Yesterday was our thirty-eighth wedding anniversary, and Sue and I decided that as it was going to be a hot day (it reached 35°C during the afternoon), we would like to go somewhere that we have not been able to visit since the start of the pandemic.
After a lot of discussion (including the possibility of going to the Kent coast), we decided to go to a Rochester in a Kent. We parked in the Cathedral Gate car park, and then went for a walk along the High Street.
In the end, we drove on to Chatham Maritime, which is a residential and outlet centre that has several restaurants. We were able to get a table at the Villagio restaurant, and had a great lunch of antipasti, pizza (Sue) and calzone (Me) (both served with salad), and ice cream.
After lunch, we drove home ... and just managed to miss getting stuck in a massive traffic jam that affected the M25 and A2 as a result of an accident earlier that afternoon. By the time we got back, our house was like an oven inside, and we spent some time opening all the windows to try to get a breeze through the house to help cool it down.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing, reading, and drinking lots of cold drinks, and enjoying what remained of our anniversary.
After a lot of discussion (including the possibility of going to the Kent coast), we decided to go to a Rochester in a Kent. We parked in the Cathedral Gate car park, and then went for a walk along the High Street.
The exit from the car park is in Northgate, from where the ruins of Rochester Castle could clearly be seen.
From Northgate, we turned left and walked southwards along the High Street.
On our right was Rochester Cathedral, which was built on the site of a former Saxon priory by Gundulf, the first Norman Bishop of Rochester (he was appointed in 1077).
Some distance further along the High Street was the French Hospital Alms Houses in La Providence. Not far from the Hospital one can find the Huguenot Museum.
Once the High Street reaches Blue Boar Lane, it becomes Eastgate. Although many of the buildings in the centre of the city now have Georgian frontages, some have architecture harks back to an earlier period of history.
Although the city was empty (it is usually full of tourists during the Summer months), a few shops, pubs, and restaurants were open. We looked for somewhere to have lunch, but our favourite restaurant – Mama Mia – was only taking diners who had prebooked, and the others were either full or had menus that did not appeal to us.The southernmost end of Rochester High Street, looking northwards.
In the end, we drove on to Chatham Maritime, which is a residential and outlet centre that has several restaurants. We were able to get a table at the Villagio restaurant, and had a great lunch of antipasti, pizza (Sue) and calzone (Me) (both served with salad), and ice cream.
After lunch, we drove home ... and just managed to miss getting stuck in a massive traffic jam that affected the M25 and A2 as a result of an accident earlier that afternoon. By the time we got back, our house was like an oven inside, and we spent some time opening all the windows to try to get a breeze through the house to help cool it down.
We spent the rest of the day relaxing, reading, and drinking lots of cold drinks, and enjoying what remained of our anniversary.
Lovely pictures of Rochester. It's odd seeing it so quiet, but then I normally only get to visit at the weekend. Was Baggins bookshop open? Its usually my main reason for visiting and I can loose myself in there for hours (or until my wife retrieves me!).
ReplyDeleteBig Lee,
DeleteIt was really odd to see the city so empty.
Baggins bookshop was open, but as I’ve been given quite a few books recently, I decided not to go in.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations to you both! Sounds a great day out.
ReplyDeleteTradgardmastare,
DeleteCheers! We had a great time despite the heat.
All the best,
Bob
As you know Bob I live a few minutes drive from the town centre, so sad to see it looking so empty, as you say normally in summer it is packed with tourists, many bought here by the strong connection with Charles Dickens. References to the man and his novels can be found everywhere along the High Street.I do feel for the small business owners who have relied on that trade for many years. Still a lovely place to take a walk though Bob.
ReplyDelete‘Lee,
DeleteI thought that they should have kept the Dickens link going rather than allow the ‘Dickens Experience’ to move to Chatham Maritime ... where it closed down after operating for a relatively short time.
There seemed to be quite a few businesses that had closed down, and it felt less vibrant and less distinctive than it did in the past ... and that was not just due to the lack of tourists. Some of the unique shops have gone, and seem to have been replaced by tourist-linked businesses.
That said, we still enjoyed walking through the city, and hope to go back again soon.
