Leeds Castle (rewritten due to blogger disruption)
It has just been a day since we had our whole day London walk-a-tour so to be honest, our legs are still aching. However, we can't miss the chance to skip our itinerary to Leeds Castle today because there will be a jousting tournament that we wanted to see. Unlike the sunny weather in the city yesterday, it rained today here in Kent. Nonetheless, I enjoyed much our driving trip going to this place because England's countryside is a first-class eye candy.
As if scripted, the rain suddenly stopped as soon as we arrived in Maidstone. When we saw the castle grounds, it was only then that we realized that what we are going to see is a jousting tournament for kids! I thought we're going to witness a "real" competition between knights, hehe... But we did enjoyed watching them riding in huge horses. Take a peek on our clips below:
Jousting is a form of martial contest between two knights trying to defeat one another while riding in horses. They uses various forms of weapon such as swords or lances. Jousting is said to be a noble competition during the Middle Ages -- all for the glory of love, honor and fame.
Horses doing warm-ups before the tournament.
Alvin and the Knights
The Mighty Knights!
The Jousting Lance aiming to unhorse the competitor through striking of lances.
We actually didn't get the names of these characters,
all we know is that the kids had a good laugh watching them.
Rowsie among the kiddos!
The anticipating audience
The Castle and its Knights
For a while I was a little bit disappointed when after the jousting tournament, Alvin asked me if we can go home already because he's starting to feel unwell. He told me that we will just go back some other time. But then we are already here, right? And besides it's quite a long drive going here and we don't want to waste our entrance fee. I just told him that we will just tour the castle quickly so we can leave early.
Besides, he seems not to be having a serious headache or anything.
See, he still can afford to smile.
(He might be tired, though.)
Leeds Castle has a 500 acres of parkland.
In fact, it is also a golf course.
Leeds Castle is describes as among the most loveliest castles in the world. It was built in 1119 and has been rich in royal history since then. It has been a Norman stronghold; a private property of six of England’s medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. For more information, visit its official website at http://www.leeds-castle.com.
The moat, adding more sophistication to the castle.
The main castle island
The Norman Cellar, used to store items during long periods of siege
Civil War Cuirassier armour
Panoramic view of the castle
The Queen's Room and Bathroom.
The huge bed is actually not for sleeping but just a symbol of wealth and power.
The longest resident of this room was Queen Joan of Navarre (1370-1437),
who was imprisoned here after being accused of witchcraft.
King Henry VIII's Banqueting Hall
Childhood room of Lady Baillie
Bedroom of Queen Catherine of Aragon
Thinking about it, it was kind of lonely living inside a castle. Yes it's huge and beautiful,
but the damp cold from the wall adds to the emptiness of the place and the silence is actually deafening. And if you're a someone caught in a forbidden love, this place will really make you crazy. No wonder there are runaway princesses!
Finally, sunlight! ☼
This is the view as I am standing from the castle's door.
Prince Alvin of Leeds
Rowsie, the Commoner
The Castle front
Where am I?
A&R at Leeds Castle ♥ ♥ ♥
The birds are getting out of the lake by afternoon.
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