Sidetrip with FSU Students to Avebury - Lacock - Salisbury

The Florida State University Study Center offers guided bus trip to various place outside of London. Yesterday - we took a bus to Avebury - Lacock - and Salisbury. Each town has many historic and pre-historic site for the students to experience and enjoy.

Avebury is a town build inside of a henge. When one thinks of henges - the famous Stonehenge comes to mind. The henge in Avebury is actually older and bigger than the more famous Stonehenge. Unlike its more popular brother - at Avebury you walk among the rock - even sit on them. One problem at Avebury is the sheep - well more like the product of the sheep. The students developed the "poo poo dance" to get from stone to stone and keep their shoes clean. The town of Avebury is a community among the monolithic stones that has existed since the time before the Pilgrims came to America.

Lacock is a town organized around a former nunnery built in the 1200's - yes about 800 years ago. Later the main building was developed into the home of the local Lord - complete with cloisters and several large out buildings. It is incredible to Americans how buildings can last this long.

Finally - we went to Salisbury - the place famous for the Stonehenge which is just outside town - about 8 miles away on the Salisbury Plain. Our main objective in this town was the Salisbury Cathedral.

The cathedral is gigantic with a spire 400 feet how. The cathedral is built with blocks of Limestone. It seems in perfect shape. What adds to the amazement is that this church was built in 1250 - they were celebrating their 750th year. unlike many other cathedral - it only took them 60 years to built it. Inside the church are buried many of the important people throughout England's history. The Avon River flows through town and as we crossed the bridge one wonders how much water went under that bridge in 750 years.

What puzzled me was why our blue badged guide chose not to take us to the famous Stonehenge. Being a former tour guide of students - I did not want to question the reasons for missing this world famous site. I am guessing the Stonehenge has become quite the tourist trap. Also - people are no longer allowed to touch or walk among the rocks there. One cannot re-create the scenes from the movie European Vacation.

Being on a field trip with students reminded me of all the trips I ran as a teacher back in Pennsylvania. Many people re-call that back in 1978 - Lulu and I bought a tour bus and took students to Cape Canaveral - Disneyworld - Washington - and Philadelphia. Whenever I visit some of our old haunts - I feel a bit sad because that period of our lives is over.

I have included a few pictures of Stonehenge to show you what we missed. When we come back to England next summer - we will take an overnight trip to Salisbury to see the world famous landmark.

Pictures -
1 - Nancy and I at the Avebury Henge.
2 - Circle of large rocks at Avebury Henge.
3 - Lulu's students doing the "poo poo dance."
4 - Stonehenge on the Salisbury Plain.
5 - Stonehenge at night.
6 - Aerial view of the tourist area around Stonehenge.
7 - Church clock in Salisbury Cathedral - still working after 750 years.
8 - Salisbury Cathedral built in 1250.