Our travel pages - the pictures and the tales that go with them.The bus took us to Windsor Castle first, where we met the main bus. Apparently the tour that does all three starts at Windsor Castle. We had decided that all three in the same day would be too much - and hoped that by only doing the 2 we would have more time to do Stonehenge and Bath. Obviously, that was not true - but I'm still not sure we would have enough time at Windsor to do it right - and it's just a short train trip from London if we decide to do it later in the week.
As we approached Stonehenge, the mist and fog began to thicken. At one point, it was really raining. But as we continued on, it cleared ever so slightly - as if it was important for us to be there. Continuing on, there were a number of small burial mounds - that have apparently been proven to hold only a single person. Although a mound that size could undoubtedly hold the remains of 20 or so. They appeared to be about 20 feet long, 10 feet wide and about 7-8 feet high. When we pulled up at Stonehenge we were given 45 minutes to see it and get back on the bus. The stones DO have a pull to them, and I really DO want the chance to be able to walk through and touch them - so we will have to make an overnight trip at some point to give us that opportunity - as they are still open to commune with on certain sunrises and sunsets during the year. After walking around the stones and getting back to the gift shop, we realized we were already over our 45 minutes. Luckily, Kathy, our tour guide, was waiting there and yelled at us to come on. So at least we didn't miss the bus.
Speaking of Kathy, I found that she reminded me markedly of cousin Sondra Jo Schlotterback from Albequerque. While not an exact resemblance, and I admit, the best picture I could find of Sondra is not the best picture either, it was still close enough for me to think of it and remember that family is never far away even when you're in London.
We ate lunch at the George Inn in Norton St. Philip. Mario had the roast beef and I had the pork roast. Both were good. We had Guiness ... well ... black beer is still gross ... although I DID actually drink it. The picture on the left above is the view from the back of the inn.
Bath is a small town whose claim to fame is the Roman Baths that were there from about 50 ad to 350 ad. We drove around through the town before stopping. One of the things we spotted while driving through town was a pub with the name The Bath Tap. It was significant that there was a rainbow flag on each side of the sign - and sure enough, it shows up on the list of gay clubs in Somerset. Anyway, they dropped us off at the Bath Abbey - with an hour and 15 minutes to see the town before going to the Roman Baths for our private after hours tour. It would have been nice, in my opinion to have had a bit more time at Stonehenge - so we could have at least done the gift store - but then that is the problem with canned tours. Anyway, Bath is really nice and picturesque town, and most all of the buildings are built from Bath stone. Jane Austen apparently grew up in the town - although she apparently had little nice to say about it - the town apparently likes to hold on to her anyway. We need to go back and spend a day or two here on some future trip as well.... I want to check out the NEW baths - which were not part of the tour - and there are a LOT of out of the way shops to be checked out.
We also toured the abbey - and this particular floor stone struck me for some reason. It is a little hard to read, so I'll transcribe it here: "Here lyeth ye body of M. John William Teshmaker late of ye Parish of Edmunton in y County of Midx. Merchant deceased ye 25th of June Annon Domini J 713 Aged 50 yeares he was an afectionate and prudient husband a carfull & indulgent Father Loving & charityable to ye poor to whose pious memory his disconsolared widow erected this tombe. O reader stay one moment with the dead. Have one good thought when thus on graves you tread where now my soul abodes in heaven trust & in bless my bodys hear in drift. O reader go & live & learn & dye like men that have immortal souls & then come hear agen."
We didn't get any really great pictures of the Roman Baths, but it was pretty spectacular. Part of me would really like to see them restore the Baths to their splendor of yore, but I'm sure since that would require a lot of conjecture on the part of the Brits who are VERY history conscience, it would probably never happen anyway. I found it interesting that they believe that the baths were used by both men and women, since there was both an east and west side and history shows that the east side had a tepid pool while the west side had a cold pool and the assumption being that the women would have used the tepid pool to clean themselves and the men the cold one prior to communing jointly in the major pool. The link above contains some pictures of the baths as they exist today.
After bath we returned to London and finally ate some fish and chips. Now mind you, when I was here the last time - some 15 years ago or so - fish and chips were sold in every pub in England - in fact - it was about the only place to get them. But after looking in several pubs - we decided that this too had changed. We had passed a place call SeaFresh several times before after eating already, so we decided today to try them out. Now mind you, the fish was really good - but it was a bit pricey and we realized that we could have gotten food to go next door to the restaurant at their carry out facility for about half the price. (maybe 12 pounds instead of 30).
Prices seem to be holding pretty true to the rule that the numbers are the same between here and the US - it's just that pounds sterling cost 2 US dollars. I.e., a pack of cigarettes here cost 5.40 Bristish Sterling... as opposed to about $5.40 in the US ... but 5.40 Bristish Sterling is $10.80. (And the packs say in 20 point type - Cigarettes WILL KILL YOU)
But we're having fun - and the weather has truly been superb. I just wish I had 10 short sleeve shirts and 2 long ones rather than the other way around. Go figure.
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