A Postcard From Stonehenge

A Visit To The Great Monument In Wiltshire  
  

Many years back I caught a fleeting glimpse of one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites as the bus on which I was passenger sped along the A303 in Wiltshire. Since then I always had the intention to return and take a closer look at this intriguing accumulation of prehistoric stones.

So, earlier this month, having spent some time in South West England, I decided en route to London, that I would stop off at Salisbury and at last visit the ancient site.

I was advised at the hotel where I was staying to visit the site either early or late in the day as there would be less visitors at this time. However, when I got there after 10am in the morning it was evident that there was no avoiding the masses of sight seers. Up to 20 buses were already in the car park with lines of eager anticipating people making their way up the slope towards the stones.

It was a breezy grey October morning with the sun trying valiantly to break through the sombre clouds  to the east. The pathway that encircles the site was a continuous flow of visitors/tourists from every corner of the world, all capturing their own view of the monument with their various technological imaging devices.

Set in the wide open expanse of Salisbury plain, Stonehenge was indeed impressive, particularly when you got this close to these massive stones known as Sarsens towering up to 9 metres high and raising the inevitable question of how and why they were brought and placed in position here.

So much has already been written of Stonehenge and perhaps more may be written in the future with the possibility of further archaeological findings coming to light . It impresses the visitor for sure, undoubtedly mystifies and like so many archaeological wonders, leaves much to the imagination.

Around 800,000 people visit this World Heritage site each year. It’s a remarkable place that truly has a special atmosphere. I walked away satisfied that I had made my journey there and somewhere deep inside I had a strange eerie feeling of being there before.

Like the Pyramids or the Great Wall or Machu Picchu, it’s just one of those places we should all see at least once.

Find out more about Stonehenge Here

            This artice by Admin PW - October 2013