We made an accidental friend while looking for our Inn.  Funny story.  After leaving the Battle of Hastings site, we entered the address for our hotel in Google and followed the directions provided.  This is where we ended up.

After driving up and down the street several times, Google maps chirping away  "arriving at your destination"...blah blah blah.  "Really, this can't be the place, there is not even a sign" says the navigator!  I proceed up the driveway to ring the doorbell. Before I can touch the button, I feel the deep vibrations of a huge dog barking hysterically through the door.  I ring the bell, the dog is going out of its mind.... Time to go..... this can't be right.  As I turn to leave, the barking comes to an abrupt halt, the lock clicks open and standing in the doorway is a little old lady.  Her expression is one of curiosity mixed with annoyance.  I explain what we are looking for, she warms up a little.  We have a nice discussion, she seems happy to have some company, I apologize for the disturbance as I say goodbye.  It turns out we were in South Hastings not Hastings.   Having found our inn, we had a great evening followed by a nice full English breakfast this morning.  I can still taste the bacon, delicious!  We take a quick tour of this sleepy little coastal town.  Hastings is a fishing village, in fact it is the only beach based fishing fleet left in England.

The vessels can be seen leaning on the side of their hulls at low tide, having been winched onto the beach, awaiting the natural rising of the sea, sometime later in the day.  In front of the ships are narrow sharp peaked buildings that house the fisherman and serve as a retail outlet for the daily catch.

Next stop, Rye. Described by some as the most beautiful town in England.  Rye was an important town in medieval times as part of the Cinque Port confederation, a series of ports in Kent and Sussex, designed for military and trade.  It also proved to be an excellent location for smuggling.  The notorious Hawkshurst Gang made Rye their home during the 18th century.  They were mostly seen lounging in the bar at The Mermaid Inn, a 14th century inn that is still in use today.  This inn served as a Garrison for the Canadian military during WWII.  One of the soldier's liked it so much he bought it at the end of the war.

If this bar could talk, it would have some great stories.  The fireplace in the bar had more to offer then a warm place to sit...During Reformation, when Henry the 8th was purging England of it's priests, many of them climbed into the chimney to hide when the King's henchman came calling.  Rumor has it that one Bishop actually stayed up the chimney for several days!  Anything to avoid being drawn and quartered.

A delightful stop, definitely a must see when in Sussex county.  We have made it to the east coast of the island, Dover!  Facing France at the narrowest point of the English Channel, Dover has always held a significant position in history, mostly due to its distance from continental Europe.  We are visiting Dover Castle as well as the secret underground caves that were used extensively during WWII.  Dover castle is the largest castle in England.  Built in the 12th century, it has seen many battles during its time.  Today I am going to focus on events from the second world war.  We toured two areas of the vast tunnel network built into the chalky stone cliffs. Unfortunately no photo's were permitted within the caves, so I will try and provide you with a mental image of what we encountered....

Below is the entrance to the war caves used by the British to plan some of the more important battles of WWII.  Most importantly Operation Dynamo.  The operation to rescue the troops left stranded at Dunkirk after a failed attack.  This command centre was identified as a regional seat of government in the event that London was bombed beyond the ability to rule.  To walk through the dimly lit halls, feeling the chilled air, the dampness, the close surroundings, one would begin to imagine just how difficult life was, during the war.  Many people from the city of Dover would also call this place home for hours or sometimes days when the Luftwaffe flew bombing missions across the English Channel.  The tour included many film clips broadcast on the very walls where the events took place, an ingenious use of a visual medium to manifest history.  It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase "if these walls could speak"!  The second tour demonstrated how a section of the tunnels were used as a underground military hospital.   Soldiers received emergency treatment before being sent to inland hospitals for continued care.  As we entered this area, we are greeted by a sound clip..... much like a play acted out on the radio.  The play presented us with a story told from the eyes of an RAF pilot.  He had just been rescued from the English Channel after being shot down.  The doctors and nurses speak back and forth to him as they move him from the field stretcher to the hospital gurney, to triage and finally into surgery.  He is asking about his flying partner... no answer is provided.  He know what that means.   Again, a very vivid way to gain an understanding of the harsh realities of war.  

This picture above is the entrance to the hospital.  I tried to take some pictures inside on the QT.  However, without the aid of a flash they didn't work out.

Today was a great day.  We are going to our appartment on the coast a little further north, in a village called Margate.  It is very close to Royal St. Georges Golf Course, the home of the 2011 Open Championship.  We will visit there tomorrow.

Be Well

Cheerio.