A day after our return from NYC (see post) and a week prior to our departure to the UK, the devastating news about the six Israeli hostages, kidnapped to Gaza by Hamas, on the October 7th attack, who after surviving Hamas brutal captivity, for over 300 days, were found dead.
Hamas captors terrorists. executed them point blank, shooting to the hostages heads .
This heartbreaking turn of events, adding already to the deep sadness, vast grief and boiling wrath, evoked the pour of 700,000 Israelis into the streets in protest (Sept 1) against the Gov. and especially against Netanyahu , The PM is now being blamed not just for habitually lying, and for torpedoing any release deal, but now is accused for the murdering of his own country fellow citizen.
A Tell of 6 Kidnapped
A short animation video in Hebrew tells the entire Hostages situation and PM Netanyahu's sacrificing their lives for the sake of preserving his Gov. and his own staying in power.
"Netanyahu had the chance to save my cousin, and Netanyahu decided cold-bloodlessly that he … would] have her murdered.” Gil Dickmann, cousin of Israeli captive Carmel Gat, one of the six Israeli captives found murdered in Gaza , in an interview with BBC News blamed Israeli PM Netanyahu
"Citizens of Israel, I don't give a Dam about You"
Following the hollow media performance with staged props, in which Netanuahu "sanctified" Philadelphi Corridor of Gaza as an excuse to torpedo the Release deal, the following response imagery started circulating on the social networks.
Dickmann accused Netanyahu of failing to secure a hostage deal “fighting” against the interests of the Israeli people “to keep the war going”. “
Gov. ministers who torpedoed the Deal except Defense minister Gallant
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Images below summaries the sentiment in the country
Massive Protests erupted all around Israel with over 700,000 out in the streets
The sadness sorrow and wrath we felt, like many others in Israel and in our immediate community, compelled me to have our grief-loaded voices be heard.
Thus on Sep. 2nd a small group of us from the San Francisco and the Bay area gathered by the Israeli consulate in San Francisco, to share our deep sadness and sorrow for the tragic loss of the 6 brutally murdered hostages, expressing our empathy with the families of the kidnapped, requesting an immediate Release Deal, and condemning the Israeli Gov. abandonment policies.
6 memorial candles were lit, 6 yellow Balloons, along with yellow flowers and yellow ribbons, were brought to the gathering, Bereavement poems were read ,and participants shared their troubled thoughts and feelings .
May the hostages’ souls rest in peace. May their death not be in vain and may their innocent spirits light the way to a greater moral and ethical future.
Flying to the UK
Since Virgin Air (like many other airlines) canceled our booked continuation flight to Israel
we decided to hang around the UK and Europe, until our kids would join us in Europe later in Oct.
The somber mood we imported from CA, was met with dark tone upon landing...
A grey drizzling weather welcomed our arrival at London's Heathrow Airport .
Later, the same darken gloomy horizon revealed itself within the first US Presidential political debate, between the 2 both disappointing Trump and Harris candidates, which took place on the night between Tuesday and Wednesday of 9/11 .
After searching for the car rental reservation confirmation, for an hour.. we realized we were at the wrong car rental agency... so once that was remedied, we finally left the airport and hit Hwy M25 driving toward the South East of England.
Maneuvering madly the British Hwy lanes while getting used to driving on the Left side of the road.. extracted few insolent " finger motions" by otherwise, very reserved "polite driving Englishmen....
It took about an hour and 50 minutes to have had finally arrived very fatigued, to our quint Canterbury Cathedral Lodge,
Canterbury is one of England's most well-known cities due to its magnificent Cathedral, the Canterbury tales. and the play write Marlowe.
Located in Kent's South East England. Canterbury, an historic medieval walled small city of about 45,000 inhabitants is beautiful and charming rich with history, tradition. and culture surrounded by stunning Kentish countryside and gardens - great for walks and woodland adventures,
It is possible to walk from one end of Canterbury to the other in less than 30 minutes.
Canterbury Coat of Arms
It depicts a heraldic leopard (signifying Canterbury's royal status) and 3 black choughs taken from the arms of Thomas Becket.
The coat of arms reads: 'Argent Three Cornish Choughs Two and one Sable Beaked and Legged Gules on a Chief of the Last a Leopard Passant Gardant Or'.
Canterbury is also a vibrant student city, home to many students both from the UK and around the world. There are two universities in the city, as well as numerous colleges and schools.
Guided Walking tour in Town
The city tour is recommended, and we enjoyed it tremendously
Tickets for a group guided 1.5 hour tour (given twice a day at 11:00 and 2:00) are sold at the Roman Museum
11A Longmarket, Butchery Ln,
The Canterbury Roman Museum houses a Roman pavement which is a scheduled monument, in the original remains of a Roman courtyard house which itself is a grade I listed building.
The pavement was discovered after World War II bombing, and has been open to the public since 1946.
It is one of the UK’s only remaining in situ Roman pavement mosaics,
Established in 1961. the museum houses many excavated artifacts from Roman Canterbury, including the important late Roman silver hoard known as the Canterbury Treasure, together with reconstructions of the Roman town.
Ancient walls, originally built by the Romans around 300 AD encircle the medieval center and its quaint cobbled streets, and timber-framed houses
The Romans built the city wall to incorporate an ancient mound. Later the Normans built their first castle on top of the mound but it was soon replaced by the present Norman Castle built to the west
The historic places unfolding on a walk in town, includes the East Clock Tower, Westgate Tower, the Norman Castle, and the Dane John Gardens, ,
St George's Clock Tower. Westgate Tower, Norman Castle (1066)
There are many restaurants breweries and cafes., designer and boutique shops alongside department stores.
