Back in Blighty, but only for one day, tomorrow Rotterdam then onwards to the Arctic circle. This is an odd cruise - it disembarks and picks up passengers at both Dover & Rotterdam. We didn't get the option of Dover, which is only an hour away from London - go figure. Went to the station & caught train to Canterbury. Nice easy trip if you get your timings right, we just missed a train - wait one hour do not pass go.
As it was a nice warm day we took a punt ride that takes you around the back of the old buildings.
Made the mistake of walking back to the ship from the station. Port guide suggested it was a pleasant 30 minute walk. Not it took an hour, wind tearing around you and the last half out on to the West Dock was featureless and grim apart from;-
A charming cafe and the South East & Chatham Railway station. This was started in 1909 to connect London with Paris by rail & ferry. WW1 intervened and the army took it over to transport munitions & troops over and wounded back. The railway took it back in the '20s and developed it with their own ferries. WW2 cropped up and after that in the '40s they built ferries to take rail carriages and joined with the French to make 2 luxury trains, all sleeper Pullman - Fleche d'Or & the Golden Arrow that could get you to Paris in 6.5 hours. Probably quicker than now what with all the airport security taken into account. The channel tunnel put the Kibosh on it in the '90s.
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