Exploring the English Countryside September 13, 2006
We had to find breakfast for ourselves this morning as after a week of cereal and toast we were ready for a hot morning meal. The front desk at the hotel directed us to a small café close to the city center where we had eggs, the first in about a month, bacon, potatoes, a slice of toast and Holly also had baked beans, a nice change and as it turned out this would have to last us until 5PM.
We loaded the car and started driving northwest toward the town of Salisbury. When we arrived and after finding a place to park we set out on foot looking for a travel agent so that we could buy a Europass for the trains in Continental Europe when we go there in October. The agent we found was no help so we went looking for the Salisbury Cathedral. In route we stumbled upon an outdoor store. I was looking for replacement shoes as the sole on mine had started to separate and is being held in place with Super Glue. Holly was looking for a fleece pull over as we expect it to start getting cooler during the next few weeks. We both found what we needed and treasures in hand we moved on to the cathedral.
The Salisbury Cathedral was built between 1228 and 1254 and has the tallest spire in England at 123 meters (approximately 400’). The cathedral was originally designed in the gothic style and all additions in the years that followed the kept same design. It is a beautiful building and even with tourist milling about commands a reverence from those that enter. As was the custom numerous well known local people are interred there including lords, ladies and bishops. The crowning feature of our stop here was being able to view one of four surviving copies of the original Magna Charta. This is said to be the best preserved and most legible of these documents that were given the seal of King John in 1215 AD. The document lays out basic individual freedoms and responsibilities of the law and the monarchy. It is one of the primary documents used in creating a number of current governing outlines including the US.
We moved on from Salisbury and found our way to Stonehenge. I was a little under whelmed by our visit while Holly was impressed with the mystery and what is known about the structure as well as what is not known. The fact is the structure was built and rebuilt over a couple of thousand years with a purpose in mind yet no one alive today knows for sure what it was for. It does have an alignment with both the equinox and solstice but we don’t know if it was used for an observatory, as a temple or merely a symbol of power for the rulers of the time. Whatever the purpose it took a tremendous amount of work, engineering skill and logistical knowledge to put the monoliths where they rest today.
We drove the 30 miles from Stonehenge to the Limpley Stoke Hotel which is a few miles outside of Bath. The hotel is situated on a hillside overlooking the valley that is our ideal of the English countryside. The adjoining hillsides are dotted with farms and have sheep grazing in small pastures that are bordered by trees which are on the verge of changing color. The hotel itself is a 400 year old country house having been built during the reign of King James I, and was converted to a hotel after WWII. The vine covered stone walls are a welcome respite from the hustle bustle and concrete of London.
After checking in we took a short drive across to the next valley in search of Bradford on Avon and a very late lunch. What we found was one of the most picturesque places we have ever seen with narrow winding lanes stone cottages and pubs set on the Avon River, but no lunch. Being around 4:30 all the pubs and cafes we checked had stopped serving lunch and would not start dinner for another hour and a half. After wandering around the village we found a small specialty grocer and feasted on tomato and cheese sandwiches followed by fruit. A meal even Henry the VIII would have enjoyed if he would have been in our circumstance.
NOTE: We are unsure of internet availability for the next few weeks but will publish as often as we can. We will try and check emails at internet cafes when we can, so if you need to reach us please be patient.
We loaded the car and started driving northwest toward the town of Salisbury. When we arrived and after finding a place to park we set out on foot looking for a travel agent so that we could buy a Europass for the trains in Continental Europe when we go there in October. The agent we found was no help so we went looking for the Salisbury Cathedral. In route we stumbled upon an outdoor store. I was looking for replacement shoes as the sole on mine had started to separate and is being held in place with Super Glue. Holly was looking for a fleece pull over as we expect it to start getting cooler during the next few weeks. We both found what we needed and treasures in hand we moved on to the cathedral.
The Salisbury Cathedral was built between 1228 and 1254 and has the tallest spire in England at 123 meters (approximately 400’). The cathedral was originally designed in the gothic style and all additions in the years that followed the kept same design. It is a beautiful building and even with tourist milling about commands a reverence from those that enter. As was the custom numerous well known local people are interred there including lords, ladies and bishops. The crowning feature of our stop here was being able to view one of four surviving copies of the original Magna Charta. This is said to be the best preserved and most legible of these documents that were given the seal of King John in 1215 AD. The document lays out basic individual freedoms and responsibilities of the law and the monarchy. It is one of the primary documents used in creating a number of current governing outlines including the US.
We moved on from Salisbury and found our way to Stonehenge. I was a little under whelmed by our visit while Holly was impressed with the mystery and what is known about the structure as well as what is not known. The fact is the structure was built and rebuilt over a couple of thousand years with a purpose in mind yet no one alive today knows for sure what it was for. It does have an alignment with both the equinox and solstice but we don’t know if it was used for an observatory, as a temple or merely a symbol of power for the rulers of the time. Whatever the purpose it took a tremendous amount of work, engineering skill and logistical knowledge to put the monoliths where they rest today.
We drove the 30 miles from Stonehenge to the Limpley Stoke Hotel which is a few miles outside of Bath. The hotel is situated on a hillside overlooking the valley that is our ideal of the English countryside. The adjoining hillsides are dotted with farms and have sheep grazing in small pastures that are bordered by trees which are on the verge of changing color. The hotel itself is a 400 year old country house having been built during the reign of King James I, and was converted to a hotel after WWII. The vine covered stone walls are a welcome respite from the hustle bustle and concrete of London.
After checking in we took a short drive across to the next valley in search of Bradford on Avon and a very late lunch. What we found was one of the most picturesque places we have ever seen with narrow winding lanes stone cottages and pubs set on the Avon River, but no lunch. Being around 4:30 all the pubs and cafes we checked had stopped serving lunch and would not start dinner for another hour and a half. After wandering around the village we found a small specialty grocer and feasted on tomato and cheese sandwiches followed by fruit. A meal even Henry the VIII would have enjoyed if he would have been in our circumstance.
NOTE: We are unsure of internet availability for the next few weeks but will publish as often as we can. We will try and check emails at internet cafes when we can, so if you need to reach us please be patient.
posted by Gary and Holly Davis @ 12:50 PM
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