Saturday at Stonehenge!

Today was brilliant!  The best part about studying/interning abroad is that you get to know the culture in a much deeper way than when you just travel as a tourist... however, I still enjoy doing all of the tourist activities, and seeing Stonehenge was on my list for this trip!  I was nervous about the weather because it was supposed to rain all day, but it held off and the sun even broke through while we were at Stonehenge. 

The bus picked up from the village at 8am and then stopped on campus to pick up the rest of the students.  There were students from America, Canada, Georgia, and China.  It was fun chatting with all of them and hearing where all they had travelled.  Many had gone to Cambridge, Oxford, and Liverpool, which I now hope to find time to visit!

We made the three hour drive through the lovely countryside, to our first stop at Avebury in England. I was a little surprised at how there was practically no indication that we had crossed into England except a sign on the side of the road that said Welcome to England.  It was just like driving across a state line.

 Avebury is not as well known as Stonehenge, but it is another Neolithic (4000-2500 BCE) henge.   Although less famous (in fact even most British people I spoke to didn’t know about it), Avebury actually has the largest stone circle in Europe.  It is believed that there were originally around 100 stones making up two smaller circles within one large circle measuring over three hundred meters across.  Some of the rocks weigh in excess of 40 tons.  What is unbelievable is that people moved these stone with no machinery over about a 1000 year time span. 

Huge neolithic stones at Avebury.

The size of one of the stones at Avebury.  Seriously impressive that they moved these without machines.

Avebury now has a town built around it, so we had a chance to grab a cup of tea and a scone, and check out the little museums located there, including the one in the 17^th century barn.  I also visited the St. James church which is believed to be originally constructed around 1000AD.  Located in Avebury is also the newly renovated Avebury Manor, but I did not get a chance to check that out... next time J

On our way to Stonehenge we saw Silbury Hill, a 40 meter tall prehistoric human-made hill that now looks like a big mound since it has been overgrown with grass, but at the time would have been all white from the chalk material it is made out of.  I had never heard of Silbury before, but it is the tallest prehistoric human-made mound in Europe.   

Me at Stonehenge!

Then on to Stonehenge. Stonehenge was impressive because it is something I have always seen pictures of before, and you are able to see all of it at once, unlike Avebury.  However, it is much more touristy with fences and pathways built around it.  There were also hundreds of people there at the time.  It was great to be able to see both Avebury and Stonehenge, a great day trip!  Highly recommend it if you get a chance.  The International Development Office puts the trip on, so be sure to watch for information about it!

Fun phrases:

"Tada", also can be said as "tata" or just "ta".  This is one of my new favorites.  It does not mean someone has just completed a magic trick, like in the US, but actually means goodbye in Wales.

"Fortnight" although I have heard this word before, I don't think I have ever heard it used in everyday speach.  It means 2 weeks, and it is commonly used here.  For example, the International Development Office has a meeting every fortnight on Tuesdays. 

"Stone" is another measurement term, but this time it is for weight.  1 stone = 14 pounds.  It really threw me off when the scales measured in stones!  I am somewhere around 9 stones.  Sounds so little :)