Yesterday I was invited by some friends of mine to join the bi-annual Dickens festival in Rochester. First off all I understand that it will be in Richmond, a forest on the west side of London. They bought the group saver tickets (train is a kind of a luxury treat in UK) so we need to gather more to have a semi-decent kind of price.  We supposed to meet in Stratford International in the morning, to be there at mid day for the parade. 

I arrived in the station and then it was clear to me that we might not go in Richmond. It was no train towards the west of London, only the east side coast was covered by this small station. Ok then I realized I might understood it wrong and Rochester was the next on my maybe list. 

My friends were of course late and I have the tendency to be in advance few minutes of the agreed hour. I had a lovely coffee and a poem to smoothly forget about my waiting (if you want to read the coffee poetry read my previous post 
https://steemit.com/photography/@teodora/well-an-amazing-start-for-the-dickens-festival-i-am-heading-to-2017-12-02-09-30-46)

They arrived in the last 5 minutes before departure. I found out that a fourth person will join us for the festival so shake hand with friendly easy-going defo Spanish - Amanda. She and my friend Daniela are both part of a samba drumming band. I loved their stories about playing to festivals and marathons and cool events and I did secretly updated my wishlist (I will someday try this on my own). 

We arrived in Rochester, my favourite part of East Uk. When I moved in my share flat and bought my new bicycle, it was one of my first rides on my own to discover the countryside of this green island. I fall in love with the area and is holding a special place in my heart. On top of that was sunny so I was so excited how the festival will unfold. 

At the first glance I've seen that I did the journey with 3 semi-professional photographers, all of them with DSLRs and bags full of lenses and other accessories. All good I said to me, no pressure for my P9 Huawei :)) I used to have the same bug few years ago, but then I become lazy to carry all this extra kilos with me, sold everything and just gaze with my own eyes. 

As first choice we went for the Cathedral (or church as I don't know/make the difference). We end up by accident just at the beginning of a guided tour with one of the most gifted storyteller I've seen (and I do have a passion for them). I found out that Dickens was a nice and humble person that with wish to be buried in the communal graves with the normal people.The poor guy wish was disregarded and his bones lay down in Westminster Abbey (no fancy at all - in London. 

![IMG_20171202_113831.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWbd5CioeB1x7KddU1KuRkW21twNRMQajUtpCg6GKcyYA/IMG_20171202_113831.jpg)
She was our great guide - try her if you want a real experience 

![IMG_20171202_114124.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmVMwEC7naEr2o9pR5CGhUjzKKFoHaRESpWugWquUiL1dH/IMG_20171202_114124.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_114053.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmWjMPs1RLQ57hSkNSQx3tf8JPTDmRHB1a3QKt5RyiXdkU/IMG_20171202_114053.jpg)
Invitation to be naughty (a serious lady come and pick up the wire, to cut my playfulness)

![IMG_20171202_114642.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmUY92VbYgBMj6SHLdR4DaE1Byg3xJ6wTwqFT6C8CeR7HD/IMG_20171202_114642.jpg)
Some Dickens inside the church

![IMG_20171202_115656.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmawxGetYJphzRSKEvAZ28w8rKkcf81c8E8YVs1WL2kEwM/IMG_20171202_115656.jpg)
And "la piece de resistance" - I have no idea what's that, but seemed so out of the general picture.

Good, we left now knowing that is the second old church in UK (I have no memory for dates) and that I need to visit Canterbury before I leave this country. The music was pretty good but we rushed outside not to miss the main part of the festival,mid day parade. 

I really liked it. I was happy waving to strangers dressed up in the novels characters and the general atmosphere was cheerful and fun. I did tried to make some photos with my phone, but mostly I loved the colours, the joy on people's faces that they are part of something meaningful. I was dragged into magic and laughed with all my heart 💓 

My favourite ones, in the order of t-shirts:

![IMG_20171202_121131.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmSYGxmh31eeqqUUee95F3azRdJDrXSNZQu6bPkQLddm8g/IMG_20171202_121131.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121147.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmRkqtNc78NyuDdfAEAw4NB1iVMtD4tzkJ1mHSTaJb9UcC/IMG_20171202_121147.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121635.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmaHd54ADQHnG7jbYS7h1N94Md23uueDvkGHVjTUnUxXNF/IMG_20171202_121635.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121606.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmPPzGVvxHNkhNJZKF8HzqjCysTPXL5YFRXwZPn5kcRetx/IMG_20171202_121606.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121628.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmcyQoAyyWMHxzQUJrQH4pvDkAX6XYReTxgQM1RMiMibH8/IMG_20171202_121628.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121534.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmfGtR6gnZ5WLn7jjdY6awpsbw6zUosQNABg4x9P5GJheU/IMG_20171202_121534.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121448.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTMyDvXZTGFWSFe7JR4gUBcsGMVssRiENwNPymoWLhxa1/IMG_20171202_121448.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121456.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmV2mB8Cs8TVdSgtYL3hxZ5PLHnoT8PTkqXXMXv3CZzwBv/IMG_20171202_121456.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121419.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmeTRMnZwCYdN3tGZGMNm6CTPKKq8otHeJTy4jPvocfi3C/IMG_20171202_121419.jpg)

![IMG_20171202_121331.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmTFGsEt5LbayREucUYEMCWADXGQ4iiF5qUh2ckgoFF9RN/IMG_20171202_121331.jpg)

Lovely night and medieval hugs from Londo,

Teodora