Stonehandge and Salisbury

When we studied Stonehenge at the History of Art class I always imagined it to be large, impressive and powerful as well as the mystery of its erection & meaning. But we got quite disappointed as we approached it — this ancient monument of primitive cult looked small and was surrounded with the wire fence so that even within it you couldn't get close enough to come inside or at least to feel the grandeur of this construction.

Stonehandge

At the gentle hill there are grey mossy rocks forming several circles and some rocks are placed on the top of the other ones as beams. Now they look more like ruins and just give an idea of what the whole complex used to look like. Still it's quite easy to imagine ancient ministers of religion coming to this global gigantic creation to worship their god at the day of summer solstice when the hill stone shadow falls strait to the center of the stone ring — how miraculous and staggering it had to be for all who gathered here, how remarkable and proving the existence of High Power above them.

Stonehandge

Stonehenge — that is about 5000 years old — was created earlier then pyramids in Egypt. It is one of few witnesses of pre-historic age in human development left to nowadays, it's a unique system that could serve as a religious place and as an ancient calendar proving that people who erected it had the knowledge of mathematics and astronomy. This amazing fragment of ancient time remains a mystery for scientists and historians — how such enormous construction was created, what it served for and who could build it and many other questions are still left without an answer. But the history of this place is thrilling by itself even though nowadays it doesn't bear the size comparison with gigantic spires of skyscrapers or huge domes of cathedrals. At least we still have a chance to see this part of human history with our own eyes.

These were my thoughts on the way back to the town when we still could see big lonely stones shaping the mysterious circle through the window of our bus — part of Ancient Knowledge of people that is lost in the changing routine of the modern world.

Salisbury Train Station

The train for the Stonehenge arrives to the platform of Salisbury town and there you take a bus to get to the place. So before going back to London we had a chance to see the famous gothic Salisbury cathedral with its highest spire in England.

Cathedral

Even though the cathedral seems to be dark and somber inside, outside it looks like it's all made of brown lasses and light window arches, especially the court yard surrounded with the amazing beauty arch stone flowers. It's one of the unique churches that was made so fast — only for 38 years with one stroke and unity of ensemble. One of the items kept in the cathedral in the Hall of Capitol is of great value — the original of the historical Magna Charta that limited taxes, based the independent court system and became a big step towards the constitutional monarchy in England. Another impressive item is outside of the church — sculpture of walking Virgin by Elizabeth Frink. If you just pass the sculpture by it may seem that Madonna is just a common lady going home from the church in a long skirt and dark scarf on her head. Even though her face is calm and sorrow, she goes with her head strait but deep in her thoughts and her robe is crossed with cuts of wounds that she had suffered from.

In Salisbury

The town itself looks very historical and cozy with its old red brick little mentions, white stucco and black crossbars houses, narrow streets, gothic gates and market square.

In Salisbury

Flowers are everywhere: on facades and streets, everything is tidy and charming. There are tourists & souvenir shops but not as many as in the other places and it seems they also obey calm, appreciating-eternal-value-instead-following-the-profit atmosphere of the town. In one of the old houses we found the loveliest restaurant with three most comfortable and antique interiors on different floors.

Expecting Dessert

We chose the highest one on the open terrace near the tiled roof of the next-door building. The place was just large enough to feet us all — Kim, Tyson, Max, Olya, Sergei Heller and two of us, it was exactly what we were looking for — old, private, quite & cozy. The food was delicious including the desert that was so tasty that whether froze or burnt throats of Tyson, Max, Olya & Sergei as they were leaving in a hurry to get to the train but preferred to suffer rather then not to eat the whole piece!

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