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Stonehenge has proved to be a mystery for so long now that when I heard about experts finally unveiling some of that mysterious cover, I was not so sure that it was true. Still, what researchers have revealed to the world makes some sense.
According to some British researchers, they might have found a reason people transported those gigantic stones from Wales to Salisbury Plain – a good 250 miles. They think that the people of that time might have believed the stones to have possessed miraculous healing powers. Apparently, other archeologists who were not involved in the research think that the findings are very possible.
Stonehenge has “multiple meanings and multiple uses” that may have changed over the centuries, said archaeologist Mary Ann Owoc of Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa., who was not involved in the new research. “To limit it to one is an error.”
The idea that the stones are not just building materials but have efficacy “is tremendously appealing as an idea,” said archaeologist Julian Thomas of Manchester University, who also was not involved in the research. “The idea that they were brought there because they have some kind of power seems to me entirely plausible. But whether it is just about healing is another question.”
I do not know much about archeology and am definitely not an authority on this matter but the idea that Stonehenge served like a Lourdes in the ancient times sounds realistic. I also think that it is a fitting explanation for a structure that has been so shrouded in mystery for as long as anyone can remember.
For those of you who grew up in the country, you would probably love to relive that experience. For those who are purebred city people, then you might want to have a taste of what growing up in the country is like. That is, being surrounded by animals and fields, being out in the open air.
If you like animals and you want to experience something like a county fair, then I suggest that you head on over to the Rare and Traditional Breeds Show at Singleton, Chichester, West Sussex. What should you expect? About Britain announces the event:
Our biggest show of the year! Over 500 cattle, sheep, pigs, goats and poultry of numerous rare breeds will be taking part in the show, the largest in south east England. Bring the family to see orange bristled Tamworth pigs; the Pygmy goats, not much more than one foot high; Gloucester Old Spot pigs with their dramatic black blotches, Longhorn cattle with majestic curly horns and Southdown Sheep with their teddy bear faces and dumpling shape and many many more. Other attractions include country craft and trade stands with farm and animal themes and the Museum’s own team of working Shire horses.
The exact venue of the show is the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, which is worthy enough of a visit on its own. The highlights of the Museum include historic homes, farms, and workplaces. These have been restored and all efforts have been made to keep them as close to the original as possible.
The show runs on the 20th of July from 10:30 am to 6:00 pm. Ticket costs:
Adults £8.50, over 60s £7.50, children £4.50, family ticket £23.30 includes a full day’s entry to all Museum buildings and outdoor exhibits.
Photo courtesy of Dunechaser
I wrote something about visiting Bath, one of the most popular tourist spots in the UK, some time ago. If you remember, Bath is a World Heritage Site as designated by UNESCO and this is one reason that Bath is as popular as it is today.
Recent developments, however, might be putting this charming British town at risk. Apparently, there are some building developments in the city which might lead to the stripping of the designation by the UNESCO. The said developments are actually plans to construct homes – thousands of them – in the Western Riverside area, and this is only part of the whole picture.
The Guardian reports:
The development has been described by the Bath Heritage Watchdog as ‘something akin to a massive Soviet-era housing project’.
Deborah Aplin, managing director of Crest Nicholson Regeneration, which is behind the Western Riverside development, said that it had written support from the government and English Heritage. ‘This land has been derelict for more than 25 years and our scheme will help regenerate this part of an otherwise beautiful city,’ she added.
I think that it is understandable that some citizens of the city would want to push Bath forward by opening the city to development and progress. However, it is also understandable that the city’s stature as a World Heritage Site could be affected. After all, certain criteria must be met in order for a place to be designated as such.
The issue will be discussed during UNESCO’s annual conference. I guess we just have to wait and see what happens.
Photo courtesy of Ian Muttoo
There are countless places to visit if you decide to travel in the UK. One of the most beautiful places to go is the city of Bath. This city is located in the southwestern part of England and is famous for a lot of things. To say the least, it has been designated as a World Heritage Site.
