Our first stop was the Stonehenge Monument, which was built is several stages between 3,100 BCE and 1,930 BCE. It is one of the most recognizable Neolithic stone constructions, as well as one of the most controversial. Everyone has their own idea about what Stonehenge was, and who built it. All that being said, it was totally worth a visit, no matter how touristy it may be. I loved seeing the stones, it was very special.
Next we visited the Cathedral of Salisbury, which was built between 1220-1320 CE. It is an amazing church, which is currently being restored. It contains the oldest working clock in the world. It also houses one of the five remaining copies of the Magna Carta.
Finally, we got to the City of Bath, which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It houses a natural hot spring, the waters of which have been thought to be magical and curative since before the Romans. The Romans built what is essentially a sauna there, as well as a temple. Then, in the Victorian Era, it became a resort town for the Royal Court. The nobility flocked to Bath to ‘Take the Waters’ in hopes of healing any number of ailments. Today you can still take the waters for 50p, which was an interesting experience. It is strangely warm, salty, and sulfurous. I think the best that can be said is that I didn’t get sick from it. It is a great city, full of Georgian and Victorian architecture, as well as an impressive church of its own. It was a great day outside of London, and a wonderful chance to see some of the English countryside, which is beautiful when covered in snow.
Taking the Waters
The River Avon
