Continuation From This Morning's Journal

(I am taking advantage of the computer while it is available....and no one is looking over my shoulder for their turn.)

We had a delightful time in Saltair today. We toured an old wool mill which has been converted into an art gallery, bookstore, fabric & rug shop plus a restaurant. It has the largest collection of Hadney's art anywhere. Since he is not a favorite, I enjoyed the other displays more.

The day before yesterday (Wednesday) we left early for Salisbury. This was a coach tour with twenty-six of us and a great guide. The Salisbury Cathedral looked much larger than it appears on postcards. It is beautiful and majestic. One of the only two original Magna Carters is housed inside. We enjoyed looking at it but could not read Latin.

From there our tour went to Stonehenge which is out in nowhere. The guide said it was originally built in a wooded area, but the trees have long since been gone. It stands all alone in an open field. Our guide debunked the New Age version (which I had been told by my Cincinnati neighbor) and gave us a more realistic and sensible explanation. Think about the pyramids and how they were built (dirt ramps leading to the top), and you will have the same story for how the top horizonal stones were erected. I was not expecting to enjoy this venture as much as I did. I would like to take my photos and paint it when I get home (and the studio gets put together).

From Stonehenge, we drove to Bath. This is the home of the Roman baths because of the local hot springs. The elaborate baths were interesting. We moved quickly through the museum so we could go upstairs to the PUMP ROOM TEA ROOM. This was a real treat!!! The room was huge with a large grand piano. White table clothes and fresh flowers on each table. The napkins were thick and, what looked like, hand stitched. It was all so very lovely as the locals would say.

We have eaten our way through and around England. It is disgraceful I know, but it is a "chance in a lifetime" as I keep saying! We enjoyed crepes one night at a small corner crepe shop (mine was asparagus and salmon!) Pizza has been our evening meal a couple of nights. Every afternoon we stop in a local tea room for tea and scones. They are definitely not the South Beach diet!

Howard and I spent one day by ourselves while Denny worked from their hotel room and Sue took it easy. We walked all over downtown London. It was loads of fun. I only wish the dollar was not so weak. I mentioned a few days ago that it was only worth half the pound. That makes one stop and think before spending. One young clothing clerk told us how he LOVED to go to New York and purchase his clothes because everything in America was sooo-o-o-o inespensive.

It is 5:00 here in Saltair. We are going to take a taxi back into town at 7:30. The young Anglican minister who runs the coffee house is preparing dinner for us tonight. We had lunch there this afternoon. His parents arrived late this afternoon. His father worked with Denny years ago. They have remained close ever since. They had a happy reunion this afternoon.

We leave for Stratford tomorrow morning. Denny and Sue will be going back to London. They are going to see Mary Poppins tomorrow night and back to Michigan on Sunday. We will be another week here in England enjoying the sights and sounds of "Stratford upon the Avon". It is Shakespear's hometown. No doubt we will take in a play.

I hope all of you who read this are doing well. I will write next time from Stratford.

Blessings,
Martha