Stonehedge
Oct 15th, 2007 | 07:16 AM
#43
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 75
Likes: 0
I can think of five types of people when it comes to Stonehenge.
Some people are hunting something "spectacular" to tick off. They may or may not be impressed by it - some people go "WOW", others just see a "pile of rocks". So if you are "spectacle" hunters it will be very subjective whether you think it was worth the trip or not. There are bigger things to be seen in every town.
"New Age" people always seem impressed by it - they always report feeling the "energy" and the "spirit" of it. If you are one of these mystic types it will probably be the most impressive place you visit in the UK.
Artistic people, or picturesque-hunters look at the shape of it, and its position in the landscape, and its outline against the sky. I think it's beautiful - you may not.
Other people go to see something astonishing built with amazing precision with limited resources. If you are an "engineering" or "mathematical" type you will just keep thinking "how did they do it!"
And some people go to see something huge built by our ancestors an incredibly long time ago. If you have a sense of historical perspective, you will find yourself staring into the abyss of historical time thinking "people very like me were on this spot so long ago, and I can still see what they built - amazing !"
Most people fall into more than one category, of course - the more of your buttons it presses, the better you will like it. What you get out of it depends on what mind you take there....
Some people are hunting something "spectacular" to tick off. They may or may not be impressed by it - some people go "WOW", others just see a "pile of rocks". So if you are "spectacle" hunters it will be very subjective whether you think it was worth the trip or not. There are bigger things to be seen in every town.
"New Age" people always seem impressed by it - they always report feeling the "energy" and the "spirit" of it. If you are one of these mystic types it will probably be the most impressive place you visit in the UK.
Artistic people, or picturesque-hunters look at the shape of it, and its position in the landscape, and its outline against the sky. I think it's beautiful - you may not.
Other people go to see something astonishing built with amazing precision with limited resources. If you are an "engineering" or "mathematical" type you will just keep thinking "how did they do it!"
And some people go to see something huge built by our ancestors an incredibly long time ago. If you have a sense of historical perspective, you will find yourself staring into the abyss of historical time thinking "people very like me were on this spot so long ago, and I can still see what they built - amazing !"
Most people fall into more than one category, of course - the more of your buttons it presses, the better you will like it. What you get out of it depends on what mind you take there....
Oct 25th, 2007 | 10:54 AM
#44
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
Hi clucchesi
I saw Stonehenge in early May of last year. We did the inner circle tour in the evening and it was amazing. It was a highlight of our whole trip. We went back the next day during regular hours and it was very busy, with lots of people clustered together.
Definetely see it if you can. It is worth it...But try to do the inner circle tour if you can. Here is a link, again.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.878
I saw Stonehenge in early May of last year. We did the inner circle tour in the evening and it was amazing. It was a highlight of our whole trip. We went back the next day during regular hours and it was very busy, with lots of people clustered together.
Definetely see it if you can. It is worth it...But try to do the inner circle tour if you can. Here is a link, again.
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server/show/nav.878
Oct 26th, 2007 | 12:50 PM
#45
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 97
Likes: 0
Highly recommend the before or after hours Stonehenge (they call it "private access" at English Heritage).
I did this a few years ago, and it wasn't difficult to arrange it myself online directly with English Heritage. I was staying in Salisbury, so arranged a taxi to meet me near my lodgings early enough to get there before sunrise. Absolutely worth it, had to "share" the stones with only 4 other people. Sunrise there was inspirational. Return to Salisbury was by bus, but since the first one was several hours away, I got lucky and bummed a ride to Amesbury with a local, and caught the bus there. Much more efficient, if you're lucky enough to find someone going that way. This was midwinter, so more frequent bus service may be available other times of year.
I did this a few years ago, and it wasn't difficult to arrange it myself online directly with English Heritage. I was staying in Salisbury, so arranged a taxi to meet me near my lodgings early enough to get there before sunrise. Absolutely worth it, had to "share" the stones with only 4 other people. Sunrise there was inspirational. Return to Salisbury was by bus, but since the first one was several hours away, I got lucky and bummed a ride to Amesbury with a local, and caught the bus there. Much more efficient, if you're lucky enough to find someone going that way. This was midwinter, so more frequent bus service may be available other times of year.
Oct 26th, 2007 | 02:38 PM
#46
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
I saw Stonehenge with a Study Abroad group several summers ago in college. So it was a guided tour. As my tour guide warned us, "the stones don't get up and dance for you". As long as you just expect it to be what it is, a bunch of old rocks, it's worth the visit just to say you've been there.
