Leevi & Sarahs Travel Blog

Leevi and I visited The Friars which is located in Aylesford which is a short bus trip from Louise and Richards it’s the next village. The priory aka Friars was founded in 1242 ( so it’s old) when the first Carmelites arrived from the Holy land.

The grounds surrounding the churches were beautiful, you should have seen the roses they were amazing and there was so many different colours and shades. We did see a couple of monks but majority of the people in the grounds were school children, oldies and those who had come to pray.

The Friars

Courtyard @ The Friars

Sarah and Leevi behind the cathedral @ The Friars

Sarah and Leevi in the yards @ The Friars

Sarah and Leevi in the yards @ The Friars

Beautiful rose gardens @ The Friars

Sarah in the main shrine @ The Friars

The main shrine @ The Friars

Yesterday Sarah and I visited Maidstone, located about a thirty minute and £5 bus ride from our accommodation in Burham. Maidstone is large village with a comprehensive commerce area full of clothing, supermarkets and cafes. We explored around the newly redeveloped Leham (think that’s the name) Walk and local library and local museum of everything.

The museum contained numerous exhibitions including historic life in Kent, ancient Egypt, ceramics and english oil paintings. Sarah saw her first egyptian mummy and was utterly amazed. Personally I enjoyed the collection of artifacts including wigs, clubs and intricately carved ceremonial and war masks from the oceanic island nations of Samoa, Fiji etc.

Sarah and I spent the evening watching an unconvincing win by England over Trinidad & Tobago at a local pub called the Windmill. The ceilings where about seven feet high and it was packed full of english soccer fans in red and white shirts. After a few of pints (Carlsberg, Carlsberg Extra Cold and a Kronenberg) England eventually scored twice and the mood of the locals changed from focused intensity to exalting relief. Cigars where lit and another round of pints was purchased.

Richard cooked a delicious pesto pasta fettuccini accompanied by a warm french bread stick. With a full belly and a warm bum I promptly took myself off to bed and Sarah closely followed.

Leevi & Sarah infront of our accomodation in Burham

Leevi and Richard enjoying a pint @ The Windmill

Louise @ The Windmill

Sarah @ The Windmill

The Windmill

UPDATE (16/06/2006) : Added some pics to the post!

Yesterday Sarah and I went to Rochester Castle (its really a keep) locateded obviously enough in Rochester Kent. The castle is an awsome relic with spiralling staircases and solid stone walls overlooking the Rochester Cathedral. Rochester itself is a medium sized village with containg many antique shops and traditional pubs.

In what has become a tradition with our holidays we didnt stop walking for all of the day. We had lunch at a Weatherspoons Free House where I tired my first real ale. Nothing like a flat warm 1/2 pint to wash down some chilli con-carne.

We left Rochester in the afternoon and headed back to our hosts home for an hour rest before heading to the local curry house for dinner and a couple of pints of Carling Cold. UK curry is much better that AU curry although its a little oily.

Anyway four minutes of internet time remaining so I better wrap it up.

 
Leevi infront of Rochester Castle

Leevi inside Rochester Castle (Rochester Cathedral in the background)

Sarah inside Rochester Castles spiralling stairwell

Well we made it. We are now staying with Sarahs old camp buddy Louise and her partner Richard in Rochester Kent. They have provided such warm hospitality and have a beautiful house. Hopefully we will make it too London on Tuesday for a guided tour with our hosts. Brooce hope to see you there.

The flight was not as bad as I though it may have been. Helped by a broadband connection on the plane the 13hrs flew past rather quickly. The food and service on Japan Air was once again excellent.

This will have to be a very short post due to the fact I am using a computer in Rochester library and they have 15 minute time limits.

Anyway off to the pub for some lunch.

Sarah is undoubtedly the sexiest sleeper I have ever met.