This year, the annual Taste of Bath Festival is going to be held from the 3rd of July till the 6th of July. Visitors are in for a treat of the senses as the best chefs of the area congregate to present a wonderful culinary experience. Many local restaurants will be participating in the festival – you only have to take your pick. More than this, you can also participate in hands on cookery classes, in which you can learn how to make delectable dishes using the freshest local produce.
There are four different types of tickets which you can choose from:
Standard-£12
Entry only. (Children aged 6-14yrs – £8, Children under 5 – Free)
Premium-£25
Entry plus £15 worth of Crowns.
VIP-£40
Entry plus £15 worth of Crowns, entry to VIP area and a glass of Laurent-Perrier Champagne.
Connoisseur-£65
Entry plus £15 worth of Crowns and exclusive entry into the Laurent-Perrier Champagne Masterclass and Connoisseur’s Lounge.
In case you are wondering, Crowns are the official currency for the festival and each Crown is worth 50p. I’d say that the entry fees are not such a bad deal, don’t you think?
Photo courtesy of Randy Son of Robert
English Wine Week
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Posted on May 28, 2008 by Jodie in English Cuisine, English Culture, English News, English Places
All you wine lovers head on over to various places in England to take part in the English Wine Week! It actually started on the 24th of May and will end on the 1st of June, so you have several days left to enjoy the festivities of the English Wine Week. What can you expect during this week?
All over England, you can pay visits to various regions where their vineyards have scheduled tours and wine tasting events. Some are for free while others charge a small fee. More than just wine, you can also visit restaurants and hotels to discover the wonders of British cuisine and which wine goes best with certain food. Again, you can visit various establishments in various regions.
You can also find other events such as in store wine tasting in participating stores. There are just so many events that we can’t list all of them here. I suggest that you head on over to the web site of the English Wine Week for the most detailed list of events.
I am sure that those who reside in the UK and surrounding areas which are within easy reach of the wine producing regions would not miss the chance to get a taste of what the English Wine Week has to offer. Although English wine is not the foremost thing that comes to mind when people talk about wine, there is no doubt that the quality is of the highest standards. So, grab your weekend bag and catch the tail end of the activities!
For many city dwellers, stress is a part of life. Londoners are not exempt from this – perhaps they are even more stressed than people in other cities. Yet for all the stress that is present in one’s city life, there is always something that one can do to de-stress. We all do it in our own ways but I am sure that going to the spa is something that is agreeable to most every city dweller.
In West Yorkshire, within easy reach of London, one can melt his or her worries away at the Titanic Spa. Oh, there are spas all over the place, but Titanic Spa has the distinction of being the UK’s first eco-spa. What does that mean, though? What makes an eco-spa better than other spas?
Read their own description of their services to find out:
Titanic Spa, UK’s first Eco-Spa, has been designed within a traditional textile mill creating a brand new concept exclusively offering an unsurpassed spa experience. Favoured for its seclusion on the edge of the Pennines, this intimate spa has gone beyond the organic philosophy, offering exceptional results-driven spa treatments and products by Decléor, Elemis, Carita and ghd Spa, creating spa therapies to work in natural synergy with skin, body and mind.
You may be thinking that this is a biased description but based on other people’s testimonials, it does seem that the Titanic Spa has a way about it. Johanna Leggatt of the Telegraph tried the spa for herself and had nothing but good to say about it. If you city living is getting to you, perhaps you should try to getaway for a day and get some relaxation at the spa.
Stonehenge is probably one of the most recognised sites in the world. Once people see a picture of Stonehenge, the image probably rings a bell even if they might not know exactly what it is. As a matter of fact, Stonehenge is a monument that dates back to prehistoric times. It can be found on Wiltshire in England.
