Week-end

Yesterday I fell down the White Cliffs of Dover. Lest my parents become too concerned I am perfectly fine, aside from a bruise on my bum. I didn't actually fall down the "dangerous" part of the cliffs at all. I'll try to start at the beginning...

Yeserday (Saturday) I decided to use my "extra" travel day on my Britrail pass. After asking my new friend Jacki (who's actually studying in Wales with Ross) for a recommendation I chose Dover. I do not regret my choice. I was up till 2 am or so on MSN (curse the Internet despite my love for it) and so I didn't make the 6.30 train. I did, however, get to the station in time for the 7.30 to Dover. I arrived around 10.45 and headed to the Information center. I learned how to get to the beach and off I headed, ready to conquer the cliffs. I stopped by the Church of St. Mary the Virgin. Across the street the parish center was offering tea for 40 P. Knowing I would never again find such a deal I dropped in and met Joan, who was very welcoming and picked up on my American accent right away. We had a lovely conversation prior to my departure for the beach.
I spent the next 2 hours climbing up and down the white cliffs. When in doubt I chose the road less traveled and thorougly enjoyed myself. I found wild burrows, hills, rocks, cliffs, waves, shoreline, and took a ton of amazing pictures. It was on my way down that I ran into a bit of trouble. I decided to go "inland" and explore some hillside trails, hedged in by some lovely trees. It was on one of these "developed" paths that I slipped on a wooden step and landed before I knew what was happening. So much for playing it safe.
I continued on and, after being asked to go get a drink with four lovely British gentlemen walked to the Prince of Wales Pier where I ate my lunch (thank you Marmee for teaching me the art of making wraps) whilst looking at France on the other side of the ocean.

Then I made my way back to the station in time to catch (or miss rather) the train for Canterbury. Knowing I wouldn't make it there in time for evensong, and realizing that the sun would set by 4.30 (cursed longituded and latitude of the UK) I headed back to the Dover Museum. It was quite the hodge podge experience. The history of Dover combined with period rooms and the Bronze age boat exhibit. I returned to the train station just in time to miss yet another train for Canterbury. From about 4.30 I spent the next 5 hours getting home. I made some wrong changes and had a few delays. I was happy to walk into my humble abode at 9.45.

Today was a splended, albeit rainy, Sunday. An unexpected breakfast of cornbread and tea, followed by church and a 2-hour coffee date with a new friend from Discuss. The rest of the afternoon I read and then helped prepare for (and participated in) afternoon tea, as is tradition at Crick on Sundays. Then it was off to a candlelight Evensong at Wadham College. To my great fortune Wadham offered a free dinner following the service. Oh how I love free wine. After my fair share I traipsed home, only to spend the night online. Not a bad way to invest one's Sabbath :)