SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST 2014

  SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST 2014 - Holiday Inn Plymouth, Armada Way, Plymouth

•  LONDON

 Up at 6 am to join the breakfast buffet at 6:45 am so that we could meet our fellow travelers and board the bus at 7:45 am.  We met our bus driver (James) who turned out to be a phenomenal driver, and our guide (Ian MacLean Walker) who was a font of historical information throughout our tour.

We drove around RAF Northolt, where the late Diana, Princess of Wales' body was repatriated to Britain, while Ian told some stories of that time and the outrage of the people.

• SALISBURY - STONEHENGE

Our first stop was the iconic Stonehenge - a UNESCO World Heritage site.  The site is thought to date from 3000 BC and was supposedly completed around 1600 BC.  Just seeing the site sends goosebumps down your spine!

 

 The iconic view of Stonehenge's sarsens.  Due to problems with vandalism and graffiti, access to the actual stones is limited and well protected.
  

 

The sarsens from another angle. 

 

The end sarsens, also another angle. 

  

Awe-inspiring.  It's hard to imagine anything being this old and well-preserved.

  

In this one, you can see the cement repair that the Historic Parks had to make.

 

Burial mounds in the distance from Stonehenge.

 

One of the Heel Stones.  They are thought to have astronomic significance as their shadows line up during the solstices.

 

 Gord at Stonehenge.  He couldn't hear any bees.

 

 Julie at Stonehenge.  I didn't want to hear any bees.

• PLYMOUTH

 Our next stop was in Plymouth.  This is the port famous for the Mayflower and the Pilgrims. The area where we stopped is known as "The Barbican".

 

Percy the Prawn, the mascot of Plymouth.

 

The gate leading to the stairs where the Pilgrims supposedly left for America in July 1620.  

 

Back view of the gate and stairs.

 

 Palmerston Fort in Plymouth.

  

This inn is the "Admiral MacBride", across the street from the Mayflower steps.  The actual steps that the Pilgrims used to board the Mayflower are under the Women's Toilets inside!

 

 This bronze statue sits at the entrance to the Naval Memorial in the Plymouth Hoe.  It commemorates those lost in the wars whose bodies were never recovered.  There are walls surrounding the memorial listing the names of all who perished.   

 

We stopped by the glassblowers during our travels, and saw a set of these drunken mouse wine glasses.  I loved them, but they were pricey and I was sure I'd break them either during our travels or on the flight home so I didn't purchase any.