Day Nine from Miriam

DAY TRIP!!

We went to Stourhead, Wells Cathedral and Stonehenge.

Along the bus route, there was lots of this loveliness:

It's called RAPESEED.  Forgive the name; it's lovely.

This is Stourhead.  We visited a giant estate that is actually still lived in—it was like visiting Pemberley.  But really, it actually was.  More on that later.

There were lovely pink flowers EVERYWHERE.

It was the most beautiful place I have ever been in my life.  The grounds went on and on.

In the background, you can see the Temple of Apollo.  More on that later, as well.

There was a grass-covered bridge, and way back beyond where you can see there was a mill wheel, a waterfall, and many more absolutely picturesque things.

There were also happy couples of ducks everywhere.  This one, we named Darcy and Elizabeth.  We also found and named Jane and Bingley, Emma and Knightley, and Anne and Wentworth.  There was a pair of swans in the pond that became Jane and Rochester.

We climbed a series of intense stone steps to get to the Temple of Apollo.

The steps went under some stone arches as old as old can be, and so lovely!  Engagement photos, anyone?

Here is the overlook of the Stourhead grounds from the Temple of Apollo.  It's really the most beautiful place on earth.

This temple was an awesome photo op.

But OK, here's the exciting part!!!!

Watch this:

DOES THIS PLACE LOOK FAMILIAR????

It actually started raining while we were at the Temple of Apollo.  It was almost nearly perfect.  The only thing missing was Mr. Darcy.

There was also another temple: the Temple of Athena.  This is me hiding all the stuff I'm carrying behind a pillar...

Not only is Stourhead the loveliest place on earth; it is also the most love-full and romantic place on earth.  The most sensible-minded of us had gone completely starry-eyed by the end of our explorations.

It was hard leaving, but we didn't have much time to get to Wells Cathedral.

OK, first, there was a kitty curled up in front of the altar.  This made me happy right off the bat, because I'm missing my kitty.

Look at the ceiling in the quire!

I won't include pictures of the gorgeous scissor arches, the ancient clock, or some other details in the church, because you can read more about those in Melissa's post for today.

But here's a video of the clock (which I loved!):

Also, here is the west entrance, which is lovely and ornate.

OK, most impressive thing of the day!  (OK, maybe not really, but it was awesome!)

Melissa split an apple in half.  With her bare hands.  Hercules.

Then, we arrived at the Stonehenge visitors' center.  This is what the area surrounding the visitors' center looks like:

I love rapeseed fields.

Then.........

STONEHENGE!!!!!!!

These rocks, whose original purpose can only be guessed at, have stood here since time immemorial.

While kings and queens and powers and empires have risen and fallen, while generations unnumbered have lived and loved and hurt and hated and died, even while Christ submitted to every pain and joy anyone has ever felt and the earth trembled at the death of a god, these stones have stood here in quiet solidarity.

It is rather intimidating standing in their presence.

It was windier than you can possibly imagine from my photos (I kept my hood on and picked the best ones, but the wind was BAD).

But we had fun taking some shots anyway!

It was a lovely day.