Rochester is a historically strategic port city located near the mouth of the Medway River, approximately midway between London and the coast. The ancient roads from London to Dover and Canturbury, on which Roman invaders, Norman conquerors and Chaucer's pilgrims would have trod, traverses the center of Rochester, which is home to England's tallest castle and its second oldest cathedral. Rochester and the surrounding towns are infused with references to the life and works of Charles Dickens, who grew up in the area.

Many thanks to Mike D'Angelo for most of the pictures on this page. I took the liberty of editing (including greyscaling) the photo of Rochester Castle's main gate.

Our hotel was on the east side of a local airport a few minutes from the center of town; all the buildings in the background belong to BAE Systems, which is on the north side of the airport

Short sections of the original city wall, as well as sections repaired in Medieval times, remain intact here and there in Rochester; this photo is taken from the base of the ancient surrounding moat

Mike and I ate at a 650 year old restaurant our first night there, located on Rochester's "High Street" (the generic term given to any town's shop-lined central artery). Downtown Rochester has been a busy place from the Roman occupation through Medieval times (when Chaucer's pilgrims would have traversed this very street)

Charles Dickens was a significant personage in this area; he was born and grew up nearby, and featured manh of Rochester's settings in his novels, including the lovely Eastgate House pictured here

Rochester's skyline is dominated by the Rochester Castle. In addition to being well preserved, it is the tallest and second oldest stone castle in all of England.

The Rochester Cathedral, adjacent to the castle, is the second oldest cathedral in all of England.

Another relic of the 'good old days' (from the Guildhall Museum, across the street from the Rochester Cathedral