Calais, France

October 2013

Calais is connected to Dover in England by ferry services provided by P & O, DFDS Seaway and MyFerryLink. The trip of 26 miles,  takes about one hour and thirty minutes for both vehicle and foot passengers. Once you reach the port in Calais, shuttle busses run every thirty minutes to the center of town or the train station.

 

Calais is directly connected to the European motorway network. The A26/E15 provides access to the heart of France, including Paris.

  
 

 

 

Calais was once a humble fishing village but is now the combination of three towns, Calais Nord, Calais Sud and Calais Quest. Nord is the old part of town and harbour area. Rue Royale is considered to be the smarter shopping street, filled with boutiques and restaurants. However, be forewarned that many shops are closed on Wednesday, as we soon found out. Calais Sud is separated by canals and is the main town center.

 

There is a lovely park in the center of Calais which is well worth the time to enjoy.

  

When we departed from the ferry, we met a couple from western Australian, Marg and Wayne Hall and spent the rest of the day touring Calais with them. After walking many streets and avenues, we  found a nice café on the beach and enjoyed a lovely meal and a pint.

 

 

 

 

The wind was blowing fiercely on the beach but we did walk in the sand for a short distance. Rather than take the shuttle back to the port, we took a leisurely stroll and enjoyed the comraderie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Calais is very large and would require more than a day to really be seen and appreciated.

The White Cliffs of Dover England

Dover, south east coast of England
October 2013

 

Dover is a popular ferry port and ferries from Dover to Calais travel all day at a very reasonable price.

The ferry ride takes about one and a half hours and is most enjoyable. More on French Calais later, but now let’s talk about Dover.

 White Cliffs of Dover

 

 

The cliffs themselves are truly spectacular. We hiked along the top of the cliffs for over four miles and the scenery was spectacular.

The waterfront promenade is a lovely walk and during our stay,  the temperature was in the low 20’s C in October. The sun was shining brightly and the entire experience was truly wonderful.

 

Of course, no visit to Dover is complete without a visit to Dover Castle. We climbed the hill from the shore to the castle, but those less ambitious can drive up to the car park at the top.

 

Spectacularly situated above the White Cliffs of Dover, this magnificent castle has guarded British shores from invasion for  more than 20 centuries. There is an admission fee, but it is definitely worth the visit.

The Great Tower and the castle itself will impress, even  those with little love of history, as you  immerse yourself in the royal court of King Henry II. Experience the vibrant colour and opulence of the rooms in one of medieval England's most important castles.

A visit to the tunnels is a must and for over 200 years the tunnels have provided shelter, safety and secrecy to those defending the shores.  You will find yourself immersed in the drama of the Dunkirk evacuation in the very tunnels where the desperate rescue operation was masterminded. State-of-the-art effects and real film footage combine to bring those dramatic events of May 1940 to life in this fascinating experience. Be sure to explore the atmospheric Underground Hospital.  Converted into a hospital for injured troops in 1941, visitors today can experience the sounds, smells and atmosphere of the World War II hospital with its operating theatre.

 

After leaving the castle, with much to discuss, we stopped in the White Horse Pub for a cool pint of ale.

A truly informative and fascinating day in Dover.

 

The next morning we caught the early ferry and headed for Calais.