Let's go back a couple of years...

Try about 2000 years! Last weekend our group took a trip that was definitely a "back in time" visit (although really, everything here is "back in time"...) Our long, very cold day was split between Stonehenge and the city of Bath, located on the other side of the island from London. 

Stonehenge was thought to have been built about 2200-2500 years ago (no one really cares about that 300 year difference except Americans. 300 years is a long time for us.) 

1/3 of each stone is actually buried underground to keep it upright; one can only imagine the work it took to place them in the ground.

Or the work to transport it! Most of these bluestones came from the mountains in Wales, over 165 miles away. 165 miles is no problem in a semi truck, but they most likely pulled the stones on sleds or log rollers. 

As with any ancient monument, there are numerous myths surrounding its origins. Some contend that Merlin sent for the stones from Africa and had them transported by giants. Others say it was the Devil who was employed by Merlin to take the stones from an old woman's backyard. The Devil supposedly offered the woman as much money as she could count while he gathered the stones- she was delighted, thinking she was going to be a fabulously rich woman. Unfortunately for her, it took him only seconds. He then flew to Stonehenge to deposit them in the earth, dropping a few along the way which can apparently still be found today.

We were about as bored with Stonehenge as you probably were reading this, but it was one of those sites you cannot miss. (:

Bath was a bit more exciting. Ok, that was a complete understatement, it was much much more interesting. 

Bath is home to... can you guess?

The Baths. Roman ones, to be exact. I'm sure that most of you don't think, "I'm going to take a Roman bath today instead of a normal one" but trust me, if it had been 2000 years ago, you would have wanted to!

The Roman Bath complex was basically a glorfied spa. The hot spring providing the water for the baths is the only one of its kind in England, so the Romans picked a good spot when they started building around 60 AD. 

The entrance. 

Despite the fact that it was a bitterly cold day, it felt rather balmy walking around this particular bath. We were warned about every 5 feet, however, that NO ONE was to enter the water. I think they made a good point- who knows what's gotten in there in the last 2000 years?

Besides, I wasn't really wearing my swimsuit.

The Baths also double as a temple to the goddess Minerva. There were several baths reserved only for her. Lucky.

This is the Pump Room above the Baths, a beautiful room used in the 19th century as both a restaurant and a ballroom. The Pump Room plays a prominent role in Jane Austin's Northanger Abbey. Though it might be open to the public now, the prices certainly weren't(: 

And look what we discovered in the gift shop?! The Latin version of Harry Potter. You know a book is good when that happens. I'm sure it will be dubbed a classic anytime soon and published in a leather-bound 2nd edition. Anytime now. 

A few more views of the city of Bath:

Very appropriately named. Their tea was delicious. 

And that's all for now. Cheers!