DOVER, ENGLAND
We had booked a flight to go to Dublin Ireland for a few days and arrived at London Gatwick Airport to check into our flight. MK went online to retrieve our tickets and boarding passes only to discover that she had only booked a ticket for her. We were unable to get a ticket for me on the same flight at a reasonable rate but were unable to find one. Since we were already packed and Gatwick Airport has a train station, i got on the internet and booked a train ride to and a Hotel for Dover England.
After checking into our apartment across from the train station, we decided to explore the downtown. Looking up the street on the hilltop we could see Dover Castle with a beautiful rainbow as the weather was beginning to clear.
St. Mary's Church
Our first stop was beautiful St. Mary's Church located in the shopping area of Dover, like an oasis of calm and beauty amongst the hustle and bustle of the shopping. It is said that this church was originally built in 1100 AD. It's been closed and reopened and rebuilt over the years. It was damaged in WW2 but survived where as much of Dover was destroyed by the Germans. Very quaint with a working clock and bells.
Roman Painted House
While walking to the harbor from the Shopping district we came upon a very special Roman Painted house located in an innocuous industrial building. It was discovered and excavated durining the 1970's. It is believed to have been either part of a large mansion or an official hotel for travellers crossing the English Channel. The house was built around 200 AD when Dover was the main gateway to Roman Britain. On the walls of the five rooms are parts of painted murals and scenes involving the Roman god Baccus. Under the rooms is an elaborate underfloor heating system similar to the roman Bath houses.
Harbor and New Marina Pier
Dover has a splendid promenade, the Esplanade that stretches between the white cliffs at one end of the town to the large port at the other. The new marina Pier offers a great walk and good views of the working docks on one side and the White Cliffs of dover on the other.
White Cliffs of Dover
We took a taxi from the Marina to the National Trust, to go explore the White Cliffs of Dover, which can really only be accessed on foot trail atop the Cliffs.
