[30 May 2010] If we get to choose the happiest trip we had in England, it will be our trip in Dover. It was an unplanned trip and we didn't expected to see more beauty beyond the prominent White Cliffs of Dover. Yet it overwhelmed us! The combination of a medieval castle on top of a white cliff overlooking a vast sea was for me -- the perfect eye candy.
The sight going to Dover was in itself an enjoyable experience. The exact feeling was like you are driving within a landscape painting brought into life: wide green lands under an open bright blue sky, with the sunlight blinding you gently as you take a peek on the beauty surrounding you. It was awesome! Oh, how God created such a beautiful nature!
Dover is a town and a port in Kent, South East England. It faces France via the English Channel so it will only take less than two hours to be able to cross over to France. We were not able to get down the hill to get a full view of the white cliffs, that is why looking some of the pictures of it in the web brought us a little regret
:-(.
:-(.
Above image of White Cliffs of Dover sourced from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:White_cliffs_of_dover_09_2004.jpg
The parking was jam-packed when we arrived in the castle grounds. A coaster was made available to give free ride for the tourists since the castle is on top of a high hill. Despite sunshine, it was windy and cold on that day in Dover.
Indeed, the castle was grand
even seeing it from a distance.
The Dover Castle has a rich history, both as a medieval fortress of King Henry II and as an important English military defense during the Second World War.
It was an added luck that we visited the castle while the country is celebrating the 70'th anniversary of Dunkirk Evacuation,
known famously as Operation Dynamo, where hundreds of little ships driven by civilians jointly helped in saving allied forces that was trapped in the beaches of Dunkirk , France Dover Castle
To relive the heroic event, the castle was made to look like it was 1940 all over again and that British forces are geared up for the war. Actual WWII military camps are put up around the castle, and yes, with real people dressed up in fashion 70 years ago! Very nice di ba?
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| Love at the time of war ♥ |
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| The soldier told Alvin to edit this picture in photoshop and also get himself a military get-up. Hehehe. |
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| Alvin wanting to start his collection of pictures with uniformed men. |
Look how extravagant this place is, and mind you, this is not yet the Castle.
Just Imagine how majestic the King and Queen are when stepping up and down
in this grand stairway.
in this grand stairway.
And do you want to know what view we see while standing in the stairway?
This:
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| The Dover Southern Breakwater |
It was....again...
love-at-first-sight. ♥ ♥ ♥
I don't know, Alvin told me there's nothing special on it but I can't help myself! I stared at it endlessly, always looked back on it, for the longest time I can ever remember.
I was swept away in an instant... and I felt happy.
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The Port of Dover  A&R overlooking the Port of Dover  built deep within the cliffs |
We also went up to the Admiralty Lookout. It served as command post by the British Navy to protect the border from incoming enemies during the first and second world war. It was furnished with the same equipments used when it was still a port war signal station.
We also tried the activity in learning the techniques to detect enemy ships. In the window of the Admiralty Lookout (overlooking the sea) are stickers of various warships and warplanes which you have to detect whether it falls as an ally or a foe. They really looked like real ships in the water! Ang galing!
But I only got 3 out of 6. :-(
Good thing I didn't lived at that time otherwise I just allowed my country to be invaded by enemies, haha!
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| King Henry II's Great Tower |
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| At the entrance |
After a quite long walk uphill, we finally reached the Great Tower. Inside, it was dark and damp cold. It was refurbished exactly the way the castle looked liked in the 12th century. There is also a hologram of a medieval person narrating the dark history of the castle and creepy sounds that recreated the medieval courtly life. Sounds like someone's eating and cooking. ♫ ♫ ♫
There's also a sound of a blacksmith working. We even heard screams echoing from the corners of the castle.
There's also a sound of a blacksmith working. We even heard screams echoing from the corners of the castle.
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| The King's Throne |
When we passed by the main entrance of the castle, we noticed that it was only the two of us who are inside. No other persons at all! So after reaching the throne, we decided to "literally" ran out of the castle because it was too spooky! Hahaha.... Ran for our lives!!! Nakakatakot talaga, hehehe...
Outside, we had nice photographs of the other towers of the castle.
Again, it was an eye candy. ☺
And our CD Cover Poses:
Here as well are the other awesome sights caught in the camera:
It was really a happy happy happy day for us.
Back at the parking lot, we ate our baon and took our last memories of the beautiful trip.
♣ ♣ ♣
Till then Dover!
☺☺☺
