Bill and Ange, our hosts, knew we are keen on seeing these well-known cathedrals, so off we went to see the one that is just minutes away from where they live in Droitwich, just 10 km away.
Worcester is a city in the West Midlands of England with a population of close to 100,000. Like Droitwich, it's Tudor, half-timbered buildings are part of its charm.
The fun part is you don't even have to walk far to see them.
And yes, this is that city, known for its Worcestershire sauce and its porcelain.
See the knitted sushi and English licorice?
The lady happened to be outside and she said she makes them from her knitting left-overs. :)
But it wasn't sushi or licorice for which we came to Worcester!
It was the Worcester Cathedral, built in 1084 and situated on the banks of the River Severn.
The portal entrance itself, with all its statues, is worth the visit.
But the first view of the nave is always what takes my breath away.
I still can't put my head around worshipping in such a place!
And then I look up! How did they do that?
And then I look down. Even the floors tell you something.
Every stained-glass window, of course, also means something.
When you get down to the details, I'm always mesmerized by the quire/choir.
Having sung in many choirs in my lifetime, I can just imagine singing here.
Would my choir-director mom be enraptured, I wonder?
And what about my preacher dad? Would such a pulpit fluster him?
Most of the pews look comfortable...for the rest of us.
(Did I mention I'm starting to "collect" church cushions?)
The rood screen and high altar...and modern attempts to reach all, perhaps?
It's a place for remembering those who have passed on before us.
It's always time to remember.
Speaking of which, the Norman crypt below is from c. 860.
And then we went to the cloisters.
On one side of the cloister garth is the Chapter House.
It was a huge and empty circle that day...ready for an imaginary concert or reception.
With the garth/courtyard across from the Chapter House, what a reception that would be!
Wouldn't you love being the gardener there.
While we ate our lunch there, at the inside edge of the coutyard, a photographer took our picture.
We're famous! Supposedly we've ended up in a magazine somewhere.
We're famous! Supposedly we've ended up in a magazine somewhere.
Then we left the cathedral, and I was suddenly short of eyes again. I love ruins like this.
The college green, the archway leaving...what a way to say Good-Bye.
It left its mark on us; and we left our mark on it.
As we left for the car, a congregation of swans directed our view back to the cathedral.
I've never seen so many swans gathered together in one place in my life!
I think it means something.
And thus ends the two-day visit with our fabulous hosts, Bill and Ange, from Droitwich Spa.
THANK YOU.
