Wordless Wednesday

Harry Potter - WB Back Lot

After having explored the Great Hall of Hogwarts, the Gryffindor boys dorm, the magic potion classroom, Dumbledore's office, and tons of other sets and props for the making of the Harry Potter movies, we were hungry. On the "back lot" just outside the main studio area, we found the commissary--the lunch line. On one side you could get all sorts of sandwiches and snacks and on the other side, butter beer. Who could resist trying butter beer? Not us. 

We sat down with our butter beers and food and took a sip. The butter beer was like a cross between ginger ale and cream soda with some sort of sweet meringue-like top that tasted almost like whipped marshmallows. It was quite a creation and a nifty treat.

The outdoor cafeteria area was surrounded by more familiar props and sets from the movies. The famous triple decker purple bus, two houses from Privet Lane where Harry lived with his aunt, uncle, and cousin, and the house where he'd been an infant and his parents had been killed by he-who-shall-not-be-named (Voldemort).

A section of the bridge the characters so often crossed as they discussed life and made plans was nearby. It was where the actors were filmed. The actual bridge of Hogwarts, as we would see later was a much smaller mock up and part of . . . well, you'll see if you come back for the next Harry Potter post.

Harry Potter - The Movie Set

Excitement escalated when we discovered that Warner Bros. was opening the movie set of the Harry Potter series to the public. Just a short train trip from London to Watford Junction where a duly decorated shuttle bus takes you straight to the studios about 15 minutes away. We purchased tickets online before we left home and arrived at the studios about forty-five minutes before our tour time of 11 a.m.

While waiting to get in line for our appointed time, we strolled around the lobby full of huge poster pictures of the cast from the movies and noticed, suspended above our heads in the corner, the Ford Anglia that was made to fly. A peek in the gift shop only left me thinking of a Christmas gift list for all the Potter fans in our family.

After a coffee and a snack, we got in line to begin our tour. As we wound our way to the entrance, we were enticed with a mock up of Harry's room under the stairs on Privet Lane. There on the shelf above the bed were the iconic glasses worn by Daniel Radcliffe. I'm sure in the 10 years or so it took to make all the movie sequels, there were more than one pair. He did grow.

A large group of us were herded into a room where we watched a short video before entering another room with a familiar giant door before us--the door to the banquet hall of Hogwarts. Sure enough when the doors opened, we were right there and the magic of Warner Brothers movie making began. The banquet hall didn't seem as large as what was on the screen in the movie but it was still very impressive. Tables were set and along the sides were original costumes representing the houses of Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Hufflepuff.

Once our allotted time was up in the banquet hall, we were directed out to the large studio area where we could leisurely explore all the various sets, props, costumes, etc. that were used in all the movies. Each of us had an audio guide that we could start at each station along the way. It was more of an IPod-type guide where it was possible to also see videos and pictures of the making of the movies as well as interviews with people involved. It was very well done.

The Gryffindor dorm room where Harry and Ron bunked was interesting. As the audio explained the beds were the right size for the actors when they first started filming but by the time the last movie was made, they had outgrown them and needed to curl up tight to appear to still fit. The colorful quilted bed in Ron's.

Dumbledore's office was amazing. You can't see it in the picture and it was a little difficult to see from where we stood as well but there is a large telescope up in the ceiling. All of the elements of the story line were there and visitors were allowed all the time they needed to search them out and find them.

Many of the special effects, most helped along by green screens, were displayed. The brooms and flying motorcycles of course were attached to mechanical devices that made them move while being ridden and then the background added onto the green screen later would make it seem to really fly.

But how did Harry become invisible under that cloak of his father's? Green screen material. Look closely at the picture of the cloak on the mannequin and you'll see that a part of it is folded back to reveal the green material. Ah, the magic of movie making. But some of the best was yet to come.

England on Dwellable

Sunday Morning Worship Thoughts

On the East End of Grand Cayman there is a large population of land crabs. Once in a while you see them scurrying from under one bush to another but usually they don't come out until dusk when the sun is setting. That is when you see the really large ones. When you approach them they instantly raise their claws as if they were saying, "Put up your dukes!" They always seem ready for a fight.

Last week when I spoke at my church, I talked about God Moments--those times when God uses everyday things or sometimes not so everyday to give us insights and inspiration. Seeing one of those feisty land crabs this week gave me one of those moments. How often have I raised my "dukes" and tried to fight with God over things instead of welcoming His presence into my life? 

Through My Lens - London

My Canterbury Tales - The End

Canterbury after five in the evening began to close down as tourist traffic thinned down to almost nothing, boarding their buses parked in the large lot along the Riverwalk. One evening as we walked past the entrance to the Cathedral grounds we realized the gate was open and we were free to enter the grounds and walk around. We strolled through the courtyard and up to one of the doors which had a notice posted on it. The notice was actually an announcement for an organ recital to take place the last night of our stay. How exciting! An opportunity to get inside without having to take the tour that we'd already taken on a previous trip and a chance to hear the organ in the grand cathedral.

