A place of wonder

I went to three places of mystery and beauty this past week. I did not expect some of the wonders that I saw. I hope that in your travels, you can visit this gorgeous place. The first stop was the ever-baffling Stonehenge. Before I went, almost everyone told me that it was going to be a disappointment. I didn’t listen to them though. I went with an open mind and I was glad I did. I enjoyed seeing it in person. When you are driving on the road near it, you come up over a hill and then you see it. I was in awe. While I was walking around it, I couldn’t stop taking pictures. There are ropes surrounding it so it isn’t something you can walk around in. The ropes are taken down once a year and admission is free on the summer solstice. People are then free to worship and experience the stones close up. I want to go back on that day to see what it’s like.

After visiting Stonehenge, my class and I traveled to Stourhead. I knew it was an 18th century garden but I didn’t understand the scale until I got there. It was the most beautiful and inspiring place I have ever been too. It inspired me to write a poem about it for one of my class assignments. I think that the best part was when I walked down a hill and through some trees I saw a temple across the water. It was the temple of Apollo and has spaces for statues built in while some have statues. The scene in the film “Pride & Prejudice” where it is raining and there is an intense interchange between Lizzie Bennet and Mr. Darcy, that happens here at the temple of Apollo. As a fan of this film, I was giddy as a schoolgirl. I loved the garden (and the temple) so much that I want to visit several times in my life.

After we went to Stourhead, we ventured to Avebury. It is an old village with ritual stones, like Stonehenge, but these were actually used for human sacrifices. Now, where the stones sit, sheep range and poop abounds. None of us could really look around because we were trying not to step in the poop. I did not enjoy this place as much as the others.

Back at my home stay, I watched a television show called “Body Shock: The Girl with Eight Limbs.” It is about Lakshmi, a girl born in India with eight limbs: 4 arms and 4 legs. She is named after the Hindu Goddess Lakshmi of wealth and beauty. Many people that live in this little girl’s village believe she is the reincarnation of the Goddess. A doctor examined her and said that her extra limbs were attributed to her twin that didn’t develop a head. Her parents decided to have their daughter undergo surgery. I’m sure this show will air or has aired in the US but it reminds me that I’ll miss BBC television when I leave.

This week I am going to see three plays. A last hurrah before I depart. I have 12 days left. I am going to see The Sound of Music, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Wicked. I am very excited. I will keep you posted!

Ciao!