I woke up suitably refreshed after a good night’s sleep. We decided not have breakfast in the hotel restaurant; there were many other options nearby. Mr C settled on ‘Café on the Corner’ which we found was run by a community charity, helping people who have limited learning capabilities or difficulties. We had to wait a little before being served with our freshly prepared breakfast, which was not a bad thing; it was lovely to chill out and relax. I chose waffles with strawberries and maple syrup and Mr C chose scrambled egg on toast (the full English breakfast not being available on weekdays).
Feeling comfortably replete, we walked to St Albans Cathedral via the Vintry Garden, which we found to be serene and peaceful. Then, just outside the Cathedral and in another garden space, I paused to look at a paving stone with an inscription that I noticed on the pathway. When I continued walking, a local man stopped to talk with me. He told me that this garden space was new and that he hadn’t noticed the inscribed paving stone before he saw me looking at it and that now he needed to go and research the name ‘Lucas’ that was mentioned on it.
We were greeted with a warm welcome when we entered the Cathedral. The route we chose took us to the East End of the Cathedral where the Shrines of St Alban and St Amphibalus are located. This part of the Cathedral is also near to the former monastery and monk’s cemetery. This area was extremely peaceful and calming with a ‘Spiritual’ air within.
When we stepped out of that part of the Cathedral the Spiritual feeling was less pronounced as we enjoyed our walk around the rest of this amazing Cathedral.
Before leaving, we had lunch in the Cathedral Café (Abbot’s Kitchen) where we shared a Tuna Mayo Baguette. Whilst eating, I looked at the guide book that I had purchased in the shop. Mr C realised that he had completely missed one of the altars and we both realised that we had missed some of the mediaeval artworks on the stone pillars. We had walked down the side aisles and not along the central aisle to the altar.
We returned to the west end of the Cathedral and were lucky to arrive just as the paintings were being illuminated with a digital overlay. As I walked around the Cathedral several people stopped to talk with me including a local lady that said it was her special place to visit and that she was always finding something new. It was lovely to have conversations with local people who love their Cathedral.
Next, we walked through Verulamium Park to the Verulamium Museum of Roman history. Parts of the park were flooded due to recent heavy rain fall; this included our preferred route through the park back to town. Instead, we walked along a lovely street with quaint terraced rows and we were happy not to have missed seeing them.
Back in town after our long walk we enjoyed a slice of cake in Little Roma followed by a book and board game fix in Waterstones before returning to our hotel room to freshen up for dinner in L’Italiana. Before dining we ordered G&T as an aperitif in the hotel bar. This turned out to be a saga payment wise, the till had gone down!
The Italian food and experience was amazing, I chose Chicken Milanese with rosemary roast potatoes and Mr C chose steak which looked amazing. I had some Italian ice cream for dessert and Mr C chose tiramisu. We were even treated to a complimentary Limoncello after our meal.
Before returning to the hotel we had a nightcap in ‘The Saint & Sinner’, a fun themed pub which I enjoyed but Mr C was not so enamoured.
Spouse and I only lived in St Albans for one year in the early 1970s, but the cathedral was so impressive, I remember the details still. Most impressive was the long history, but particularly the stained glass windows, the shrines and the wall paintings.
This was my first visit to St Albans Cathedral. Everything about it was wonderful in different ways. It is now one of my favourite cathedrals and we are thinking of visiting St Albans at Easter next year so that we can attend the Easter service there.
I’ve never been to St Albans but it looks like a nice place to visit (especially as there’s a cathedral!).
I got my Cathedral passport stamped. I am enjoying visiting Cathedrals both new and old (to me). St Albans is now one of my favourites.
There is also Roman history and other history to be explored within the town.
How lovely – I’ve only been to St Albans a handful of times but we always walk through the park. I’ve been to the cathedral but never inside, so your photos and narrative are greatly appreciated. L’Italiana sounds just lovely – I so enjoy when Italian restaurants make traditional fare (but my aunt and uncle had a famous Italian eatery in Jo’burg so I guess I was spoiled)
I’ve been catching up with all your posts over the past month. I loved the posts about the Basilica di Santa Maria – how exquisite it is inside and that nativity scene is so intricate in detail
I hope to be back to writing soon – it’s difficult to know where to begin
Thank you Mandy, I am glad you enjoyed catching up on my posts.
Next time you are in St Albans you really must go inside the Cathedral, it is such a special place. We are thinking we might go back there for the Easter service next year
I look forward to seeing what you have been up to. I know how it feels to have a backlogue of content. I have to catch up with some of my past adventures (including Rome).
I’ve never been to St Albans but the Cathedral looks wonderful and the Roman museum sounds interesting too.
The Cathedral is amazing, you would love it. There is so much to see that even Mr C spent a long time looking around and exploring.
The last big cathedral I visited this year, was the one in Rochester, I think.
But I also visited their castle too.
EH site, so maybe it’s free for you?
I have been to Rochester Cathedral but not the castle we were in Rochester with older relatives.
And yes it is free for me.
It was a very small castle, the keep was the only surviving structure.
Yes, go and see it next time to make full use of your EH pass.
I went to Chatham Historic Dockyard twice this year.
Oh there are few Kentish towns that can be visited on the same day.
I walked from Herne Bay to Whistable.
And from Broadstairs to Ramsgate, on two separate occasions.
Treated myself Morelli’s gelato in Whistable and Broadstairs.
You must try Morelli’s.
We weren’t taken with Herne bay when we visited it many years ago. But we do have a really lovely memory of a shared family moment.
Sell to me all that is lovely to see there