Then it was just about an hour to the Salisbury Plain and Stonehenge. We had audio guides there as we walked among the giant stones. The commentary explained the construction of the monument as well as offering forth some explanations. It is a shame that we do not know what was in the mind of the builders 3,000 years ago. It was a good thing that we had brought our sun screen since it was in the mid-seventies and, oh, so sunny.
From Stonehenge to Bath was a short drive to the Georgian city of Bath. It was good to have a couple of hours of free time for lunch and a bit of shopping before meeting back at the Roman Baths. Aquae Sulis, as Bath was called by the Romans, dates to the 1st century and the excavation of the original baths has revealed how technically advanced the civilization was. Being the experts in audio guides that we have become, we learned much during the 90 minute tour.
Walking along the Avon River, we enjoyed some beautiful vistas. Then we met Danny, our coach driver, and drove by the Royal Crescent and Circus, some of Bath's most spectacular residences.
A short drive and about 15 minutes later we arrived at our beautiful country manor hotel. We checked in and met for dinner around 19:30. Tonight we had many choices for dinner to make. Starters included honeydew melon with raspberry coulis, potato and leek soup, or a Caesar salad. For our main course we could choose from chicken with a hunter's sauce, cod with prawns and a white sauce with dill, or a vegetarian bean and rice medley. Desserts were yummy and included a meringue nest with cherries and creme, bread pudding with sultanas, and a fresh fruit bowl.
We gathered in the lounge for a group meeting after dinner where we listened to plans for Wednesday. It was good to have a relaxing evening and an early bedtime. Tomorrow we leave Bath for Oxford and Stratford.
Please understand that we have tired to include pictures of all of our travelers, but sometimes members of the group are not always are within the range of the photographer's lens.
Cheerio!
