It was a cold, drizzly "summer" day with a dampness that nipped at your bones. As a group of us strangers huddled at the bus stop, a lady in her "late 40's" walked by, fanning her clammy, menopausal face. It was such an out of place scene that people followed her with a confused gaze. I wanted to tell her the hot flashes will pass and eventually stop.
Loaded with eager visitors, including yours truly, the public bus climbed up the winding hillside. Rounding a corner, you are awe-struck by the sheer size of this castle/village which has gazed down below for over 800 years. The theme song for Gilligan's Island is stuck in my head; go figure.
Dover Castle ranks high on my top English sites. Why? Well, the exhibits, including ancient tunnels, the royal dining room set for a feast, the king's apartment furnished with period pieces and burning fireplaces, the church, a Roman lighthouse, and the enormous castle kitchen, outfitted so you can see how a working royal kitchen would have hummed along back-in-the-day. Of course, this is in additional the my previous post, highlighting the tunnels of Operation Dynamo.
Complete with helpful docents; this is a well thought out, must- see ancient site. Crossing a real draw bridge (when was the last time you did that?), time slows as you explore this coastal fortress. As usual, I could ramble on about the history; instead, I invite you to read up on Dover Castle.
TRAVEL TIP: Plan on spending a full day here; be sure to pack some snacks and water as the little café had limited hours the day I visited.
The entrance fee of £20.90 (about $25.00) may be considered a bit steep, especially since it's a self-guided tour, with no information; just a drizzly little map. Personally, with the collection of sites, I find this to be a bargain. Did I mention the fa-abulous gift shop?
So, if/when you take a trip to England, include Dover Castle in your itinerary. For now, enjoy this little VIDEO of my special day out. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm late for my coronation.