And there are many many small hotels , that have had served for many years the visiting pilgrims to town
The city's night life offers live music venues as well as student bars, pubs and clubs.
There are museums, libraries and art galleries. .For cultural entertainment, there are two theaters and three cinemas in the city.
In between the Tudor low residential architecture and the narrow allies, charming English pubs offer a trendy Jazz music, while Arabic music is warbling off , vegetable and Fruit stores.
On the cold and rainy late afternoon we arrived, the small town's center was fast asleep by 9:00pm and hardly any locals or tourists could be spotted in the streets
The ice cream store we approached at 8:40pm was already closing down its business at 8:30pm, though the posted sign indicated it should have been opened until 9:00pm.
Non of our begging persuaded the server to sell us ice cream nor to disturb their
earlier closing time...
The following morning, (9/11) the sky cleared out and the friendly sunny bright weather attracted during the day. many visitors.
Butter Market square , just across Cathedral main Christchurch Gate
High Street is Canterbury's main thoroughfare that offers a long stroll , beautiful architecture, quint cafes and many "Therapy shops"
Beaney House of Art and Knowledge
The Tudor Revival 1889 structure is a the city's Central Museum, Library and Art gallery also known as the Beaney Institute or the Royal Museum and Art Gallery
WesGate Tower
The West End of High street is noticeable by the impressive WestGate Tower entry,
This medieval gatehouse , still well-preserved, landmark of the city wall, was built of Kentish ragstone around 1379, and is the last survivor of Canterbury's
7 medieval gates as well as the largest surviving city gate in England.
It houses the West Gate Towers Museum as well as a series of historically themed escape rooms.
WestGate Gardens by the Tower
Enchanting flowery gardens by the bank of river canals , fun to stroll through
At the East End of High Street
The Cock Tower at the East end of High Street is all that remains of the medieval church of St George the Martyr.
The church is best known as the place where the Canterbury native, playwright Christopher Marlowe (1564- 1593) was baptized on 26 February 1564.
The church was badly damaged by German bombs on 1 June 1942 in a 'Baedecker raid'. That same raid totally destroyed the nearby house in which Christopher Marlowe was born.
An English playwright, poet, and translator of the Elizabethan era. Marlowe is also known as Kit Marlowe, who is among the most famous of the Elizabethan playwrights.
The remains of the church were demolished in 1955, but the tower was saved to stand as a historic landmark.
The new main Theater structure of 1,200-seat built in 2005 is in Marlowe's honor .
Address: The Friars, 01227 787787
On the night we passed by the theater all tickets to the Musical Performance of "Grease" (only one that night) were sold out..
By the theater surroundings- Dave lee Statue-pantomime dame and comedian
From the Imaginary Entertainment Theater to the live Theatrical Religious dramas..
Canterbury Cathedral Complex
Canterbury's biggest attraction in addition to its historical points of interest and thriving culture is its world-famous magnificent Cathedral in the heart of the city.
At the Cathedral Compound
Cloister Map of the Cathedral Compound. Decorated Entry Gate
Remains of the various Cathedral structures bombed in Second World War
Within a garden/park/churchyard/enclosure/Marketplace
This memorial commemorates the 8 million horses that died during First World War (1914-1918)
The Cathedral Tour
The information desk, at the tourist shop by the main entrance Gate into the Cathedral compound, offers very informative 1.5 hours in -doors guided Group tour of the Cathedral, which we joined at 10:30 am, the following morning.
Christ Church Gateway, a Tudor Gothic Gate was completed c 1520, and forms the main entrance into the cathedral precincts.
It is one of Canterbury's most celebrated and photographed buildings.
The highly embellished and decorated with heraldic motifs, including coats of arms and mythical beasts, the ceremonial gatehouse, was
originally built to celebrate the marriage of Arthur, Prince of Wales, to Catherine of Aragon in 1502. Arthur, unfortunately, died a few months later, and the gate was not finished for another 20 years.
Founded in 597 A.D. the Cathedral incorporates Gothic and Romanesque elements in its stone carvings and stained-glass windows, It is one of England's most famous places of worship, and is the home of the Anglican communion..
1956 Stained Glass windows designed by the Hungarian Jewish artist Ervin Bossanyi
The Cathedral also offers every day at 5:30 pm a free concert by one of its 3 choirs -
the adult clerks, Boys or Girls. A special service was conducted on Sept 11th.
Encoring first strong hold of Christianity in England was facilitated by the devout work of Bertha - the Frankish princess wife of Aldeberge - king of Kent and by St. Augustin who was sent to Kent (early 6th century) by Pope Gregory the Great .
St Augustine was chosen in 595 to lead a mission, usually known as the Gregorian mission, to Britain to Christianize King Æthelberht and his Kingdom of Kent from Anglo-Saxon paganism
This Christian monk became the first archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. and is considered the "Apostle to the English
Berth's marriage to the pagan Æthelberht of Kent, in 580, was on condition that she be allowed to practice her religion. when she became queen of Kent.
She enabled the 597 Gregorian mission, led by Augustine, which resulted in the conversion to Christianity of Anglo-Saxon England.
King Æthelberht was the first English king to convert to Christianity. in England . He allowed the missionaries to preach freely, giving them land to found a monastery outside the city walls