All the best,
Bob
And meant to say congratulations to you both on 38 years of marriage.
ReplyDelete‘Lee,
DeleteCheers!
All the best,
Bob
Sounds a great day out Bob!
ReplyDeleteRay Rousell,
DeleteIt was a choice between Rochester and Gravesend ... and the former won! :^)
All the best,
Bob
I've been to rochester a few times; the castle is interesting.
ReplyDeleteI have friends who live in Maidstone whom I visit a couple of times a year. We always try and visit somewhere. Canterbury remains mmy favourite.
Red_Cardinal,
DeleteKent has loads of places that are worth visiting, and I would strongly recommend going to Deal and Walmer, both of which have castles that you can visit.
All the best,
Bob
Happy Anniversary. Was in Rochester last year - mainly because it used to have a nice wargames shop. No longer there. There was a sprawling warehouse looking place open but to be honest I wasn't very impressed with it.
ReplyDeleteRob Young,
DeleteCheers!
The model shop used to be in the High Street/Eastgate area, but has moved to larger premises near to the library. It was a bit of a shambles when I last went there, but I’m told that it is much improved.
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations! Nice way to spend your anniversary. I never been to Rochester. Chatham several times for work and Gillingham for football, but never Rochester. It’s on the to do list!
ReplyDeleteNundanket,
DeleteIt’s a nice place to visit, and not just to go to the castle, the cathedral, and the biggest second-hand bookshop in the UK!
All the best,
Bob
The largest second hand bookshop in the UK!! You’ve sold Rochester to me in that be phrase. The weekend after next the other half will be spending her first time in north Kent.
DeleteNundanket,
DeleteI’d advise you to check their opening hours, which have changed several times due to the pandemic. The shop has a Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/baggins.bazaar/) which has up to date information on it.
All the best,
Bob
Thanks very much for the tip Bob. 👍
DeleteNundanket,
DeletePlease to have been of assistance!
All the best,
Bob
Happy Anniversary.
ReplyDeleteCheers,
Pete.
Pete.,
DeleteCheers!
All the best,
Bob
Congratulations for the years together! It must have been good for the wanderer's spirit to be about somewhere other than home.
ReplyDeleteRoss Mac,
DeleteCheers!
To date we have ‘missed’ two cruises that were cancelled due to the pandemic, and we should have been going on a third on Sunday. It was going to go around the British Isles, and had it not been cancelled, it could have taken place as none of the destinations were on the quarantine list. However, P&O have effectively placed their ships in a state of Care & Maintenance, with only a skeleton crew aboard them. It was too inefficient and too costly to bring one ship back into service for a single cruise, so the cruise was cancelled.
We have another cruise booked for October and a second in December ... but we are expecting that the October one may be cancelled if the dreaded ‘second wave’ hits.
It was nice to get away from our local area, if only for a few hours.
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteCongratulations on your Wedding Anniversary and great that Sue and Yourself enjoyed a great day out despite the heat. Chris and I met 43 Years ago and have been together ever since- so our Anniversary is this Month too. You were fortunate to find a table at Villagio - Chatham...with most cafe's etc being shut due to the Pandemic. I like millions of others pray for an end to it- Lord knows it is a living hell for all of us. Best Wishes to you both. KEV. (Sydney- Australia).
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteThanks for your best wishes ... and I hope that you and Chris enjoy your anniversary later this month.
The Villagio restaurant offers a very nice range of Italian food, and it was ideal for lunch on a hot day as it was both filling and light.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
A pleasant town for sure. There are times we wish for fewer people yet, now, wish for more a vibrant feel which means more people. Will we ever be satisfied?
ReplyDeleteKhusru,
DeleteIt is a great place to visit.
During the Summer, Rochester is usually full of tourists. They can be a bit of a pain (they tend to stand and move around in groups with little or no regard for anyone else ... which gets to be very disruptive when there are numerous groups visiting the city), but they do bring in a steady income for local businesses, which benefits local visitors like us.
All the best,
Bob
Bit envious of your ability and desire to get out and about Bob.
ReplyDeleteI am stuck at home, one step away from being 'shielded', 4 months now and have been nowhere of note, just one trip to the local 'mobbed' beach to see my grandson and a trip to the local high street to get my haircut.
