Stonehedge and Bath

Upon arriving at the University back in January I was quickly faced with the task of establishing allegiances to various student groups, during a seminal ritual commonly known as 'club day.' I joined the Travel Society, presented with an itinerary of already planned trips to places far and wide. However, it was not until the middle of March that I finally was willing and able to attend an excursion. 

Up until a few years ago, visitors could walk amongst the stones and touch them, but too many people were removing pieces from the site to keep as free souvenirs, so now you're kept 100 feet away and get to walk a lap around the monument.

Also, Stonehedge is located in the middle of two bisected freeways, though this is often omitted from pictures and postcards, and a herd of sheep have been added in an adjacent area of field grass for visual interest, I presume.

Situated on the opposite side of England from Colchester, spanning nearly the entire width of the country, in fact, and built in the mouth of an extinct volcano, with hots springs beneath, is the historical Roman city of Bath. Famous residents have included author Jane Austen, artist Thomas Gainsborough, and most recently Nicholas Cage, who had to put his Bath abode up for sale in order to cope with the financial crisis.

Unfortunately, much of Bath is overflowing with shops and attractions intended to pander to tourists (a designation of which fortunately I am spared thanks to my student status) To this end, child labor/humiliation/abuse disguised as street performance serves to entertain enthusiastic visitors:

Sad (note the head bowed in despair) Scottish Terrier sign

It should be mentioned that we never actually saw the Baths of Bath, since there was an entrance fee, and personally, I prefer showers.