After our trip to Leeds Castle, we refreshed at our B&B and then took off to find an early dinner so that we could catch the 7:30 p.m. recital. We arrived a bit early at the Cathedral after dinner and waited around to see if the main door was going to open. Since we hadn't seen the recital advertised anywhere else we were a little concerned that maybe we had been mistaken about it.

While we waited, we had time to reflect on the history we had learned about the Cathedral on our first visit. The tale of the murder of Thomas Becket is quite interesting and the pilgrimages that began afterward reflected in the writing of the Canterbury Tales by Chaucer.

Eventually, we saw a few people entering the Cathedral by a small side door. When we inquired and found that indeed that was the entry door for the recital. We followed another couple in and stopped at a table set up for tickets. In England rather than saying senior discount, they ask if you want a concession. Being a senior has its perks in lots of countries.

We were instructed to sit in the area where the choir sits. Unsure of the best place to plant ourselves, we asked a couple who seated themselves in an area just past the choir seats. They were regulars for the recitals that are held every six weeks or so. We joined them and struck up a conversation. They spoke of past recitals and the unfortunate lack of publicity for them.

It truly is a shame that they are not better advertised because it was a wonderful opportunity to hear the huge organ fill the Cathedral to the rafters with its wonderful sounds. While we were not entirely familiar with the pieces that the organist performed, we sat mesmerized by the sweet soft melody that wound around and through the huge arches above our heads and then crescendoed to rich full tones that reverberated and filled the entire massive space of the Cathedral. It was amazing.

When it was over, we strolled back to our B&B in the dusky evening light hand in hand, grateful for the opportunity to once again experience the history and ambiance of the English town of Canterbury.

Wordless Wednesday

Through My Lens - England's Bloomin' Flowers

Leeds Castle, Kent

Leeds Castle

Our day and a half in Canterbury had covered all that we wanted to see. We had visited the Cathedral on a previous trip so while we munched on fish and chips we had asked the proprietor what he recommended we see that would be a day trip. He didn't even have to think about it. "Leeds Castle. It's a lovely spot. You'll quite enjoy it!"

So on our third day in Canterbury, Kent County, we boarded a train and headed for Bearsted. We had to change trains in Ashford which was very simple to do. Along the way we met some interesting folks visiting from South Africa with a lady who lives in England and goes to Africa to find water. She is a dowser. We had quite a discussion about how Americans eat. They

Leeds Castle on River Len

 didn't have a good impression of our eating habits. Can you blame them?

At the Bearsted station we had to wait a few minutes for the shuttle to Leeds Castle. For a small fee you get a neat ride through the little town of Bearsted and out into the countryside where the castle is located. I fell in love the moment we stepped off the small mini bus. Cinderella's castle has always been a bit too fru-fru for me. This was a REAL castle.

The grounds were absolutely spectacular, especially in the morning sun. We couldn't believe it.
 Another gorgeous weather day. Did someone move England farther south?

Henry VIII Banquet Hall

Lady Baillies's Dining Room

As the Leeds Castle website says: "Leeds Castle has been a Norman stronghold; the private property of six of England's medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon; a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion; an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous; and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain."

A Lady Baillie Bedroom

Queen's Bedroom

The first stone castle was built in the 1100s on an island in the river Len. Over the centuries, it was owned by many queens who expanded on the facility. After all, every new owner needs to redecorate and renovate. In 1926, ownership of the castle came to an American heiress, Olive Wilson Filmer, later known as Lady Baillie.

Lady Baillie spent much of her oil inheritance on restoring the castle and renovating parts of it for her residence. She was quite a social hostess and entertained extensively such guests as Edward VIII, the Grand Duke Dimitri of Russia, Douglas Fairbanks junior and senior, James Stewart, Errol Flynn, and Charlie Chaplin.

Black Swan Bathroom

Queen's Bath

As you tour the castle, you begin with rooms furnished in the medieval style and move to the more modern tastes of Lady Baillie. Throughout there is commentary called "What the Butler Saw" that tells of life in the castle during the days of Lady Baillie's social gatherings. The information was interesting but took an awfully long time to read as people crowded around. A nice audio tour would have worked so much better.

Looking at my pictures, you can see the contrast between the medieval owners and the more modern changes that the last owner made.The black swans on the towels in the bathroom picture were a symbol of Lady Baillie's castle. There are hundreds of water fowl in the streams, river, and pond on the over 500 acres of property surrounding the castle. And of course, among them, keeping their regal feathers dry are several peacocks.