Based on Wikipedia’s description, Stonehenge is:
one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, Stonehenge is composed of earthworks surrounding a circular setting of large standing stones. Archaeologists believe that the standing stones were erected around 2200 BC and the surrounding circular earth bank and ditch, which constitute the earliest phase of the monument, have been dated to about 3100 BC. The site and its surroundings were added to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites in 1986 in a co-listing with Avebury henge monument, and it is also a legally protected Scheduled Ancient Monument. Stonehenge itself is owned by the Crown and managed by English Heritage while the surrounding land is owned by the National Trust.
The current structure than can be found on the site has actually been renovated several times already. It was first examined in 1666 but the first major restoration was carried out only in 1901. This was done by William Gowland. About 2 decades later, in 1920, William Hawley carried out another restoration. In 1958, another restoration was done and the last one was in 1963. Since then, no more restorations were tried but many excavations have been carried out.
To date, Stonehenge remains one of the most popular tourist sites in the area.
Are you in the mood for something different? Are you tired of visiting towns and cities that have the same things to offer over and over again? If you are, then you might want to head on over to the town of Totnes in Devon.
Visitors to this town have one common thing to say about it – it is like talking a trip to the past. Its main shopping street, Fore Street, is reminiscent of an old time town, with small shops scattered throughout. Don’t expect to see generic commercialised shops, either. The shops on Fore Street are for “real” – butcher shops, toy shops, bookshops, and the grocer’s all stand beside each other in a unique mix. Add to this distinctive shops like the Green Fuse (a funeral parlor that is eco-friendly), Rhythm and Light (crystals and fossils, anyone?), and Fairies on the Rise (anything to do with fairies) – and you have a whole new world to discover.
The Friday market is a must for visitors as all the inhabitants of the town can be seen milling around. One notable characteristic is that a lot of them sport dreadlocks, many of them wear kaftans – a sign that the hippy life is on the rise yet again. I suppose that is why many describe Totnes as a bohemian town.
Life is laid back, there is almost zero crime – people love it in Totnes. Understandably, the price of housing is quite high. Yet this has not dissuaded many people from trying to move to Totnes to experience a lifestyle that is more than alternative.
Now that we’ve looked at the background of the English pub, let’s look at modern day English pubs and see what they have to offer. Again, I have Jed to thank for the particulars in this post.
Closing time
If you are looking for an all nighter, the English pub is not the place to go. Most pubs close at 11 pm – this has always been the tradition. Recently, though, a legislation was passed that allows pubs to open later than this time. However, most pubs still close at the customary time of 11 pm.
Ordering food and drinks
In many other countries, when you go to an establishment that serves food and drinks, you can normally expect to be served at your table. In an English pub, however, you have to go directly to the bar to place your order. Try sitting at the table and you will find out, however long you sit there, you won’t get any service at all. This is not to say that the English are service-oriented. It’s just how things are done.
Do you need to tip?
The answer is no. Some visitors may feel the need to do so but it isn’t really necessary. It might even bring about an awkward moment if you insist on tipping your server. A suggestion would be to say something along the lines of “get yourself a drink on me.” Though this is acceptable, it rarely really happens. So save yourself an awkward moment and refrain from tipping.
If there is a place that you should not miss on a trip to England, it is the nearest local pub. Many people associate the British culture with regular visits to the pub – and rightly so. As Jed says in his blog The London Traveler, “you will never have a hope of understanding Britain unless you’ve spent at least a little time in the pub.” Well let me clue you in on what the English pub is all about.
Historically, the pub has always been the center of community life. Whether it was a city, a town, or a village, it was the same all over England – the pub was the place where people hung out. It was more than just drinking. It was a venue for friends and family to meet and interact with each other. It was a venue for business colleagues to meet and do business.
The term pub actually originates from the phrase “public house” and was coined during the Victorian era. Historians believe that it was the Romans who introduced the concept of the pub to England. The Roman tavernae, where local food and wine was served, is believed to be the ancestor of the modern day pub.
Today, pubs are not that much different in concept from the pubs of the olden days – people still gather at pubs. College friends visit their local pub to relax and chat. Yuppies go to their local pub to wind down after work. Business deals are still made in pubs.
In the next post, let’s look at some particularities of English pubs.
