Another Escape to the Country (Part 2 of 2)

Our escape to the country continues.  

After visiting Stonehenge, we visited a much older site at Avebury—a henge (a large earthen circle) filled with rings of large stones.  Avebury was especially fun, because we could touch the stones.  

Next to the main road leading to Avebury is a ancient way marked with tall stones.

At the site, there are concentric rings of large stones that are surrounded by a much larger circular earthen mound with a deep ditch.  Below are some of the large stones. 

One stone is known as the Devil’s Chair.  Sitting in the chair is said to bring good luck.  Both of us are hoping for some good luck.  

Below, some random hottie poses in a field with a large stone and earthen ridge in the background.  

Here is a view of the deep ditch and earthen wall ringing the site.  When originally constructed, the ditch and wall would have been white because of the chalk that makes up the ground.  

The best thing about Avebury is walking among the stones, not only looking from a substantial distance.  In fact, hugging the stones is allowed. 

Next up was a visit to the village of Lacock which predates the Norman invasion in 1066.  The village is still alive and well, yet it seems frozen in the past.  For that reason, the village is a frequent filming location, for all sorts of films and programs, such as Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and even a Harry Potter film.  

Pictured below is a former monastery that was converted to a manor house in the mid-1500’s.  

We enjoyed rambling around the town and spotted some lovely scenes.

At the end of a secluded lane, our guide pointed out a house featured in one of the Harry Potter films, the house where Harry’s parents lived before their demise.

We concluded our day in the country with a visit to one of the most beautiful villages in England, Castle Combe in the Cotswolds.  All of the buildings in the village are made with the same honey-colored Cotswold stone, making for a harmonious scene   Check it out.  

By the way, the castle of Castle Combe was demolished centuries ago.  Still, the village’s name persists.

Thanks for escaping to the country with us.   

Another Escape to the Country (Part 1 of 2))

After arriving in Southwest England, we decided that we needed another escape to the country.  Our escape included a guided tour of some wonderful sights:

• Stonehenge 
• Avebury
• The ancient village of Lacock
• The village of Castle Combe in the Cotwolds

Stonehenge is world famous and its large scale, symmetry and beautiful setting surpassed our expectations.  We are so pleased that we visited the ancient and mysterious site.  

Here are some photos from our visit to Stonehenge. 

Below, some random dude stands next to the marker showing the path of the summer solstice.   

While the stones might seem huge, they are actually quite small, a la This Is Spinal Tap.  Below, some random hottie places her hand on top of a stone.  

A visitor center with a small museum was recently completed.  The museum has a model depicting what Stonehenge might have looked like around 2,500 B.C.  

The museum has some artifacts, including the bronze dagger pictured below.  The modern reproduction helped us understand how talented the inhabitants were.  

Recently, archeologists discovered evidence of an ancient village nearby.  A reproduction (see below) helped us imagine how the inhabitants might have lived. 

Below, some ancient random hottie emerges from one of the houses.  

The stones at Stonehenge are huge.  Below is a replica of one of the stones and a sled possibly used to transport the stones.  

During our visit, an archeological team from the organization English Heritage was training.  

Our visit to Stonehenge was amazing, a genuine highlight of our time in the U.K.  

Next Up:  Our escape to the country continues at Avebury.

Random Things #2

Here are some more random things spotted during our trip around the U.K.   

While enjoying a guided walking tour, Greg spotted something that he first learned about during Year 4 in Paris.  In a York public garden, Greg noticed the “insect hotel” pictured below.  

While strolling around London and York, we have noticed a lot of places to grab a coffee and a snack, many more places than we remember in the distant past.  Because we enjoy coffee, we are happy to know we can like find a cup around the next corner.  Fortunately, a tasty treat is usually available to accompany a cup of Joe.  Check out this gingerbread muffin discovered and devoured in York.  

During our visit to Bolton Abbey in Yorkshire, we were surprised to see a display about moon exploration.  Check it out. 

Signs of Autumn are everywhere. 

More random things to come.  

Strolling in Bristol

A short stroll from our hotel in Bristol is a very large church, St. Mary Redcliffe. 

 

Greg spotted something out of the ordinary in the church.  Click on the video to see it in action.

We also spotted a unique, contemporary altar to honor Bristol’s maritime history.  

One evening during our stay, we enjoyed hearing the nearby church bells playing for an extended period.  It was lovely.  

Thanks for strolling with us.  

From North to South

Following our time in the north, in York, Edinburgh and the Highlands, we have traveled south, to the towns of Bristol and Bath.  

In Bath, we enjoyed a walking tour with a charming guide, who shared with us the history and architecture of the town.  But for the existence of three hot springs near the River Avon, we suspect Bath would be (a) called something else and (b) a much smaller town with less historical significance.  

After finding the hot springs, the invading Romans founded a new town in 43A.D., which has existed in some form ever since.  Over the centuries, the spa town’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed.  Beginning in the early 1700’s, Bath’s notoriety as a fashionable place to visit surged.  As a result, Bath became and remains a showcase of Georgian neo-classical architecture, with some later Victorian additions.  Today, walking through Bath is like going back in time about 200-300 years.  

Here are some highlights from our tour around Bath.  

Pictured below are two important buildings in the center of Bath, the Bath Abbey (a large church) and the Roman Baths building.  The original Roman baths are long gone, buried about 18 feet under the current town.

Next to the Roman Baths is the Pump Room where you can dine in luxury or drink a cup of water directly from one of the springs under the town.  

In front of the Pump Room, we spotted a surprise, a historical plaque about Mary Shelley.

Nearby, we spotted one of the other hot springs in Bath.  

During the glory days of Bath, there was a building boom that featured lovely Georgian architecture:  below are the famous Royal Crescent and the Circus (where Nicolas Cage once owned a house).  

Bath straddles the River Avon.  Below are two scenes: the Poultney Bridge which is lined with shops, and the some colorful trees and boats lining the river.  

We toured Bath Abbey, which is a lovely, well-lit church.  We thought the altar was well decorated with a contemporary altar cloth.  The ceiling was interesting, with its many ribs and painted sections.  

We also learned that the supposed first king of England was crowned in a church that once occupied the same location as the Abbey.  A stain glass window commemorates the event.  A similar rite of coronation will be used next year for Charles III’s coronation.  

Perhaps the best of our visit was seeing a filming location used in the Bridgerton series.  Check it out.  

Thanks for visiting Bath with us.