Our first morning in the Cotswolds we went on a tour of Stonehenge, Avebury, Lacock and Castle Combe. The mystery of Stonehenge can't overshadow the peacefulness of the site.  It is awe inspiring to consider the age of these stones and what they meant to the people that constructed them so long ago.

Best estimates is this type of stone was brought here from quarries 35 to 40 miles away and constructed as part of an elaborate calendar to mark the summer and winter solstices.  The circle was important to earlier people as a symbol of fertility...which was even more important to survival during those days...more people..more workers...more food etc. The pictures do not do the site justice, it is inspiring to walk around these stones to get a full idea of how large they are...1/3 of them are underground and they weight tons apiece.  The weather this day was iffy but cleared for us as a special welcome to these far away visitors.

Another part of this tour included Avebury, we don't have pics because the weather was not as favorable for us in that location.  We did stand in the center of this larger much more hands-on site to experience the magnetic forces which many say are so evident here.  We were not sure about the forces, but we sure didn't mind stalking the interior of the circle in the pouring rain just to say we did it.  I am sure all the residents of the town though we were a bunch of idiots, but when you come so far to experience a place, you throw caution to the wind regarding your own personal comfort. Besides, there was a coffee shop next door so we were able to get something hot until lunch.  Another interesting landmard of the area which is mostly chalk hills covered by sod, were large horses carved into the hillsides by villagers and visible for miles.  These are old and kept up by scraping away encroaching sod.  Not sure why they do this but it is definitely pulling the tourists in by droves.