Stonehenge, Salisbury, & Lacock

So my first week in England has come and gone. I've become adjusted to the time change and the school sickness has slightly started to set in. While I love being in the amazing and beautiful city, I thoroughly miss Saint Mike's. I miss seeing all my friends and going to the socials, and I miss giving tours. I also miss Alliot - our cafeteria. It was my main socializing point, and without it, I feel isolated cooking my own meals each night.


However, on an exciting note, the programme took its first trip away from bath this weekend! We went to Stonehenge, Salisbury and Lacock. Though we had to get up super early, it was certainly worth it! Our first stop was Stonehenge, which was amazingly mythical and mysterious, even though they are just a bunch of rocks. For a short history lesson, Stonehenge was actually built in three different phases. The first Stonehenge was basically a bank and a ditch, which you can actually see in the picture. The second Stonehenge consisted of a double circle of bluestone inside the bank & ditch. These blue stones were brought all the way from South Wales. The theory is the stones were transported by the canal. Finally the third and final Stonehenge which we see standing now is a large circle of stones.



Our next stop was the village of Salisbury, which I would love to go back to. I spent all the time wondering the breathtaking Cathedral, which holds one of the four original copies of the Magna Carta. I had lunch in the refectory with a few friends, and then headed back to the bus. However, on the way back, we stopped at St. Thomas Church and saw the original Doom painting.

Inside Salisbury Cathedral

Doom Painting

Next Stop: Lacock! (This part is for you Lauren!) We headed to the Lacock Abby, which was founded by Ela, Countess of Salisbury. Many of the cloisters there were used in the filming of Harry Potter. 

Where Harry let Hedwig fly one winter day

A hallway where Hogwarts students travel from class to class 

The classrooms of Professors McGonagall, Snape & Quirrell

Outside Dumbledore's Office, where Dobby sent Lucius Malfoy flying with the words, "You shall not harm Harry Potter"

Our last stop for the day, dinner at the George Inn in Lacock. It was absolutely Delicious! I had Chicken wrapped in ham, which then looked like it was wrapped in some sort of croissant. Through there was gravy on it, I surprisingly didn't hate it. Then for dessert.... Torte! (which is basically a chocolate mousse pie.... YUM!)