Comments | privatemaladict: A drive through the English countryside

privatemaladict

A drive through the English countryside

Aug 21, 2012 18:27

As usual, I am taking way longer to post than I intended. But here, at last, is the second installment of my grand tour of Europe: a little dose of England.

( Bath, Bristol, Salisbury and Stonehenge )

Comments 18

avus September 16 2012, 22:10:48 UTC

I'm jealous. Jane & I went to Salisbury on both our trips to Europe -- we only got to Ireland & England. The second time, we saw Stonehenge, too. That second time, we went to Salisbury right after flying into London, this a week after 9/11. (We experienced no lines wherever we went.) Salisbury seemed a perfect place to recover gently from jetlag. The first day, Jane spent in bed; I spent is wandering -- albeit slowly -- around & through the Cathedral. Your pictures bring the countryside back, along with Stonehenge & the Cathedral. English countryside, and Ireland's, seem.... so prim, and bounded.... and well-used. I'm sure you have a similar sense: in the States, it's bigger, in the west, wilder, too -- land & sky. And a completely different kind of "old", an "old" I can visit, but where I don't belong. The town we live in now is less than 125 years old. The town I grew up in, I recall it's 125th anniversary -- I was about 8 y/o. My grandma -- neighbor and the woman who more-or-less raised me -- she knew people, ( ... )

privatemaladict September 17 2012, 11:08:17 UTC

There's something so homely about the British countryside. You're right, it's a completely different kind of "old". Australia's landscape is beautiful, but harsh and forbidding - it doesn't care about you, and it will kill you given half a chance. Whereas the British countryside has been cultivated for generations upon generations - it has a much closer relationship with humans, or modern humans at least ( ... )

avus September 17 2012, 15:37:37 UTC

That's interesting -- your powerful affinity of London. Jane & I spent time there both trips, perhaps a total of a week. We sampled its cultural glories -- St. Paul, British Museum, Hampton Court, Westminster Abbey, National Gallery, the Tower, etc. From time to time, I still look over the tourist picture-books we got, reviewing memories & feels of so much, so much -- and experienced way too fast ( ... )

privatemaladict September 17 2012, 20:56:07 UTC

I am most definitely a city creature - I almost said that in my last comment. And by "city" I mean proper city - bustling, somewhat crowded and just a little bit rough. I enjoy getting out of the city and don't mind living in the country for short periods, but I dislike the suburbs ( ... )

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