comments Taking It All In: Stonehenge

Thursday, August 17, 2006

Stonehenge

My whole life, I've wanted to see Stonehenge and now I finally have.

I went to see it this last spring. We were tired and cranky from all the effort of getting there, but in the end it was worth it.

We drove for a good part of the day just to get there, and when we finally did, it was time to go home. By the time we got back it was late, and we were both beat. The sun was in a great place for photographs. Not too bright that it washed out, and not too dark, that we couldn't see good detail.

I expected to see the stone structure in the field, of course. What surprised me was the sheep. There were dozens of them in the field right beside Stonehenge. I found that very odd, that someone would farm so near to such an amazing and historic structure, but then I realized something. Those of us elsewhere in the world think of these far off places of myth, as untouchable, uncomprehensible, and we go view them with the idea in our heads that everyone in the world must revere them as we do. We forget that regardless of where these amazing sights and structures are located, they are still home to someone.

The sheep made it real to me. I don't think I really comprehended that I was there, standing right in front of this amazing site that before then I had only viewed in National Geographic. But the sheep were very real. And now those sheep have given me a new view of Stonehenge. Not a bad view, just a different view, and they've added another dimension to the experience. People built this. With no technology. They moved these massive stones without the aide of any motorization. They moved them past the sheep, and erected them. For a God? Or maybe for more than one god? To observe the universe? Or was it just for the sake of saying, "I did this" That sort of effort was meant for something unbelievable, that's for sure. I only hope those sheep will stand guard near those stones for many more millenia. Whatever it was built for, they've achieved it. It is a monument of all time, and deserves it's place in the history books.

5 Comments:

Blogger JR's Thumbprints said...

I've never been to Stonehenge; however, your photo looks amazing. I'm equally impressed with your other pics, especially Spirit Island.

Sure wish I could've travelled this summer, but I was too busy fighting crime from the inside. Don't worry--as a teacher, not an inmate. I'm free to roam about the world. --JR

August 26, 2006 12:26 AM  
Blogger David said...

good for you that you have finally set foot to the place that you've been dreaming of. i've always wanted to see the stonehenge since i've known about ith through textbooks and stuffs, but i haven't even been to europe! nyahahaha .. ijust wish i could see it in the near future.

ey! i wish that you could also visit my blog.

this is the link:
http://demented-online.blogspot.com

you have a nice blog!

August 26, 2006 12:33 AM  
Blogger cowtownchick said...

Thank you JR and David for your kind comments... I'm glad someone out there appreciates the scenery like I do... :o)

JR? .. Glad to hear you can roam the world... I hope you'll share photos of your wanderings too... :o)

David... I hope you get to travel to your hearts content very soon... :o)

Cheers to you both... :o)

V.

August 26, 2006 8:14 AM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

I loved this photo and it is one of my must see places. I have heard from a lot of people that it is an incredible sight.

Loved it keep em' coming. Your #1 Fan!

October 21, 2006 11:12 AM  
Blogger cowtownchick said...

It is an awesome sight Rae... And to think the people who carted those rocks there did it by raft... or so it's thought...:o)

Val.

October 22, 2006 5:27 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home