Chelsea's Summer in Britian: Salisbury and Lyme Regis

I started the day off by attending a Holy Communion service at Bath Abbey (a Church of England). It was really cool to see the similarities and differences between it, and what I grew up with (Lutheran). Mapuch of the liturgy was the same, but what I found strikingly disappointing was the lack of music in this service. They didn't sing a single hymn or even chant any portions of the liturgy! The organ looked so beautiful perched up in its balcony; I was so sad I wasn't able to hear it! After church, we all loaded the train and took off for Salisbury. Upon arriving, we boarded the Stonehenge Tour Bus. It was really neat; it took you around between the three major sites in the area: Stonehenge, Old Sarum, and the Salisbury Cathedral.

Stonehenge was built by the ancient Britons (the original inhabitants of the British Isles before the Celts, Romans, or Normans took over) with rocks brought down from the mountain quarries of Wales, 149 miles away. It was primarily used as a place of worship and ritual, especially around the summer and winter solstices. Today, there was a group of modern-day Druids (pagan-like ancient group of people) holding a ritual leading up to the summer solstice (that's why there are people inside the stones in my pictures).

The poppys are so pretty!

After Stonehenge, we boarded the bus and headed for Old Sarum, the site of an ancient castle and stone-age settlement on the River Avon before modern-day Salisbury was settled up the river.

Foundations of the cathedral in Old Sarum (in the shape of a cross).

Salisbury Cathedral spire from the distance.

Finally, we headed to the Salisbury Cathedral. This cathedral has the tallest spire in the whole United Kingdom, at 404 feet. It is the fourth tallest spire in the world! It also houses an original copy of the Magna Carta, dating back to the fourteenth century. This medieval document was the first step the world took toward democracy. Also, I was lucky enough to be in the cathedral during a Sunday afternoon worship service!!! I got to hear the beautiful twin organs play and the choirs sing.

After we were finished in Salisbury, we hopped on one more train toward Lyme Regis, where we will be staying for the next couple of nights. Lyme Regis is right on the ocean on the very southernmost side of England. It's a beautiful resort town! We are staying in a lovely bed and breakfast.