Field Trip One

Was much more exciting than this post title conveys. It began with an early rise to catch our double-decker coach. This swaying mass of steel and people took us to the Salisbury plain where we saw Stonehenge, Old Sarum and Salisbury Cathedral. 

Old Sarum is an Iron Age fort on the top of a massive hill surrounded by a few formidable ditches. I thought the ruins were rather dull themselves, but the history of the place is interesting if any of you care to follow up on it. 

Salisbury Cathedral is the only cathedral in all of England to be fully built in one architectural style, which is gothic. It also holds the Guinness Record for being the tallest spire in Great Britain. The cathedral itself is spectacular and stunning, but the spire, which we got to climb into, provides an unparalleled view of the surrounding English countryside. It also holds one of the only remaining a copies of the Magna Carta. 

Stonehenge was perhaps the most looked forward to site on the trip and the most underwhelming. The stones are extremely large when considered individually, but nothing compared to some of the natural rock formations of Colorado. They are very beautiful though, and I only wish I could have walked among them. A big surprise came when we realized just how close civilization has encroached upon the ruins. A freeway runs just hundreds of feet away from the monoliths. Neighboring sheep graze right up to the fence surrounding the whole site. There was a druid protesting and gathering signatures near the tourist center who I got to meet and have my picture taken with. I have my doubts about the authenticity of his religious claim- he looked more like a Renaissance Festival attendee. He wants the ruins to be freed from the fencing so people can roam between the stones. Interesting fellow, with interesting jewelry. 

The bridge entrance and ditch fortifications into Old Sarum.

The organ in Salisbury Cathedral. The view from a window inside the cathedral spire. 

The spire itself. Yours truly at Stonehenge.