Day 4, December 19, 2018 Today some of us ventured outside of London
to Stonehenge and Windsor Castle. I don't know if ancient London, like
Dublin had a pale but if they did, we were "beyond the pale". Since Ashley
and Andrew have already been to Stonehenge, they and Ann went to Wimbledon
instead while Jim went with the JADIII family. The plan was for everyone
to meetup in Windsor and tour the castle together. However, that didn't
happen. Ann, Ashley and Andrew arrived in Windsor too late to tour the
castle but we did get to eat dinner together before heading back to London
after a long day.
20181219_081455.jpg_12/19/2018_8:14 AM: Ann arranged for us to have a
van and driver to take us west to Stonehenge. We had to get up dawn early
to see that national treasure and still get back to Windsor for that tour.
When we left London it was raining a little but started to clear as we
approached our destination.
20181219_100427.jpg_12/19/2018_10:04 AM: Stonehenge, probably the best
known pre-historic monument in Europe was about 90 miles or a 2 hour drive
from our hotel in central London. Things were slow in London but after
getting outside the city the route follows a major expressway (M3) for
about half way before cutting off onto A303 to Amesbury. A few miles west
of Amesbury we saw the monument surrounded by grazing cattle uphill from
the highway. More than 7000 years ago Neolithic people chose this sight
because the underlying chalk formation did not support forest growth so
it provided an unobstructed view of the sun, moon and heavenly objects.
20181219_100646.jpg_12/19/2018_10:06 AM: To reach the monument you have
to stop at the Visitors Center and take their tram up to a turn-around.
From there you walk about a quarter mile to a partially paved trail that
encircles the monument. There were a few early arrivers like us hoping
to see the big stones in the morning sun.
IMG_7871.JPG_12/19/2018_10:12 AM: The trail winds counter clockwise around
the stones. This is near the point of closest approach (you can't go up
to the stones any longer), about 25 feet on the west side.
IMG_7873.JPG_12/19/2018_10:13 AM: This is also near the point of closest
approach, a little farther along the trail. Anthropologist think this
site was used as early as 7000BC but the monument we see today was started
around 3000BC with the outer circular ditch and berms. The big stones
were erected around 2500BC. There are two types of stones, the large sarsens
(a type of sandstone) that were the vertical components of the rings and
bluestone (an English term for generic rock - that wasn't sarsen in this
case, most likely dolomite)for the lintels (the horizontal tops). The
tall sarsen, just right of center, has a point on its top. This used to
fit into a hole in the crossing lintel to keep the lintel in place.
IMG_7875.JPG_12/19/2018_10:18 AM: The JADIII Fam. The morning started
off with poor weather but by this time the skies cleared and we couldn't
have asked for better weather - well it was kind of cold.
IMG_7878.JPG_12/19/2018_10:33 AM: Don't try to push it down!
IMG_7879.JPG_12/19/2018_10:34 AM: The kids and Jim were ahead of James
and Amber. We are along the southern part of the grassy trail around the
rocks.
IMG_7880.JPG_12/19/2018_10:46 AM: We had been here about 30 minutes when
crowds are beginning to form. Apparently another tram full of people were
just dumped off.
On average the 30 big vertical stones are about 6 feet wide, 3.6 feet
thick, about 13 feet tall and weigh 25 tons. The outer ring of big stones
is about 108 feet in diameter. The lintels are about 10 feet long, 3.3
feet wide, and 2.6 feet thick.
20181219_103943.jpg_12/19/2018_12:39 PM: This is called the heel stone
and it filled a very important function when the Neolithic people came
here. If you stood at the center of the stone circle on the morning of
the summer solstice you would see the sun rise precisely behind this stone.
Celebrate because days would get longer and warmer, crops could be planted,
life would improve. Or, if you stood with the stone to your back and looked
along a line through the center of the stone circle you would see exactly
where the sun set on the winter solstice; get prepared because days would
get shorter, temperatures drop, food would get scarce, life would get harder
and more dangerous.
We took the tram back to the visitor center and bought some souvenirs
and a bottle of locally brewed Stonehenge honey mead. I thought it would
help Aria's cough. We ended up lugging that bottle all the way to Rome
where we left it sitting on the kitchen counter in our flat. Maybe it was
special in 3000BC but didn't make 21st century standards for taste.
Stonehenge_walk.mp4: This video composed of clips that James took provides
another view of the monument.
20181219_123805.jpg_12/19/2018_12:38 PM: Our driver took us from Stonehenge
to the Windsor Castle entrance gate. That took about an hour. The town
of Windsor is about 20 miles west of central London. The Thames River
passes through the town. What ultimately became Windsor Castle, originally
started by William the Conqueror in the decade after 1066, has been the
royal residence of 39 British monarchs starting with Henry I in 1100 to
the present Queen Elizabeth thus making it the oldest continuously occupied
castle in the world. It sits on a hill overlooking the town. Here James
and Genevieve stopped for a quick photo as they head up the hill to St.
George's Gate.
IMG_7881.JPG_12/19/2018_12:40 PM: Walking up the drive to St. George's
Gate by the Edward III Tower.
IMG_7883.JPG_12/19/2018_12:42 PM: This is what it looks like going toward
the entrance. You can see the archers' slots in the outer defensive wall
and the big Round Tower, the main keep of the inner castle.
IMG_7885.JPG_12/19/2018_12:47 PM: Something old and something new.
IMG_7888.JPG_12/19/2018_12:51 PM: Here we are at the St. George's gate.
Actually the gate in front of the St. George's gate which is behind us.
20181219_125946.jpg_12/19/2018_12:59 PM: This relief is on the arch above
the gate. It depicts the legend of St. George slaying the dragon to rescue
the princes chosen as his next offering.
