The UK ports - Plymouth & Dover

Spent a lovely morning wandering through Plymouth and enjoyed a traditional Cornish pasty for lunch. The weather was overcast but dry.

After exploring the Barbican district with its shops and restaurants , we visited the lighthouse, Smeaton’s Tower, with beautiful views of the English Channel.

Liskeard, for which my hometown of New Liskeard is named, is just a short drive down the motorway.

Plymouth, of course, is famed as the departure point of the Mayflower in 1620 and the city for which Plymouth, Mass is named. The memorial includes the steps representing the location where the Mayflower was allegedly boarded. (The true location may be under a pub in the town.)

Less famous, but no less important, was the 1583 voyage of Sir Humphrey Gilbert which resulted in the claiming of Newfoundland for Queen Elizabeth I. What would we do without the Newfies?

After returning to the ship, and while leaving port, we had great views of the shore and the Plymouth breakwater lighthouse.

Next, Dover!

April 17th, 2023

Words can’t begin to capture the awe felt while sailing towards the iconic white cliffs of Dover, illuminated by the rising sun. It was a moment I’ll never forget.

The town of Dover was bombed repeatedly during the Second World War. As a result, the town lacks the charm of other English cities. We wandered around the town a little, met a handsome old golden retriever on its way to the veterinarian, found a beautiful church … and, importantly, a store selling Cadbury chocolate bars.

The highlight of the day was Dover castle. We spent hours walking the site and the tunnels.

Dover Castle commands the Strait of Dover, the shortest sea crossing between England and continental Europe, a position of strategic importance throughout history. King Henry II began to build the present castle in the 1180s, and over the next 800 years its buildings, defences and tunnels were adapted to meet the changing demands of warfare. The network of tunnels within the white cliffs beneath Dover Castle served as a barracks for soldiers during the Napoleonic Wars and became a headquarters and hospital during the Second World War. In 1940, Dover Castle's network of top secret tunnels became the headquarters for the dramatic rescue of British and allied troops during the Evacuation of Dunkirk.

The day ended watching the sun set over the white cliffs as we enjoyed dinner in the ship’s dining room.