Escape from Paradise with Ingrid Lemme Chalut
Stonehenge, A Dream Realized
First published in The Montauk Sun September 2024 issue, a print publication distributed from Montauk to Manhattan
Edited by John Lomitola and Riki Fenhoff
I adjusted the brim of my warm hat, peering out the coach window as the English countryside whizzed by in a green blur. The early May air was crisp and chilly, but the sun broke through the clouds in fits and starts, casting dappled shadows over the landscape. Beside me, my husband gave my hand a gentle squeeze. "You excited?" he asked, his voice low and soothing.
"Oh, you know it!" I replied, barely containing my bubbly enthusiasm. "I've dreamed of seeing Stonehenge with my own eyes for most of my life!”
Our ship, the grand MS Rotterdam, had docked that morning in Portland, Weymouth, England. Marcus and I, along with a handful of fellow passengers, had eagerly signed up for the daylong excursion to the ancient wonder. Now, as our bus wound through the Wiltshire countryside, I could hardly sit still.
As we turned off the main road, a hush fell over the coach. There, rising from the earth like giants, stood the stones of legend. Our guide, a nice lady, led us from the bus. "And here we are, folks! One of the world's great mysteries, right before your eyes. Stonehenge, in all its glory! Wander the grounds as you please," she advised, "But, please don’t go off the beaten path. And be back on the bus in 2 hours!"
We wandered the grounds in a daze, drinking in the sight of the towering monoliths. I felt the weight of centuries beneath my feet, the thrum of the past humming through the air. The sky was almost clear and blue, which is somehow unusual for this part of the world, especially in early May.
Our Guide’s voice drifted over us, spouting facts and figures. "Stonehenge as we see it today is the result of several construction phases," she recalled, "beginning around 3000 BC with the outer earthwork. The iconic stones, what folks call the Sarsens, came later, around 2500 BC."
My mind whirled with questions. Who were the people that built this marvel? What was its purpose, its meaning? The stones stood mute, holding their secrets close. Silence fell between us, as comfortable as an old shoe. We stood there, two souls united, bathed in the presence of the ancient stones. I felt the drone of the past grow stronger, a vibration that seemed to match the beat of my own heart.
At that moment, I understood. Stonehenge wasn't just a collection of rocks. It was a testament to the enduring spirit of those who came before, a bridge spanning the gulf of time. Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes, but they were happy tears, full of wonder and awe. As the bus pulled away, I settled into my seat, a sense of contentment washing over me. I knew this was a day I'd carry with me forever, the image of those towering stones burned bright in my mind's eye, a testament to the enduring power of human ingenuity and creativity.
Stonehenge is a massive stone monument located on Salisbury Plain in southern England. It was built roughly 4,000 to 5,000 years ago and was constructed in several phases from around 3100 BC to 1600 BC, with the circle of large Sarsen stones placed between 2500 and 2000 BC. The site was already special to Mesolithic and Neolithic people, with early Mesolithic hunter-gatherers digging pits there about 8,000–7,000 years ago.
The story of the circle at Stonehenge itself begins about 5,000 years ago, when the monument builders marked out sacred ground by digging a ditch and throwing up an earth bank. 4,000 years ago, Stonehenge was made up of an outer circle of 30 standing stones called ‘Sarsens', which surrounded five huge stone arches in a horseshoe shape.
Howard Pyle illustration from the 1903 edition of The Story of King Arthur and His Knights scanned and archived at http://www.gallery.oldbookart.com/main.php?g2_itemId=2708 where it was marked as Public Domain.
According to folklore, Stonehenge was created by Merlin, the wizard of Arthurian legend, who magically transported the massive stones from Ireland, where giants had built the structure as a monument to their dead leaders (National Geographic). There is strong archaeological evidence that Stonehenge was used as a burial site, at least for part of its long history, but most scholars believe it served other functions as well—either as a ceremonial site, a religious pilgrimage destination, a final resting place for royalty or a memorial erected to honor and commemorate ancestors.
Researchers say the site was created based on a solar year of 365.25 days to help people keep track of days, weeks and months. The mystery of Stonehenge may finally have been unraveled by researchers who say it's a giant solar calendar that may link the UK to ancient Egypt. Estimated as being erected in 3100 BC, Stonehenge was already 500-1,000 years old before the first pyramid was built.
I couldn’t get enough of taking photos of the circle from every angle possible and asked people on several occasions if they'd be so kind and take photos of us in return for us taking photos of them. We walked slowly back to the visitor center and purchased a book for my grandson David that will hopefully entice him to visit this fascinating place of stones as well in the future.
The long two-hour bus ride back to the cruise ship was worth the trip. As I leaned my head on Marcus' shoulder, I smiled, knowing that no matter where life took us next, we'd face it side by side, hand in hand, just as we two widowers did since we found each other 10 years ago. "Thank you for bringing me here," I said, turning to him. My husband smiled, hugging me once more. "Anywhere you want to go, hon. Well - Almost." he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
Until next month from another interesting location.
Yours in travel ...
Ingrid Lemme-Chalut
Escape From Paradise, Travel-writer & Blogger www.EscapeFromParadise.net
Award-winning TV Host, Publisher, Travel Writer www.MontaukSun.com
Ambassador for www.Seven-Stars.com & 15 Emmy award winning www.aTasteofHistory.org