We've had this week off again, so we've taken the opportunity to do quite a bit of site-seeing, both in Bath and in surrounding areas. Consequently, I've gotten a little behind in my blogging...sorry!
Tuesday we took a bus from Bath to Bristol to Wells to Glastonbury. Travel by bus is not nearly as comfortable as that by train, but it is cheaper and got us where we wanted to be. Glastonbury is an interesting town...very "touristy" and quite "new-agey"...the kind of place that makes you stop and think, "Wait...people actually LIVE here?" Not really my cup of tea, but it was fun to walk around for the day!
A short walk from the Chalice Well was the base of the Glastonbury Tor...and a long, windy walk from the base was the tower. The tower sits 521 feet above sea level and was originally built in the 14th century. We heard a rumor that the slopes of the Tor are maintained by grazing sheep and cattle; although there were no animals on the hill to confirm that during our visit, an overabundance of sheep, um, "poo" provided ample evidence that this is indeed the case.
Tuesday we took a bus from Bath to Bristol to Wells to Glastonbury. Travel by bus is not nearly as comfortable as that by train, but it is cheaper and got us where we wanted to be. Glastonbury is an interesting town...very "touristy" and quite "new-agey"...the kind of place that makes you stop and think, "Wait...people actually LIVE here?" Not really my cup of tea, but it was fun to walk around for the day!
Our first stop was the Chalice Well Gardens. Legend has it that Joseph of Arimathea hid the Chalice of the Last Supper beneath the waters of this natural spring, after which these waters began to flow red. It is now considered a "sacred place" and is well-equipped with signs instructing visitors to participate in "quiet reflection". The gardens around the spring were not in full bloom yet, but the whole area was quite lovely. There is a place where the water is drinkable, so of course we had to try...the taste was strangely familiar, almost reminded me of Pump Room water, only colder... :)
A short walk from the Chalice Well was the base of the Glastonbury Tor...and a long, windy walk from the base was the tower. The tower sits 521 feet above sea level and was originally built in the 14th century. We heard a rumor that the slopes of the Tor are maintained by grazing sheep and cattle; although there were no animals on the hill to confirm that during our visit, an overabundance of sheep, um, "poo" provided ample evidence that this is indeed the case.
After the hike up to the Tor, we wandered through the Rural Life Museum and then made our way back into town to visit the Glastonbury Abbey ruins. Parts of the abbey date back to 1186, and it holds the tombs of King Arthur and Lady Guinevere. Within the complex is also one of two "Holy Thorn" trees. Another legend indicates that the original Thorn Tree was the staff of Joseph of Arimathea which he placed in the ground upon his arrival in Glastonbury in the first century AD.
Our final adventure in Glastonbury involved a long and treacherous walk along a poorly-mapped route to reach Gog & Magog. This journey took us along backroads and muddy paths, over fences, and directly across a field of cows (who graciously opted to continue eating and ignore our presence) to two ancient oak trees. By ancient, I mean one is dead (Gog) and the other, if not also dead, painfully close (Magog). Let's just say I'm glad I saw it once and took pictures, so that I never feel the need to return.
No comments:
Post a Comment