Who wants to rock??

As my trip winds to an end, I did More exploring of London and the English countryside. Yesterday I hopped on a bus for s 2 hour ride to see Stonehenge. It really is an architectural masterpiece. What’s interesting is that no archaeologist can agree on what it’s purpose was for. 

Stonehenge has been around for 5000 years. The stones, mostly sandstone and blue stone, were strategically placed in the circular form taking place over 500 years. 

I learned that a misconception about Stonehenge was not for the Druids. The Druids first appeared a few thousand years after Stonehenge. There was a theory of human sacrifice too, but scientists can’t agree. 

Stonehenge was either a religious temple, an astronomical clock, or a burial ground as the outlying areas are full of burrows that contained human remains. There is one angle too that is a strategic marker for both summer and winter solstices. 

It is a mystery. And fascinating. We could only walk around in a circle going no closer than 100 feet from the ruins as the grounds are an archaeological treasure. 

I also did more exploring of London just walking the streets and saw where the Beatles Recorded Abbey Road, and the pub where the band, Iron Maiden, was created. Sadly is was closed. 

But London is a fun, culturally diverse, walking city. One just needs to learn to go with the flow and if you can navigate the Tube, you can get around. Much like New York 

Come From Away: a must see

The west end. Well I decided on seeing a show and I saw one highly recommended, a must see as many of us lived through this experience, Come From Away. 

It’s the story of Gander, Newfoundland citizens, a small town with a big enough airport that took care of many passenger jets after 9/11 and the US airspace was shut down. It’s a very heart warming thought provoking story of how people can come together and work to help each other, even overcoming various barriers like religion and racial backgrounds.  Plus it also deals with the passengers who want to call their loved ones, some might’ve lost relatives that day and deals with the aftermath. The audience was moved by it as it was action packed and never missed a beat. 

Definetly worth it. 

Welcome to the rock as they say 

Lovely Day for a Tour

Another fun day in site seeing London. It’s a very historical and yet cosmopolitan modern city. Really the easiest way to see it is by one of the double decker site seeing tours where you can hop on and off quite frequently. Half the buses are audio recorded in many languages and some have a guide which are more enjoyable. You begin to learn how old the city is and how it’s survived many wars and destructions. Many of the buildings have been deemed of significant historical value and have a placard of who lived there. Those buildings will never change. Much of the architecture is of the Victorian era. I even see how New York is designed too with the close row of homes and stone facades. 

BI also learned that London itself is only 1 square mile and only 9000 people live there. The rest of the London area is Westminster and other communities which make up the London proper. But the small area of London is where St. Paul’s Cathedral, the high magistrate courts, and the financial epicenter of the city and one of the leading in the world is based there. Hence much of the 400,000 plus commuters work there daily. It’s also the home of the Tower of London. Built by William the Conqueror after the battle of Hastings and at the corner of the old Roman city. It’s where the Crown Jewels are and the site of many executions done by the monarchy. The most known that I knew was Anne Boleyn by Henry VIII. He imprisoned her for not bearing a son and then beheaded her. The tower and grounds are quite beautiful as the Beefeater Guards still protect it and live there. A highly recommended tour to see.  As there is much to enjoy