Savouring medieval character . . . and moules

An early morning visit to Salisbury today for  some essential shopping which I had not been able to find 20 miles away in Southampton.
But that apart, I always enjoy my visits to the Wiltshire city, famous for its cathedral and the sheer charm of its city centre.
Time was, when we used to do much of our regular weekly shopping here yet in later years  we have tended to stay much more local.
Cathedral cities of course are symbolic of the heritage of Britain yet although in most eyes the description of a cathedral  city conjures up a vision of a community that is rich in history with a medieval place of worship at its heart, there are many anomalies — not every city boasts a cathedral, nor in some cases are cathedrals to be found in cities.
 
The charm of Salisbury however is founded on both its history and the cathedral itsel dating from the 13th century,  and it’s spire at 404 ft is the tallest in England, and second tallest in Europe, behind the cathedral in Strasbourg.
 
I only wish that today I had had the time to make more of my visit, when I would have been tempted by a Continental  breakfast here and would have most certainly returned for moules mariniere  for lunch.
 

Aah, well, there’s always another day!