Stonehenge
Stonehenge is fascinating, impressive, majestic, and awe inspiring... for exactly twenty minutes.
Ten if it's raining.
After that, it's just a bunch of large upturned rocks stuck in the ground. And you can only walk around it so many times.
Here are my suggestions for making Stonehenge more entertaining (it really does need some 21st century flourishes):
Bath
Now more than a place just to have a bath.
Bath is a World Heritage Site, and many of the buildings in the central parts of the city are many hundreds of years old.
There are many sites of interest in and around Bath to visit, but I also recommend taking the time to just walk and wander around what is in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain.
The Roman Baths
When Bath was just for having baths.
The Romans established the settlement they called Aquae Sulis in the AD 60s on this site principally due to the natural hot springs (the Roman's are well known for enjoying a hot bath). Nice warm comfort facilities would have been sorely needed for all those poor Roman centurions posted to Britain (let's face it, Britain isn't know for its warm, balmy winters). The Romans built many bathing facilities throughout Britain, but at Bath they were quite extensive, and today they are the best preserved.
During the 1800s, the remains of the baths were discovered and someone had the good sense to preserve them. Note in the picture to the left, only the lowest portions of the pillars and below are of Roman construction. Anything above this mark were built in the 19th century to fancy it up.
The waters at bath have for many centuries been noted for their "curative" properties. That said I don't recommend going for a dip... or drinking too liberally from the drinking fountain at the end of the tour.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
William Herschel was a man known for many accomplishments, but his most well known was the discovery of the planet Uranus in 1781. He initially named it Georgium Sidus (George's Star) after his patron, King George III, but it didn't catch on and wasn't a particularly popular choice with countries that weren't fortunate enough to be ruled by George III.
France did the most whining.
So, today we're stuck with a name for a planet that's a cause for endless amusement.
His house and many of his belongings are well preserved on New King Street. It's worth checking out just to see the basement where he almost blew himself and an assistant up while crafting his own telescope lenses. The force of the explosion shattered the floor which you can still see today (right).
The Jane Austen Centre and Regency Tea Rooms
Speaking as a man, you can safely skip the museum portion of the site, and for the record, I didn't go in willingly.
The Regency Tea Rooms however (provided you have a woman with you who can make a show of dragging you in) have the tastiest sandwiches and desserts known to man. As the decor is 18th century and the waitresses are all in period costume I did feel a little like Homer Simpson when I first walked in (see the first fifteen seconds of this video).
The establishment does get extra points however for commenting positively on my "Wesley Crushers" shirt.
Portvcale
I would like to make a special note of an absolutely fabulous Portuguese restaurant on St. James Parade in Bath, Portvcale. We had an incredible tapas meal here one evening and I have to say, it is one of the best meals I've ever had.
The service is perhaps a little slower than most people would expect, but you're waiting on top quality food and believe me, it's worth every second!
I highly recommend this delightful restaurant.
I will be making a return journey to Bath again and Portvcale will be on top of my list of places to revisit.
Glastonbury
We didn't visit Glastonbury on this holiday, but I did visit back in 1999 and feel it is worth mentioning.
Glastonbury is not far from Bath and is most famous for the Glastonbury Festival. Outside of the festival however, there are two sites I will mention that are worth visiting:
Glastonbury Abbey
One of the 300 places where the mythical King Arthur is supposed to be buried. There's not much left of the abbey now (Henry VIII had a little spat with the Catholic church back in the 1500s... guess who lost) but the ruins are quite beautiful when it isn't raining.
Glastonbury Tor
Glastonbury Tor is a hill with a tremendous view of Glastonbury and the surrounding countryside... provided you're willing to hike up it... and it is quite a hike at that.
At the top is the picturesque remains of St. Michael's church.
FYI - Watch out for falling cows as you approach the summit of the Tor... you'll know what I mean when it happens to you.
Next stop on our journey: Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall
*I should mention that the vast majority of the photographs used in these travel log blogs were taken by me, and hence, I own the rights to them. If anyone has any questions about the photographs or would like to inquire about using or obtaining a copy of them, please don't hesitate to leave a comment of inquiry.
Stonehenge is fascinating, impressive, majestic, and awe inspiring... for exactly twenty minutes.Ten if it's raining.
After that, it's just a bunch of large upturned rocks stuck in the ground. And you can only walk around it so many times.
Here are my suggestions for making Stonehenge more entertaining (it really does need some 21st century flourishes):
- Continuous fireworks displays.
