The Distracted Wanderer

Should you find yourself wandering around the cathedral city of Canterbury in southeast England and in need of lodging, I highly recommend a stay at the Cathedral Gate Hotel which - you guessed it - is located right next to the Cathedral Gate! Also known as the Christ Gate, the historic gateway to the cathedral was originally built to celebrate the marriage of Arthur, Prince of Wales and elder brother of Henry VIII, to Catherine of Aragon in 1501. Arthur, unfortunately, died a few months later which gave Henry the chance to become king and marry Catherine himself in 1509. The gate, which is highly embellished and decorated with heraldic motifs including coats of arms. mythical beasts and a large figure of Christ sitting in the center, wasn't finished for another 20 years following Arthur's death ... but enough about the gate ... this post is about the hotel which pre-dates the gate and has long been a spot where weary pilgrims to the medieval city have laid their heads. Dat

Nestled between the Taconic and Green mountain ranges in the southwest corner of Vermont, Bennington County is enriched by the waters of the famous Batten Kill that runs through its valley and has the unusual distinction of having two shire towns (historically referred to as county seats). While Manchester presides as the county’s North Shire, the town of Bennington anchors the county as the South Shire and is encompassed by three areas – Old Bennington, North Bennington and downtown Bennington. With its rich history, warm hospitality, vibrant cultural scene of art galleries and museums, along with plenty of shops, restaurants, and sidewalk cafés, Bennington makes for the perfect destination no matter what time of year you visit. It’s no wonder the motto for the town is “Vermont Begins Here.” Named for Colonial Governor Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire, the original settlement in the shire dates to 1761 when Congregational Separatists arrived from Litchfield County, Conn