Sunday

This was probably my very favorite day so far. Debra and Joel were visiting from the States and had arrived Saturday. We went out to the pub with the glorious women's restroom (pix on this one later) for dinner that night and then off to bed and up at 3:00 am to drive to Stonehenge. Things looked great as we left Cardiff, but we ran into fog right away on the highway.
Our time in the ring of stones was 6:45 am. and we made it promptly. They allow 24 people in the circle for an hour. So it was misty and quiet, and not very crowded. The ever present sheep were bleating just outside the enclosure. There was a little ritual Greg witnessed between a couple and their newborn baby. Later, when Joel and Debra went back for their second time in the ring, they saw some kind of druidic healing ceremony.
A women was sitting on one of the stones, but the security person asked her to stop. Leaning, however, was permitted. (This one's for you, Aunt Kitty!)
An hour is a long time in a small stone circle. Very quiet. Some time to think about people hauling stones 5000 years ago for their form of worship. Time to study the stones and the configuration. How did they get those grooved stones on top?
And then it was off to Wells for a cathedral. Wells is a gorgeous little town. We ate lunch in a tea room--cranberry sauce and brie on baguette for Kaity.
Our table was right by the windows above the street. There are no windowscreens here, so when the window is open, you are looking directly out over the fabulous view. And no flies to bother you. Joel and Debra smile for the camera. Why Joel's taking my picture taking their picture I don't know.
Then to Wells Cathedral. Wow. Here are just a couple of pictures. This is the Lady Chapel.
This is the aisle flanking the nave. I'll have to dig further to find photos of the nave itself. It's pretty amazing. Kaity and I are reading someone's epitaph. It was a bishop whose sarcophagus was a graphic depiction of a dried out corpse. In marble.
This is the garden. The foundation for the original Lady Chapel is exposed here. Kieron was leading me to the window in the garden wall overlooking the spring for which the town is named.

This is the ceiling of the chapter house, where the church officials meet. Isn't it beautiful?

So from ancient Druidic worship to high medieval worship in 5 hours. What a contrast. What a day.