- Construct a large amusement ride around the stones.
- Build a large shopping centre arround it.
- Project scenes from the latest Hollywood blockbusters on the larger stones.
- Ceremonial sacrifices performed hourly by druids on, you guessed it, French tourists.
- Have someone carve large pictures of good looking, naked female celebrities on the outward facing stones.
- Launch convicted criminals from a nearby trebuchet into the stones. Five quid to pull the lever... fun for the whole family.
- Three words: "Angry Birds: Stonehenge"
- Go-go dancers rocking out on top of the stones to the hits of the Rolling Stones
- Have Spinal Tap forced to play "Stonehenge" once every half our from 10am through 5pm everyday from atop Stonehenge. Free T-shirts should be fired at spectators that say "I got 'rocked' by Spinal Tap at Stonehenge".
- Replace Stonehenge with "Transformer Stonehenge", a giant robot (built naturally with the best interests as all giant robots are) to amuse and entertain.. until it malfunctions and goes on a killing spree, wiping out several nearby villages until it is obliterated by Her Majesty's military forces. Now that would be entertaining.
 |
| Artist's rendering of "MegaHenge" |
 |
| A Roman Centurion stands guard over the baths (Bath Abbey in back |
Bath is a World Heritage Site, and many of the buildings in the central parts of the city are many hundreds of years old.
There are many sites of interest in and around Bath to visit, but I also recommend taking the time to just walk and wander around what is in my opinion, one of the most beautiful cities in Great Britain.
The Roman Baths
When Bath was just for having baths.
 |
| The Roman Baths |
During the 1800s, the remains of the baths were discovered and someone had the good sense to preserve them. Note in the picture to the left, only the lowest portions of the pillars and below are of Roman construction. Anything above this mark were built in the 19th century to fancy it up.
Herschel Museum of Astronomy
 |
| Shattered floor stones in Herchel's basement |
France did the most whining.
So, today we're stuck with a name for a planet that's a cause for endless amusement.
His house and many of his belongings are well preserved on New King Street. It's worth checking out just to see the basement where he almost blew himself and an assistant up while crafting his own telescope lenses. The force of the explosion shattered the floor which you can still see today (right).
The Jane Austen Centre and Regency Tea Rooms
Speaking as a man, you can safely skip the museum portion of the site, and for the record, I didn't go in willingly.
The Regency Tea Rooms however (provided you have a woman with you who can make a show of dragging you in) have the tastiest sandwiches and desserts known to man. As the decor is 18th century and the waitresses are all in period costume I did feel a little like Homer Simpson when I first walked in (see the first fifteen seconds of this video).
 |
| "Wow... classy." |
Portvcale
I would like to make a special note of an absolutely fabulous Portuguese restaurant on St. James Parade in Bath, Portvcale. We had an incredible tapas meal here one evening and I have to say, it is one of the best meals I've ever had.
The service is perhaps a little slower than most people would expect, but you're waiting on top quality food and believe me, it's worth every second!
I highly recommend this delightful restaurant.
I will be making a return journey to Bath again and Portvcale will be on top of my list of places to revisit.
Glastonbury
We didn't visit Glastonbury on this holiday, but I did visit back in 1999 and feel it is worth mentioning.
Glastonbury is not far from Bath and is most famous for the Glastonbury Festival. Outside of the festival however, there are two sites I will mention that are worth visiting:
Glastonbury Abbey
One of the 300 places where the mythical King Arthur is supposed to be buried. There's not much left of the abbey now (Henry VIII had a little spat with the Catholic church back in the 1500s... guess who lost) but the ruins are quite beautiful when it isn't raining.
 |
| Glastonbury Abbey: It may be in ruins, but the curators don't appreciate it when you start digging around for King Arthur. |
Glastonbury Tor is a hill with a tremendous view of Glastonbury and the surrounding countryside... provided you're willing to hike up it... and it is quite a hike at that.
At the top is the picturesque remains of St. Michael's church.
 |
| St. Michael's Church on Glastonbury Tor |
FYI - Watch out for falling cows as you approach the summit of the Tor... you'll know what I mean when it happens to you.
Next stop on our journey: Carlisle and Hadrian's Wall
*I should mention that the vast majority of the photographs used in these travel log blogs were taken by me, and hence, I own the rights to them. If anyone has any questions about the photographs or would like to inquire about using or obtaining a copy of them, please don't hesitate to leave a comment of inquiry.
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