May 12, 2008 3:20 p.m. Bath, the Crescent

Avebury is a large henge near a long barrow and a mound, thought to have been used for burying the victims of pagan sacrifice. Many great, gray stones form a ring inside huge green grassy earthworks. This morning was pleasantly cool, sunny and breezy, just right for the walk around the henge. Chris managed to hoist himself (a daring breach of rules) onto one of the stones to a comfortable-looking seat before we all walked over to the small church in Avebury (St. Peter’s?) which began as an Anglo construction and was built over by the later inhabitants. Features of all the various building styles can be seen in this church.
As I sit on the sidewalk in Bath writing, it is rather warm, though a breeze is blowing. The houses are not as white as I expected them to be, which some of our group said may be due to the time of day we are here. The baths themselves are interesting, and still have water in them (which is green with algae), which we are not allowed to touch because “it has not been treated.” It’s rather touristy. I especially enjoyed getting to stand and listen to the live piano music in the pump room, getting a brief look inside Bath Abbey, and seeing the columns where one of the scenes of Wentworth and Anne is filmed in the movie Persuasion. We girls took each other’s pictures there.
We’re sitting here on the sidewalk by the Crescent waiting for Chris and Fr. B to pick us up in the van, after which we head over to Wells to see the cathedral there.