Comments on: Travel #9: Stonehenge. It’s all you ever dreamed.

By: Single Mother Ahoy

Single Mother Ahoy — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 07:42:28 +0000

If you come at Solstice, it’s a massive free for all around the stones with music and dancing… and probably the hope that one of the stones will fall over and henge a few hippies into the ground.
Incidentally, when Stonehenge was first built, it was on chalk downland with no grass. So it would have looked slightly more… striking against a backdrop of pure white. But still, it is ultimately a tourist attraction made from old stones that you’re not even allowed to touch unless you’re the leader of the free world or it’s the longest or shortest day of the year.

By: Laura walter

Laura walter — Fri, 30 Jan 2015 05:40:51 +0000

I use to work at Stonehenge in my teens….. I never understood what so many people found fascinating about it!
I’ve always lived in the area, and my parents have too. My mum always talks about the time when she could walk across the fields and right up to the stones to play!

My grandparents always talked about the time my grandad (along with other workers from Boscombe Down) had to take cranes up there to put the stones back in place…….. Doesn’t seem so exciting now does it! That at one point the stones fell and for me that’s when the ‘ magic ‘ left.

I will always pass the knowledge onto my children about the time their great grandad put the stones back!!

I hope the rest of your trip to the UK was better

By: Bethan

Bethan — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 23:20:04 +0000

I am yet another person that lives a stones throw from Stonehenge (a bit further than a Stonehenge stones throw though I must say) & I agree & feel very sorry for those that pay to see something you can see from the road for free but I completely disagree that Stonehenge is just another thing to tick off the bucket list.
I always advise people that if at all possible they should try & see Stonehenge at summer solstice as it is an event that truly captures the spirit of Stonehenge & is unlike anything else ever. I was lucky enough to take a group of Canadian friends once & it was one of the best experiences of mine & theirs lives.
I understand that this is a very tricky thing to witness as a tourist as it only happens 1 day a year but it is free, everyone is allowed to touch the stones & there’s even a party in the middle of them.
But for those less fortunate, maybe if you’d have listened to your audio guide & learnt a little more about it, other than it being a very old collection of rocks, then maybe you would have gained enough understanding of it to appreciate it.
It must be tricky as an American to grasp the concept of history seeing as even my house is older than your country. Stonehenge is not just a part of English heritage but a showcase of the wonders of the human race. Why do you need everything to be a false overreaction for it to be engaging?

By: mylene

mylene — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:59:58 +0000

PS loved the doctored photo versus reality and I noticed Obama hadn’t much to say about Stonehenge. Poor sod

By: mylene

mylene — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 20:53:38 +0000

I agree with Stan. Avebury really is a mystical experience and no tourists or hype. If you haven’t already gone too far away from the area do go. Otherwise you’ve just missed the real deal of henges. Don’t you hate it when you’ve gone all that way and some joker says you missed the best thing I live near Salisbury. Stonehenge can be magic. a few years ago a Fench company set up a fire garden amongst the stones with sculptures made of fire. Here’s the link
http://blog.stonehenge-stone-circle.co.uk/category/fire-garden-at-stonehenge/
You can blag it when you go home – ‘man you haven’t lived till you’ve been in stonehenge for the firegarden!’ and google pictures of Firegarden stonehenge.

I’m in Buenos Aires – probably missing the best bits right now! enjoy the rest of your trip. keep posting

By: stan

stan — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 13:21:43 +0000

I dislike stonehenge I would prefer to say hate the stones but that’s a bit harsh so dislike is fairer.
I am a local bus/taxi driver and have been there several times, every time a tourist normally American or Australian ask me for my opinion I tell them that 25 miles further on is an even better stone circle where you don’t pay an extortionate fee to get in to and you can touch the stones, there is even a picturesque little village with a village shop and local pub and the stone circle is bigger and older than Stonehenge which isn’t a henge and the name of this little idilic place is Avebury.

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:47:21 +0000

Sorry, I should say the lady who asked you to call her a C***.

By: Emma

Emma — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 03:42:07 +0000

“They asked us not to touch the sheep, which was the first time anyone has ever said that to me.”

Haha, this really made me laugh, I wonder what prompted them to add this little request into the tour? Maybe they had complaints from the sheep?? = )

Love your blog. I live in Saliabury so always interesting to hear an opinion from someone who does not, especially someone from America as I also love America. (From what I’ve seen (on TV) )
Really hope to visit at some point in my life!

By the way, the lady? who called you a c*** ….. Her name wasn’t Gemma by any chance was it?

Thanks,

Emma x

By: Francesca Stout

Francesca Stout — Thu, 29 Jan 2015 00:42:47 +0000

As someone who has lived 9 miles from Stonehenge for most of her life, I can understand you feeling underwhelmed by Stonehenge. It’s also interesting to read what it’s like experiencing Stonehenge now you have to go via the visitors’ centre. It doesn’t sound like it’s an improvement. As a wheelchair user though, I am glad that the shuttle is at least accessible.

Is it a bad thing that when I read your blog, I imagine that you speak in the voice of stand up comedian Reginald D. Hunter?