Leeds Castle

Today I was supposed to go to Stonehenge with Emma, her mom, and Laura. However, after considerable research last night, I decided that I was much more excited to go to Leeds Castle in Kent for how much I would be paying to go to Stonehenge. And so, after a quick breakfast in good old HPH, I headed out. I went to King's Cross station, forgetting that station matinence meant that the tubeI needed to take wouldn't be stopping at King's Cross. I also discovered that my Oyster card only had 70 cents on it and had to top it up. After a few shenanigans, I made it to London Bridge and bought my rail ticket to Bearsted. The journey was uneventful, but I was studious and got some reading done on the way there.
The Bearsted station was tiny, but there was a bus that arrived about 15 minutes after I got there to take people to Leeds Castle. Once there, I bought my ticket (which is apparently good for a whole year) and went in. There is a long walk through the grounds before you even get a glimpse of the castle. As it was 1pm by this point, I stopped and had one of my cheese rolls and a pear. There was a wasp who really wanted my pear. I then made my way to the castle. The first thing that you come to is an old Mill. It was really cool. Then you go a little further and get to the Gate House. You then cross the moat and get up to the castle. On your right is "Maiden's Tower". They have you start at the back and bottom of the castle in the wine cellar. It is one of the oldest remaining parts of the castle and dates back to the 12th century.
You then take a winding tour through a lot of the rooms of the castle, furnished and decorated from different periods (it only recently became a proper tourist site). The whole time I was going through it, I kept thinking of William Morris in relation to everything. It was kind of depressing. Beyond the castle was a beautiful flower garden and aviary. Then there was a little square of buildings, most of which are now restaurants/snack shops.
The hedge maze was the next thing you come upon. It was really cool and probably at least 7 feet tall. You have to wonder how long it took to make that. In Harry Potter, you just use good herbology and it's done in a few months, but this must have taken years. I got to the center pretty well, using the make all right turns rule. (It took me a little longer cause I accidentally didn't at one place). In the center was a high bit so you could look out over the maze. They had a guy standing there watching everyone so that if someone really needed help, he could shout at them how to do it. Under the maze was a "grotto" that was all wet stones, strange lighting, and creepy sounds. It was pretty cool. Totally reminded me of Disneyland. Beyond the hedge there was a vinyard that actually produces wine.
I then bought some lemonade and an ice cream and planted myself by the water. I got some more reading done as I waited for 3:30 to come. At 3:30, there was a falconry demonstration. A guy first brought out a hawk of some sort, showed it off, etc. Then he showed how it would catch a rabit, and they drove a "rabbit" (it was stuffed) out of a little burrow on a remote control car. He swooped down on it. Then he threw food in the air and the hawk snatched it right up. Next was a big owl. He had all the little kiddies line up, and had the owl fly low over their heads. Then he had them all sit and the owl flew even lower. I can't remember if he had it catch anything. Finally, he brought out a peregrine falcon that was SO PRETTY. After talking for a bit, he took it's hood off and let it fly around. Then he used a lure and showed us how is dives for it's prey. On the final pass, we all had to shout "ho!" and he threw the lair and the falcon caught it. The guy was really funny though and kept making jokes the whole time like "I'm allergic to children" and "no! don't hunt the seagulls!".
After the falconry, I meandered back to the car park and read while I waited for the next bus. By the time I got onto the train headed for "London Victoria," I'd finished Mrs. Dalloway. Yay! That is such a boring, pointless, strange book. So, not only did I enjoy myself, but I got work done too. :) I've posted a lot of pictures on facebook from my day.
Laura says that Stonehenge was "cheap and amazing", but I quite liked my day in Kent.