cliffs to the right of the shipyard.  Continuing along the path, the rocks become more chalky and we begin to see rocks that have a chalky exterior with what appears to be obsidian inside.  Now the path is all chalk and our shoes (and why did I wear sandals on a day like this?) are white.  There is a grassy area just before the cliffs drop off precariously.  We choose not to frolic in that area.  I pose each of the boys strategically, so their delightful faces/bodies and the white cliffs can be documented and enjoyed for decades to come.  I am amused to see clumps of clover-Dover Clover -but I seem alone in my enjoyment of this little rhyme.  Because we must return to Canterbury, we quickly return to the bus and take a short drive to Canterbury.  Vestment cases are unloaded and folks wander off for a quick lunch.  There is a rehearsal after which, the choir is treated to biscuits and tea, a Canterbury tradition.  The Evensong is well attended as usual and afterwards a priest tells me what a privilege it was to hear such an accomplished choir. After changing we walk to a grassy area, snack up. Men chat.  Younger choirmen play with boys.  J.P. windmills his arms about and high jumps.  Adoring younger choristers gaze in awe.  I chat with Carter about schedules, hotel logistics and room assignments.  Chloe continues to hand out snacks. Harrison and Lee chat with boys, laughing and telling funny stories.   This is the final concert of the tour and the only Grace Choir to have sung in Canterbury as well as being the only choir to sing in-residence in England.  We drive to our hotel in London, stopping only once for a bathroom break and for some younger choirmen to play games in the game room.  We buy more snacks for the boys and distribute them once we get on the bus. Between Ben who lived in London years ago and Carter who is a font of knowledge, we hear many informative announcements about churches and cathedrals we pass, buildings shaped like pickles (which Mr. B tells with relish).  We see Big Ben, the Tower of London, the London Eye and a flurry of red double decker buses. 

Choirmen at Wells Cathedral

Dover

Dover Clover

Halloway

City Wall of Canterbury

Wood Waters

Calum's final performance with the choir

Mr. K (page turner) and Mr. Bruner (photographer)

Canterbury Cathedral garden

Canterbury Tea

And we are in London!

Apparently Classical Movements, our tour company has saved the best hotel for last. It is lovely and dinner is at the hotel.  Boys sit four to a table and I encourage them to chat quietly amongst themselves.  And they do.  For the first time I sit with the other chaperones alone at a table with a full view of all the boys sitting in a long line of tables across the room.  Roast chicken, potatoes, carrots and broccoli are served with no potential allergens.  It is a delight and even more of a delight that there is a fresh fruit salad for dessert.  We move towards a sitting area before the lobby where boys hear about wake-up calls and receive instructions about showering and readying for tomorrow.  We are in one of my favorite cities and I only wish there was time to visit the V&A (Victoria and Albert Museum) but we shall have so much fun.