If there is one place where the rural wins over the urban its got to be in England. The countryside is beautiful.
We experienced driving through the country-side, with our first stop at the Stonehenge. The ancient monument of blue-stones has a lot of mystery that surrounds it. Its actually nothing one may say, they wouldnt be entirely wrong. But if architecture is all about place-making then the Stonehenge is definitely architecture. As a place its significance is very strong and very rooted. The perfect English Meadow of green grass and blue skies is all over the horizon. The breeze here is spectacular and is Stonehenge is definitely a picnickers paradise. Not that the authorities will ever allow you to picnic there!
The drive is wonderful, my first in England! The GPRS was to the rescue as it even notified of the speed limits and the picture points. The infrastructure makes a world of a difference in the quality of the place.
After the Stonehenge, we clearly wanted more of the countryside as we drove listlessly and intuitively we stumbled upon the city or Town of Bath. The road leads down-hill and slowly but certainly unfolds the Georgian town of Bath. The historic city looks so sublime and perfect. The mist in the air only enhanced the mysterious nature of the place. Its a slice of history all the way. Walking up to the Crescent, its a housing estate built on a hill in theb shape of a crescent one passes the house of Jane Austen. It looks modest yet inspiring. Mansfield Park, the novel was penned by Austen in the setting of Bath. A literature buff, its almost like treading onto the scene! The crescent though is spectacular. Simple housing, in function much like those seen in London but in soul its music.
Everything in Bath is within walking distance, if you can bear the weather then even better. The flowers were in bloom in July and impressions are made. The parks, the follies are all in place, a stage set for action! It stirs the creative energies whilst at the same time providing that much need relaxation and calming the nerves. If I ever had my way to choose a place to dissapear into for novel-writing or etching the canvas it would be Bath! For sure! The means, am not sure!
From its name, it even has the thermal Baths and a very stocked nature park. The day we spent at Bath was also the graduation day at the University. The whole town looked extremely festive with students in their cape and proud parents by their sides. At lunch we bumped into plenty of Graduation lunches and could almost read the conversation at every table! The parents, the graduates all ever-smiling, celebrating the moment and chirping about the future! Oh what fun it is! It reminded me of my wonderful years at college and then graduation. Being there spontaneously was the best part of it. Bath wasnt on our itenary but it turned out to be so unforgettable.
Probably thats what a traveller really needs, an open mind! Then the journey is that much more fun and that much more spectacular. Lessons after an adventure!
Another lesson, Bath completely proves that architecture is indeed Frozen Music, complete with cresendos and diminuendos.
A journey is wonderful when it doesnt make you yearn for home and complete when it does make you want to go home! This one was surely wonderful.
It made me hum this tune all the way back!
Moon river, wider than a mile
I’m crossing you in style some day
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, i’m goin’ your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
(moon river, wider than a mile)
(i’m crossin’ you in style some day)
Oh, dream maker, you heart breaker
Wherever you’re goin’, i’m goin’ your way
Two drifters, off to see the world
There’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after that same rainbow’s end, waitin’ ’round the bend
My huckleberry friend, moon river, and me
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