The
first major town we came to was Southampton, the port city where the big cruise
ships dock. The hotels were booked but we found the Rivendell B&B, a
nice place just out of town. Staying in B&Bs costs a bit more than
cheap hotels but they are convenient, comfortable and Brian and Eileen made us
feel almost like family. Southampton isn't a likely spot for tourists but it is
semi-convenient to Stonehenge and its lesser-known but larger Neolithic sister
site at Avebury. Avebury is the largest, most impressive and most complex
prehistoric site in England. And
unlike the more famous Stonehenge, you can wander among the stones, called
sarcens, with the resident sheep.
Avebury was built between 2600 and 2400 years ago and covers 25 acres
but its purpose is still unknown.
Much
is known about Stonehenge, some is theory and more is still a mystery. The
first of the ‘henges” was built about 3000 years ago and it was improved upon
until the Bronze Age. The stones
were moved as much as one hundred miles then shaped on the present site. It is aligned with celestial events but
the reason has been lost. It was
much as I expected it to be, perhaps smaller, but there were too many people
there to really get a sense of the spirituality I think still remains.
Stonehenge is another of the World Heritage Sites that was being loved to
death. Today it is heavily regulated and expensive but the free audio
guide really helps one to appreciate it. We bought a dual senior annual
pass to all the English Heritage sites, which I am sure we will take full
advantage of in the year ahead.
We
made a quick stop to see the Cathedral at Salisbury, which is considered one of
the best examples of early English architecture. It was consecrated in 1258, has the tallest spire in the UK
and contains the best surviving copy of the famous Magna Carta. Sadly, we were parked illegally and had
to rush back. We will spend more
time there next visit.
