Click for larger versions ... When you see St. Michael's Tower rising on the Tor, you know you're at Glastonbury, a favorite destination in all ages for those seeking spiritual solace or enlightenment. |
 Our lodging was on the grounds of the Chalice Well and Gardens, at Little St. Michael's. A quiet, nourishing place from which to see the area. |
 Though it was mid-winter, there was much green and even flowers in the Chalice Well Gardens. The cover on the actual well is the symbolic Vesica Pisces. |
 As the water spills from the well into the garden, one can see why it is also called the "Red Well." |
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 The water from the well collects at the lovely pool near the entrance to the gardens. The "Old Man's Beard" (right) are the seed pods of a type of wild clematis. |
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 The lights of Glastonbury through the doors of St. Michael's Tower on the Tor just before dawn. |
 Once the sun arrived, it moved quickly over the horizon. The wind on top of the Tor at dawn was brisk and icy. |
 A panorama of Glastonbury taken shortly after sunrise. |
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 It was sunny but cool, and we had the grounds of Glastonbury Abbey almost to ourselves.Some say King Arthur and Guinevere are buried here, but that is highly disputed. |
  Only walls or foundations remain of most of buildings of which may be the world's oldest above-ground church. Both on the Abbey grounds ... |
 ... and atop Wearyall Hill are thorn trees that are said to be offshoots of the staff planted by Joseph of Arimathea, uncle of Jesus. (Photo by L. Pankhurst) |
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 One of the prettiest of the many sites we visited was Wells Cathedral. |
 Of course, it was ablaze with stained glass windows ... |
 And had fascinating architectural details from bottom to top. |
 Near by is Vicar's Close, believed to the oldest continuously inhabited street in Europe. Click to see Linda's close-up of one of the houses. One can be rented for holiday use. |
 Avebury is as interesting to me as Stonehenge, with its standing stones placed over acres. Here Linda stands in the entrance between what some believe are the "female" and "male" megaliths. |
 The cold weather and muddy paths limited ones appreciation, but made one feel for pilgrims of old. (Photo by L. Pankhurst) |
 On both my visits, I have been fascinated by the huge trees with their roots that cover the small hill on which they stand. Click here to see their full height. |
 The area covered by the stones encompasses the tiny village of Avebury, including this thatched roof farm. |
On to Canterbury, Rye and Hampton Court ... or use the interactive map below
