[Caroline]

The weather has been fantastic these last few days and we decided to visit Stonehenge yesterday. I have always been interested in (ancient) history – so much so that it was one of my majors at Uni. Ad a little mystery or mythology and you have my full attention. I know It’s so childlike but I so loved the movie ‘camelot’. Back to the real world - It was quite something being in the presence of such greatness and historical focus but not exactly what I had imagined.

We could see the Stonehenge from a distance as we drove towards the plain but I was surprised to see how close it was to the road. It was right there, in a field- sort of ‘plonk’ next to a busy road with traffic zooming past. There were a couple of buss loads of freezing tourists dressed for Harrods, I think somebody forgot to tell them that it is winter in England at the moment.

There was an underground walking passage/tunnel which went under the highway and came up on the same side of the road as Stonehenge. The pay station and coffee shop is well hidden under road level so that part doesn’t impact much on the scenery. I think it was the noise that threw me, for some reason I imagined that it would be peaceful and spiritual but instead it was noisy and touristy. There was a freezing wind sweeping over the plains and it was much colder then where we came from just a few miles South.

I was in awe of the historical presence of the stones but much of the feeling was destroyed by the surroundings. Never the less it is a world heritage site worth visiting.

On the way home we stopped to have lunch at ‘the Harvester’. It was cozy and hubby enjoyed his meal but I’m afraid I wasn’t too impressed with the food – at one point I used my serviette to remove a piece of chicken from my mouth that I just couldn’t bring myself to swallow. The ‘crunchy fries’ were very crunchy but they usually are the second time they are deep fried. I’ll stop there (yes, I am a fussy eater and no-I don’t do McDonalds). But considering that I do eat escargot and sashimi – I can’t be that bad! There's a branch (The Harvester) closer to Bournemouth and they are always full so it is obviously quite a popular place.

It's Monday morning and I have to get boys ready for school - another week in the land of the Celts (the British branch).

[Dedré]

Caroline,

My husband was there as well, he left out the bit about the closeness to the road... but hey... one can forgive him that since he flew all the way from SA to go and see sites in the UK... shame!