Stonehenge and Bath

One of the places I knew I had to see was Stonehenge; one reason being that I wanted to use the site for a story of mine, and therefore wanted to go for research, and another reason is because I love ancient mysteries. I also really wanted to get a stone from Stonehenge, just so I could say I have one (but actually I now have two).

It was terribly windy

My adventure began on a cloudy Sunday morning at 6. You know, right after the sun comes up, but somehow some Europeans are still partying and the Tube hasn’t opened yet. My friend and I made it to King’s Cross/St. Pancras Station with plenty of time and easily got on our bus tour. It only took a little over an hour to drive to Stonehenge, which would have taken 2 weeks without the help of buses. Not to mention how it was raining and cold, I really would have hated having to travel in any way other than a vehicle.

First sight from the bus

There are many theories about Stonehenge, from alien landing zone to the place where man was first created. According to Pagan beliefs, the stones signified eternity and the final resting place for many
people. Their remains surrounded the area in small mounds. Stonehenge is not the only henge in the area, it’s just the one that has survived the best. Woodhenge was a similar structure made out of wood (thus why it hasn’t survived) that stood for life. Bluehenge also stood between Woodhenge and Stonehenge, representing death. This lasted better than Woodhenge, but the stones were taken to be used for Stonehenge and other things. They’re still excavating Bluehenge, so not much is known about it.

Stonehenge

Supposedly, as a part of the burial process, the ceremony would begin at Woodhenge, signifying life. The group would then move to Bluehenge, representing death. After that, they would travel to Stonehenge, finishing the journey to the afterlife and burying the departed.

Fascinating, no? Ha, I think so.

Illustrations of how the stones were moved

The stones got there by big burly men pulling them along and lifting them into place. It took them centuries to finish it; first building the center ring and then the outer (if I remember correctly, the outside ring is made of stones from Bluehenge). Even today, it’s beautiful and a true representation of what human can accomplish. I didn’t really mind the rain, although it really tried to mess up my umbrella, and after I got some tea and a stone cake in me, I was soon able to feel my fingers again!

Bath

It took us another hour or so to get from Stonehenge to Bath. The first sights of the city were the best, as our tour guide explained how the whole city was made out of Bath stone, the common stone of the region. Bath was built as a city for kings, because they would come to use the baths and release the stress of ruling a kingdom.

The main bath. Note: there used to be a ceiling...

The surreal water

The Roman Baths as well were fascinating. We first entered and looked down upon the main pool which is still full of the spring water. It was a lime green color and steamed as the cold air played along its surface. The rain drops disrupted the lime plain, giving the whole scene a surreal feel. Not to mention, it was super tempting to touch the water, even though everywhere you looked, you were told not to. The pool was once covered by a roof, and the pipes are ancient now, so the water is terribly contaminated with bird droppings, algae, and whatever else have you. Simply put, the water that once rejuvenated the Romans would kill you now (or at least make you pretty sick).

Just me

See those floors? deadly.

The stones around the pool are the originals, so they were uneven and slippery. One woman fell and it was quite a scene. I also tripped a few times, but to be fair, my eyes were busy looking around and not watching my feet.

Those columns used to hold up the tiled floor

My favorite part was the saunas. There were two of them on either side: one for men and one for women. Now, long long long ago, men and women bathed together, but after awhile, they decided that was indecent, and built a different area for the women. The rooms were still the same. They would make fires (thank you, little slaves) and push the hot air underneath the tiled floors, which were held in place by columns. The floors would get so hot people had to wear sandals to walk on them. If they wanted some steam, all they had to do was pour some water on the floor, similar to how people pour water on the coals in a sauna today. I loved how the stones were still red from the heat from so long ago.

See how all of the buildings are uniform?

I was able to explore around the city a bit, and the only thing I regret is not going to the Jane Austen museum, but I didn’t think I had enough time to do that and walking around in the rain is not something I really enjoy too much. I had stepped in a puddle at some point, so one foot was cold and clammy, making me feel uneven and uncomfortable.

Can we say... adorable?

I did eat some delicious food for lunch at a small restaurant, though. I ordered something called Croque Monsier, which is a ham and cheese grilled sandwich with more cheese melted on top. Of course I had this with some fantastic English Breakfast Tea (I’m officially addicted) and finished the meal with a slice of blueberry cheesecake. All in all, I was quite satisfied with my food choice that day.

Oh, and the sights were amazing as well, I guess.

Until next time!