IMG_7889.JPG_12/19/2018_12:56 PM: No dragon is going to take our princesses
who are looking across the greens of the Upper Ward and across to the State
Apartments.
IMG_7891.JPG_12/19/2018_1:00 PM: A better view of the Edward III tower.
The right most part of St. George's Gate is at the left most side of this
photo. A barely visible official of the castle is standing in front of
the gate.
IMG_7895.JPG_12/19/2018_1:09 PM: This is the Round Tower at the center
of the castle complex. The tower was the main keep of the original castle
and fortress. It sits at the top of a large mound. It is about 30 feet
in diameter. To the right is the Edward III tower where we entered.
20181219_130601.jpg_12/19/2018_1:06 PM: This is the garden below the Round
Tower in an area that was once a moat. We did not walk in the garden, rather
behind the wall that is on the right side of this picture where the white
bench sits invitingly.
IMG_7898.JPG_12/19/2018_1:19 PM: This is the exterior walls of the State
Apartments along what is called the North Terrace overlooking the town.
We entered to tour the apartments under the large Gothic window in the
middle of this wall. No photography was allowed but Ashley or Andrew surreptitiously
snapped a few during their tour which I have included here. Their photos
give a small sampling of the beauty of the State Rooms.
20181219_131059.jpg_12/19/2018_1:10 PM: The castle sits strategically
on a hill overlooking the town below.
IMG-WA0001.jpg: This Christmas tree stands at the end of the 180 feet
long St. George's Hall. In 1992 the Windsor Castle Fire completely destroyed
this and other parts of the castle. It has since been rebuilt according
to the original plans complete with a hammerbeam oak ceiling and decorated
with all the shields of the Knights of the Garter.
IMG-WA0002.jpg: This is the Green Drawing Room, today used to display
large scale photos of the wedding of Prince Harry and Megan Markle. This
room was also damaged by the fire, especially the fine carpet that was
installed during the reign of Queen Victoria. As a consequence we could
only look into the room from the Crimson Drawing Room.
IMG-WA0003.jpg: The Garter Throne Room is one of the most historic in
the castle, where for centuries Knights and Ladies of the Garter were invested.
The Giltwood canopy over the throne dates back to the 18th century while
the throne was originally made for the 1953 Coronation of Queen Elizabeth.
20181219_144857.jpg_12/19/2018_2:48 PM: This is the Upper Ward green outside
St. George's Hall. The equestrian figure is known as the King's Champion.
Tradition has it that the champion threw down the gauntlet three times
in challenge of anyone that would deny the new monarch. It was last done
for King George IV in 1821. Note, St. George's Gate is at the far right
of this photo. That is where Amber and her daughters (our princesses)
were standing at the start of this series of photos.
IMG_7903.JPG_12/19/2018_3:36 PM: This is St. George's Chapel where Prince
Harry and Megan were recently married. On the tour there was one entire
room devoted to photos of the wedding.
IMG_7901.JPG_12/19/2018_3:02 PM: A closer look at some of the detail on
the sides of St. George's Chapel.
IMG_7904.JPG_12/19/2018_3:37 PM: The long steps leading to the front entrance.
This is where Harry and Megan walked down following their wedding in this
chapel.
IMG_7906.JPG_12/19/2018_3:39 PM: Looking back at the Upper Ward area from
the Lower Ward.
IMG_7907.JPG_12/19/2018_3:42 PM: One of the Queen's Guard at rigid attention.
IMG_7913.JPG_12/19/2018_3:46 PM: Amber and James with their kids as we
were about to depart the castle complex.
IMG_7915.JPG_12/19/2018_3:48 PM: The exit gate is between the two towers
at the right of his photo.
20181219_145352.jpg_12/19/2018_2:53 PM: A "one way" gate.
20181219_154634.jpg_12/19/2018_3:46 PM: Once you go through the gate you
are back in the "real world".
IMG_7916.JPG_12/19/2018_3:51 PM: After leaving the castle ground we walked
down from Castle Hill into the Windsor old town. This big tree stands
in a small round-about next to the statue of Queen Victoria (hidden by
the tree).
IMG_7922.JPG_12/19/2018_4:15 PM: The old town was colorfully decorated
for the Christmas season. Entrance to the district was crowned by a huge
replica of the queen's crown.
IMG_7923.JPG_12/19/2018_4:16 PM: There's Queen Victoria by the Christmas
tree.
IMG_7925.JPG_12/19/2018_4:19 PM: This massive crown, a replica of the
royal crown, hung at the top of High Street (main street) leading into
the old town.
IMG_7926.JPG_12/19/2018_4:34 PM: Lights and activities on High Street.
IMG_7927.JPG_12/19/2018_4:35 PM: Gingerbread house in a bakery window.
IMG_7928.JPG_12/19/2018_4:46 PM: Looking back toward the castle, a decorated
Christmas tree stood in the round-about next to the statue of Queen Victoria.
We met up with Ann and the Franco kids at a little pub under the streetlight
at the right of this photo. After much searching we found a place for
dinner before boarding a normal (not high speed) train back to London late
that evening.
IMG_7931.JPG_12/19/2018_4:48 PM: The shopping arcade and walk to the train
station. We ate dinner at Bill's, the restaurant just under the Shopping
sign. There are red flags above the windows and tables with umbrellas
outside. Of course, those tables were empty because it was cold!
20181219_180617.jpg_12/19/2018_6:06 PM: Aria was certain she needed one
of the big gold coin wrapped chunks of chocolate. Only if Grampie gets
half! But, since it would have kept me awake, no chocolate.
20181219_184124.jpg_12/19/2018_6:41 PM: On the train back to London after
a long long day.