I feel I have been very cultured this past week.  Last Tuesday I saw the Moscow Ballet perform Romeo and Juliet in the historic Theatre Royal, on Saturday I traveled to see Stonehenge, and today I have just got back from having high tea at the Pump Rooms.

The ballet was delightful.  The theatre itself was opulent, and the show a traditionally beautiful ballet.

The south continued to put on good weather for our trip to Stonehenge.  This started in Salisbury, probably the most quintessentially British town I have yet visited, with its mismatch of old store fronts and narrow streets.  I loved it!!

Stonehenge itself was initially a little underwhelming, but once you got closer and started to really ponder how long it has been standing there, it became very enchanting.  I didn't want to leave.

That's the Slaughter Stone in the foreground.  Contrary to popular belief, they do not think it was used to make sacrificial offerings by Druids.  Rather the stone can turn a reddish colour when it gets wet, sorry to disappoint those who like a little drama (in case you were wondering, it used to be upright).

The large Sarsen stones are used around the outside and to form a horseshoe shape in the centre.  These remain as they were originally placed.  The smaller 'bluestones' were moved a lot in the centuries after first construction.  There is one theory that the bluestones where thought to have healing powers.

What amazed me was that the Sarsen stones are 7m tall but extend 2m below ground, and to think it was built ~5000 years ago!  There are also a lot of mounds in the surrounding fields, this is because people liked to bury their dead close to Stonehenge.

On the way back to Salisbury we stopped of at Old Sarum.  This used to be the castle and cathedral, and Salisbury was initially established as an auxiliary market town from here.  However, it had been in use as a hill fort since it was established sometime during the Iron Age.  Today there are only remnants of what it used to be, as King Henry VIII gave the order that the stone be stripped from the castle and used elsewhere.

The cathedral, personally I like my churches with a little more... wall 

Some beautiful views to Salisbury

We made it back in time to have a look around Salisbury cathedral.  Salisbury is particularly spectacular from the outside - having the tallest spire in the country.

The west front.

Being a cathedral it was of course very impressive on the inside as well.

Salisbury's other claim to fame is that it houses one of the four remaining copies of the Magna Carta.  It was on display if you were inclined to read it, which I wan't.  It was written on one piece of vellum, but they used medieval abbreviations so the translation is a lot longer.

Then my first high tea.  Very delightful and stunning setting.  The pianist playing 'All I ask of you' from Phantom of the Opera sealed the deal.  Here are some pretty pictures of my meal and surrounds to finish.