I have been very busy in the back garden and the wargames hut finishing many essential tasks, poisoning rats, cementing their holes, rat-proofing the hut, painting figures, ordering more figures, painting more figures, making buildings and scenery, buying books, reading books. In other words all those things you never had enough time to do pre-lockdown.
I have an opticians appointment to look forward to in 3 weeks time, boy am I excited.
Congratulations on your 38th. I can report that I am a decade ahead of you on that score. Not something we think about much these days.
Planning ahead suggests that the next viable wargames show I could be able to attend will be in May next year. I wonder what state the planet will be in by then?
Take care
Jim
Jim Duncan (Jim),
DeleteThanks for the congratulations. For years we celebrated on the wrong day, and only discovered our mistake when preparing for our 25th anniversary,
I am sorry to read that you are still ‘confined to barracks’. I had assumed that by now you would have be able to venture out with care.
This was the farthest we have travelled from home since March, and we took care to wear our face masks almost all the time, even though they were very uncomfortable in the heat.
We’ve been growing tomatoes on our patio ... and we actually have lots of flowers and some minute tomatoes. As a confirmed non-gardener, this is a great step forward for me. I’ve even cut back some of our shrubs, which is something that is almost unheard of!
I’ve got a few wargaming projects bubbling away, and may even be painting some figures in the near future. I don’t have your level of skill, but as long as I keep it simple, I can produce reasonable results.
I suspect that the virus is going to be dogging us for a long time to come, and I doubt I’ll be going to any wargame shows within the next eighteen months.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
'I am sorry to read that you are still ‘confined to barracks’. I had assumed that by now you would have be able to venture out with care.'
DeleteMy medical team tell me I have a partially blocked and dilated coronary artery. It is to be monitored.
Important to keep my blood pressure down.
Jim Duncan (Jim),
DeleteI can see why you are being sheltered. Is there anything that they can do other than monitor the situation?
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Hi Bob
DeleteThere seem to be three options:
Medical, I am already taking the preferred tablets.
Minor Surgical, insert a stent to improve blood flow.
Major Surgical, a coronary bypass.
I am happy with option 1.
Jim
Jim Duncan (Jim),
DeleteI can see why the first option appeals more than the others, and would have been my preferred option as well.
Keep safe and keep well,
Bob
Congratulations to both of you. Kent is a bit of a mystery to me despite only being a few miles down the road... I really ought to do some exploring.
ReplyDeleteAlastair,
DeleteKent has a lot to offer, and in the area around Rochester and Chatham there is a castle, a cathedral, a Knights Templar commandary (in Stroud), a Napoleonic fort, and Chatham Historic Dockyard. A few miles away at Upnor, there is Upnor Castle, and the Royal Engineers Museum is in Gillingham.
You don’t know what you are missing!
All the best,
Bob
Happy anniversary, Bob. Here's to many more. :)
ReplyDeleteTamsinP,
DeleteThanks very much for your best wishes! We are mere novices at this marriage lark, as we have several friends who are almost up to celebrating their fiftieth anniversaries!
All the best,
Bob
Hi Bob,
ReplyDeleteJust love looking at your Photos of Rochester- there is something very quaint about English Architecture from year gone by- so very different to here. Regards. KEV.
Kev Robertson (Kev),
DeleteWhen you live surrounded by old buildings, it can make one a bit blasé about them. I remember visiting Boston, Massachusetts, and having a building pointed out to us as being the oldest in the city. Our tour guide was a bit surprised that we didn’t seem at all awed by this information, and asked why we were not that impressed. One of our group looked at her, and announced that they lived in a York, and that her local butcher’s shop was located in a building that was older than the building in Boston.
All the best,
Bob
Bob,
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that you still managed to have a great anniversary despite Covid. We are more novices than you as we can only claim 36 years of marriage. My parents however celebrated 60 years of marriage two weeks ago!
Best wishes, Anthony
Anthony Morton (Anthony),
DeleteMany thanks for your best wishes! Congratulation to both your and - especially - your parents. Sixty years of marriage is a great achievement.
All the best,
Bob