Laura and Lars Travel: Stonehenge: Stone or Polystyrene?

We picked up our Rental car and headed South-West out of London. The sun was shining and the weather was sweet, yeah. We drove for 1 and a half hours then hit the slow drag that is the Stonehenge Traffic. The entrance has changed in the last few years so I feel that it used to be even more of a nightmare. They made a new information centre and museum, I was enthused to go and find out more information about Stonehenge. (You can choose to read this as sarcasm or not, your choice).

We decided to forgo the shuttle and walk the pastures to the 'Henge'. We tried to time travel and picture what it would have been like 5000 years ago. A game that we like to play here in Europe. The sky was a crisp blue and the ombré shades of green complimented it nicely. The fields seemed to spread out to the end of the world where the world falls off.

With burial mounds to our left and tour buses to our right, we strolled our way to the structures. So much bigger than you would think. Thank goodness they decided, in the sixties, to build a fence around them to keep the public away, the ground was falling beneath them. They would squish anyone in their path. I was amazed by the Lego tongue and grooves that were made to make the stones connect together. Lars told me that they didn't even need them because the stones were so heavy on top, they would never fall off. The stones make a circle formation with some stones still standing, some with concrete filling to keep the illusion. You can tell where they would have been connected in the past. It was a calming experience to be there, even though it was tourist central, everyone was quiet and peaceful. Family, if you are reading this. No Laura was harmed by a dog on this day!

In a photo it would have looked like perfect weather, but the wind made a rag doll out of me. After 2 hours it was time for a cup of tea. We hopped back in our car and made our way to Salisbury. A very quaint town with tiny, old buildings. There are 7 rivers that run through the town, so lots of old mills that have been converted to hip pubs!

We stayed at the City Lodge, and it was adorable. We were on the 3rd floor so we had the slant of the roof. Lars was a little too tall so he spent his time either hunched over or lying down. It was perfectly fine for me! The Salisbury Catherdral is a magnificent building. So incredibly tall. Each spire and panel was covered in such intricate detail. Swirls and vines. Little angry human faces and lion manes were also engraved above doorways. Inside were two amazing features. The worlds oldest clock and part of the Magna Carta. Amazing to think that these two things are kept locked down in this little town. We walked around and found ourselves in a tea room. With teapots and brownie (gluten-free, Shana are you proud?) in hand, we got the best seats in the house. Next to the fire place, where there was no fire... The wind had taken it out of us and I found myself talking to a nearly asleep Lars.

After a cat nap, we got ourselves ready for dinner. We had scouted out a place called The Old Mill. Who knew that this was the place to be on a Saturday night. 2 for 1 cocktails and fish and chips with mushy peas. Yes please. When we had been walking around earlier, we saw a few people and some reckless youths practicing their 180's. On our way back now, all the little places that looked closed down were hip hop happening pubs and clubs. There was an old church that had been converted into a club called The Chapel. We decided that we could have been the parents of the people going into the pubs, so home Jane for us.

The next morning Lars went for a big walk, he was the only person walking around. He saw only one other person. After a breakfast stop at Tesco we made our way to the water. A thousand daffodils later and a wrong turn up a B road we were in our way. Today was a day for spontaneous adventures so when we saw the signs for The Submarine Museum, The Explosion Museum, a Fort, and a Castle, we decided to take the next exit and follow those roads. The Submarine Museum was expensive so no deal, the Explosion Museum was ridiculously expensive so absolutely no deal, the fort was closed, so in to the Castle! It was our first Castle whilst being here and it was very cool to explore the grounds and imagine what it would have been like. We then headed for the town that we had been on our way to- Portsmouth. There really wasn't much happening. It looked as if St Kilda in Melbourne was based on this town, but Melbourne made it way better. We filled our bellies and the petrol tank and headed back to the big smoke.

Back in London, there is definitely a big change in the air. With Daylight Saving Time and Spring season fully in Bloom, there are more smiles, more colours (as much as Londoners can do), and more opportunities to see the sun! Very much looking forward to Summer, hello Vitamin D!