When Lady Baillie died in 1974, she left the castle to a trust that continues to ensure the public enjoyment of the castle. She also allowed for its use by international statesman which led to the mini-Camp David in 1978 involving US Foreign Secretary Cyrus Vance, General Moyshe Dayan of Israel and Mohammed Ibriham Kamel of Egypt.

Inner Courtyard

Before we left, we ate lunch in the restaurant across the pond from the castle and then decided we could take on the maze. We were wrong. The maze was amazingly difficult. We wandered around and wondered how it was there were kids getting to the middle way before us. Were we getting too old for a sense of direction? No. The answer was evident when we saw one kid climbing over the hedge and another being helped by a parent who had found their way. Eventually, by luck, we made it to the center and down the steps to the grotto below it. So much for medieval entertainment.

My Canterbury Tales 3

Tight squeeze

Canterbury was a bustling little tourist town for sure but early in the morning and after four or five in the evening, the streets were relatively empty. As a matter of fact, we found that most everything except the larger restaurants closed by six o'clock. During the day, most of Canterbury is pedestrian but until ten in the morning, cars and trucks are allowed through the narrow streets to do their deliveries. As you can see in the picture, there's a good reason for making the streets pedestrian when the tourists begin to arrive by the busloads.

Queen Bertha

After finishing the first route of our Canterbury Audio Tour, we ate a light lunch and found our way back to the starting point at Christ Church Gate in front of the Cathedral grounds. We walked down Burgate to Lower Bridge St. and crossed over. Lower Bridge is outside the historical part of the city and is heavily trafficked. Just down Lower Bridge was Lady Wootton's Green, a small well manicured garden with two statues prominently standing in the middle of it all. The statues are relatively new (2006) and are of Saxon Queen Bertha and her husband King Ethelbert who were instrumental in returning Christianity to Kent. It is said that Queen Bertha walked through this area each Sunday to attend church services. So who was Lady Wootton you ask?

Fyndon Gate

Apparently later, when King Henry VIII decided to dissolve the monasteries in England because the Pope would not allow him to divorce his wife, part of St. Augustine's Monastery became lodging for the king. Later it was leased to Edward Lord Wootton whose widow, Lady Wootton continued to live there until she died. When the garden was designed and planted, it was named for her.

St. Augustine's Abbey

At the other end of the Green is the Fyndon Gate, rebuilt in the 14th century and is the entrance to what is now a part of King's School. Further down the street and around the corner we found the entrance to the old ruins of the original St Augustine's Abbey. We opted not to go in. It was getting very warm and we didn't think we wanted to take the time.

Canterbury City Wall

Crossing back over Lower Bridge St. we found the entrance to the City Wall and climbed up the walkway. The wall dates back to Roman times and was already well known in the third century. Towers along the wall were for archers. There were three to four foot upside down keyholes spaced around each tower for the archers to shoot through. Several large gates have been restored (see Westgate in previous post).

City Wall Towers

We walked along in the unusually warm weather and wished we'd packed the sunscreen. Who knew? At the Dane John Mound, we paused for a few moments to try to figure out its significance. It was basically a large mound of earth with a monument on top. Originally it had been large enough for a castle to be built on top of it. One of the reasons for building the city wall was to protect it.

We exited the wall and walked through the shady alleyways to the Canterbury Castle once again. I had hoped to find a bench in the shade but there were none. Normally people don't seek the cool shade in England. Since we'd visited the castle the previous day, we didn't go back in but continued on to our next point of interest, the Greyfriars.

Rupert

On our way to Greyfriars, we passed the Museum of Canterbury, a beautiful brown stone building with a pretty garden court where some were enjoying an afternoon tea. It is also home to the Rupert Bear museum. The Rupert Bear is a popular children's character in England and the original author/cartoonist, Mary Tourtel, who was actually born Mary Caldwell in Canterbury in 1874.

Greyfriars Chapel

The Greyfriars was truly off the beaten track but the flowers that lined the river along the way were beautiful. The area once belonged to a large 13th century Franciscan friary (a brotherhood of friars). All that remains of it now is a small chapel that spans an arm of the River Stour. It was a lovely peaceful place and would have been a nice place to stop and rest but we continued on, afraid that we would tire before the end of our tour.

St. Margaret's Church

Getting back into the heart of the historical district, we passed by the Canterbury Tales which is housed in St. Margaret's Church. The tour inside the church takes you through several vignettes of medieval life. It appeared to be very popular with groups of students who lined up outside waiting their entry.

 Once again we arrived back at the entrance to the Canterbury Cathedral. We removed our tour paraphernalia and began our trek back to the Riverwalk to return it and then continue on to our B&B to rest and relax before dinner. Ah, but when the "Cream Tea" sign caught our eye, we knew we had to stop. You can't miss cream tea in England.

Canterbury on Dwellable