Stonehenge 07.03.2016


Image for Stonehenge

As I'm in London anyway, I couldn't skip Stonehenge. One of the most famous tourist attraction in England. Though it was not that easy to get there without a car.
It's just about 90 miles away from London, but there is no direct train, after train you have to take a bus which has its own complicated schedule you have to fit in. Fortunately there is a bus tour which takes you from London to Stonehenge and back.
The bus arrives to a special parking near visitor office which is about 1-2 miles away from the stones. There you have to buy a ticket and then take another small bus to make the rest of the way.

Photo 971
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 971
(cc) by Rushan

There are so many grazing sheep along the road and it looks so beautiful.
Grass colour varies in this place a lot from a bit withered to extremely saturated green.

Photo 972
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 972
(cc) by Rushan

And finally here it is: Stonehenge.

Photo 973
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 973
(cc) by Rushan

It looks nice on pictures, but you can't walk inside the stones. It is fenced all over the perimeter. To be honest I couldn't imagine you need to fence these stones. It's so huge, one can't simply take it away :)

Photo 974
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 974
(cc) by Rushan

Regarding "take away" it's really interesting. That kind of stone which was used for the construction can't be found in this area. Such stones are in another part of island. And only there. Stonehenge was built around 5000 years ago. Which means people were able to move such a huge stones already that time through half an island.

Photo 975
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 975
(cc) by Rushan

Most likely stones were moved with log. They even have a stand here where you can try to pull the stone. Then it will display the number how many additional people like you is needed to make it move. In my case I would need 90 people more.

Photo 976
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 976
(cc) by Rushan

Nearby they have model of a village where workers were living. By modern standards looks very simple.

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(cc) by Rushan
Photo 977
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 978
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 978
(cc) by Rushan

Normally there are too many tourists. Fortunately I was lucky as I visited the place in low season, so I had some room. Though even than I had to be patient enough sometimes to make a shot without dozen of people in the front line.

Photo 979
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 979
(cc) by Rushan

Nearby there is a road. However there is no direct access to stones from it. Only through visitor centre. They need to make some money.

Photo 980
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 980
(cc) by Rushan

Nobody knows exactly for what it was built. Only some guesses around. Most likely there are some religion aspect. The stones are placed in the way that sunrise during summer solstice and sunset during winter solstice will go through the stones in the specific way and mark with light a special place. There is even a special stone outside construction which shows the direction of sun light.

Photo 981
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 981
(cc) by Rushan

Summer and winter solstice is special time here. All the fences are removed, people are allowed to walk inside, touch the stones. They make some local event here, music, dances, then they meet the sunrise. People observe the sunlight goes through the stones. Must be beautiful. Normally several thousands people come to visit summer event. And in winter it's too cold (:

Photo 982
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 982
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 983
(cc) by Rushan
Photo 983
(cc) by Rushan