4Oct2008: Day 132: Stonehenge and Salisbury Cathedral

So, it is Chris again. We went to Stonehenge today. Something you just have to see when you are over here. It is something like 5000 years old and they have no real idea what it was used for, though they suspect it was a solar calendar at a minimum. They say the druids used it, but they were not the ones that made it, it is much too old. It was impressive to see and since we were members of English Heritage we didn't need to pay anything. They actually charge people £6.50 to just walk around the site. You aren't allowed closer than 50 yards away from it, apparently, people in the past had actually rented hammers from the blacksmith in town to take away chips of it. I think it is a little ridiculous that they don't allow people closer than this though, for £6.50 you would think they could pay a couple mean looking guards to stand around and kill you if you touch something. It is hilarious that I can get within touching distance of a tomb of a king with amazing carved marble, but I can't get close enough to hit this place with a tennis ball. It is rock OK, ancient rock, but what rock isn't ancient? I just don't get it. Put up Plexiglas on it or something.

The wind was crazy though and it was sooooo cold. (Never mind what I said Mother, bring your winter coat when you guys come over!!!) Makenna wanted to walk and she was just not willing to keep moving in the direction of everyone else, so I ended up having to carry her with her jumping and pushing off and trying to get down. My back is killing me right now. I got to the parking lot and put her down to walk and now she is saying "up" over and over and falling to the ground not willing to walk! What a pain in my back!

We then went to Salisbury Cathedral which is about 10 miles away from Stonehenge. The outside of the church is probably the most impressive I have seen...so many carved statues. The inside didn't have the same level of ornate carving like St. Alban's did, but it was still impressive. There was a wedding going on in the back and they had the main organ going so it was good to hear some of the hymns. St. Marks where I have been going mainly do more modern praise music and only have the occasional hymn. I miss the good old hymns.

One thing that was interesting to see is that they have a copy of the Magna Carta, one of the four surviving copies. You are not allowed to take any pictures, but it was neat to see one of the founding documents to our own Bill of Rights. There were a number of tombs there that were fairly ornate and old. It is funny how much money people are willing to spend on their own tombs, most of them glorifying their own accomplishments or legacy.

After the cathedral we went to the local museum and they had a lot of archaeological dig finds. There was a skeleton found in one of the mounds around Stonehenge. It has been called the Archer. It is the oldest skeleton they have found with metal workings and numerous pots that indicate that the person was likely pretty wealthy. Looking at the teeth they believe he was from somewhere in Europe and might have been one of the first people to bring metal work to Britain.