England is probably the most proper of all the countries I have visited. Everything has a reason for being and nothing is done without some ceremony. It is like going back in time in some respects.
The sights are majestic and can transport one back in time.
Parliament Building is huge and domineering.
London Bridge is hidden in the mist --- exactly what you would expect in London!
Westminster Abbey, the church of kings and queens is one place I cannot see enough of. Too bad you can't photograph the inside. There is just so much to see there. I think one could get hidden there for days, reliving the history that has taken place there.
Of course, there isn't much to see of Number 10 Downing Street in this picture, but certainly for such an unassuming place, many decisions have been made there that have impacted not only Britain but the world.
Picadilly Circus is festive at holiday season and is always a bustling place.
Trafalger Square and all of the squares bring more of history to the passerby.
Leaving London, one cannot miss a stop at the Bard's House in Stratford Upon Avon. William Shakespear is just one of the many great authors in England's rich literary past, but he is definitely the most famous of all.
This year I added to my England gallery with trips to Windsor Castle, Blenheim Place, Bath, Dorchester and the Isle of Wight.
Windsor Castle is huge and impressive and there is really nothing more one can say that "Wow!"
There are still places where one can see the scorch marks from the fire that caused much damage a few years ago. The St. George's Chapel is much smaller that it appears on TV but it is lovely, indeed.
Blenheim Palace near Oxford was the home of Winston Churchill and the museum rooms are extremely interesting from an historical point of view.
The entrance is accessed from a long path in an among the sheep and opens into a lovely courtyard.
The gardens are exquisite and feature mazes. One can spend hours and hours simply exploring the gardens of Blenheim.
Bath is truly one of England's wonderful places.
I was impressed with the tow path and the canal as I walked from my hotel down a path into the city. The locks are manually opened after the water levels are equalized. This is a very leisurely way to see the countryside.
The Roman Baths are marvelous of engineering. The source of the water is the same today as back when the baths were built.
The water is greenish from exposure to the sun. It was crystal clear in the days of the Romans, but the stucture was covered at that time. One can "feel" the history of this place. The Temple/Baths flourished between the first and fith centuries A.D.
The Bath Abbey is a beautiful Gothic stucture, which stands at the centre of the city. The stained glass is truly magnificent. The windows at the East End contain 56 scenes in the life of Christ.
Dorchester in Dorset was the home of Thomas Hardy. His early writings took place in this cottage.
The cottage is surrounded by lovely gardens. It is easy to understand how Hardy to write great literature in this place.
An interesting part of Dorchester is an area which is being developed under the auspices of Prince Charles. His dedication to the enviroment has led to the establishment of an area that is true to the environment and the architecture of the area. It is interesting to note that the sister city to Dorchester is Lübek, Germany (seen in Germany page). The picture here is a replica of the city gate of Lübek.
Another interesting part of Dorchester is Maiden Castle, an earthen fort which was laid out in 500 BC over the remains of a Neolithic settlement. A walk around the Castle, high on its hills afford a beautiful view of Dorchester and the surrounding area as seen above.
The Isle of Wight is a lovely area. A ferry ride from the mainland takes one to this quiet and charming area. It was home to Alfred Lord Tennyson and a climb to Tennyson Down reveals the gorgeous Chalk Cliffs that are a magnet to those who want to draw and paint them.
A further climb brings one to the Tennyson Monument which stands at the hight point on the Isle of Wight. On a clear day the surrounding area can be seen. There is a serene beauty that sweeps over one who walks the Downs. The other side of the Monument will take the avid walker to the Needles.
