A touch of British history

Yesterday I got the chance to visit two of England's better known historical sites, the Roman Baths (in Bath -- creative naming, what can I say) and Stonehenge. The trip was arranged by the law school, and covered coach travel to the two destinations. Admission fees were extra, and ended up being more than the discount transportation (only 10 pounds to ride the bus; 12.50 pounds total for admission to the Roman Baths and Stonehenge). We also had a tour guide who pointed out a few sights leaving and returning to London. Her voice sounded a lot like Mrs. Doubtfire.

Bath is a nice town and very picturesque. I'd definitely consider it an example of what people imagine quaint European towns to look like. The architecture is stunning, from the Abbey to the buildings on the little side streets. There are also plenty of shops, cafes, gardens, and squares scattered throughout the little town, not to mention cool bridges spanning the Avon River. I didn't have lots of time to explore, though, because I spent a considerable amount of our time there visiting the Roman Baths. Bath is the home of a hot springs, which the Romans converted into a large bathhouse complex. There's an extensive audio tour that takes you through the many rooms as well as describing the site. In addition to the bathhouse, the Romans erected several temples dedicated to both Minerva (a Roman goddess) and Sulius (a local goddess of healing).

After Bath, we ventured out to Stonehenge, which sits in the Salisbury Plain. Some members of our group were less than thrilled, considering it to be a large pile of rocks. You can get a pretty good view of it from the road alongside Stonehenge, but there's a fence to separate the road from those who have paid admission. Admittedly, paying doesn't get you much closer, and they have Stonehenge itself roped off (so you can't really walk among the ruins), but you can walk all the way around it and admission includes an audio tour. All in all I thought it was pretty cool. Stonehenge has always captivated my interest, probably because so little is actually known about it. Even the audio tour didn't have much to add about how or why Stonehenge was built. Still, I found it awe inspiring to behold, and it's astonishing how the stones act as a calendar. It's also pretty amazing how much Stonehenge is in the middle of nowhere. The Salisbury Plain is pretty bleak and deserted (except for the tourists and sheep). There's Stonehenge... and nothing else for miles.

As always, I've dutifully documented my travels with a digital camera, so that you too can experience my British adventure. The latest round of pictures is up for your viewing pleasure.