May 8 Stonehenge and Tetbury

We have no WIFI in our cottage, but here we are at a pub, so here's yesterday's post.

Today we left Venice with a sigh, and two hours later we were at Gatwick Airport.  Although we had been promised rain, the weather was blustery but fine.  

The door to our apartment in Venice, taken from the courtyard.

Grandma Beverley thought Alanna looked cold, so she put her in a straightjacket.

A view of Venice from the air. 

We drove straight to Stonehenge, and had our chance to admire the 4,000 year old structure.  Although little is really known about the purpose of the stone circle, the mystery of its origins only adds to its allure. 

Ian, taken from the passenger seat. Not only ishe on the opposigte side of the road, but he's driving a huge vehicle.

The gang at Stonehenge

Some picturesque rocks we happened across.

I am particularly proud of this shot.

Alanna, Ian and Margaret walked up to the barrows  and looked down the path that led to Woodhenge and the river Avon. 

The barrows near Stonehenge.  The fields were full of daisies, dandelions, and something called toadflax.

Ian and Alanna on the top of a bell shaped barrow.

We followed the directions of the GPS and had the most idyllic English drive. (I wanted to say “amazing”, Alanna was going for “phenomenally picturesque”, and Grandma votes for “spectacularly expected”, so we’re going with English.  We went through villages with thatched roof cottages, past Tudor style houses, substantial brick manors set back from the road, and tiny row houses whose front doors opened onto the street, seemingly within inches of passing cars.  We saw huge oaks, hedgerows, blossoming hawthorn and daffodils.  It’s the second time Ian and I have seen spring this year, and it is beautiful. 

St. Mary's Church in Tetbury

After meeting our charming hosts and seeing the lovely cottage, we headed off to an upscale pub for upscale pub food.  Tetbury is just beautiful, and my only regret is that Ian still has to miss so much of the scenery due to driving – this time on the other side of the road.