Moody low fog and the heavy damp air surrounding us did nothing to lessen my anticipation and excitement. My eyes strained to see something, anything. Treetops with leafless branches teased through the drizzly mist.
Then, the fog began to change. The thick low layer sat heavy on the ground, but the upper layer was beginning to thin out. Light was beginning to filter through. Suddenly, there it was in the distance. My eyes grew wide with excitement. I felt an unstoppable smile spread across my face. Stonehenge, rising out of the mist! Incredible. I could hardly believe it. Goosebumps rose on my arms. My heart rate picked up. I caught my breath. I was really seeing this amazing place in person. This was a place I had wanted to visit for such a long time.
We followed the sign and turned onto a side road leading to a small parking area. I quickly stepped out of the car onto the gravel. The cool moist air caressed my face and gave me pause. Slow down and enjoy the moment, I told myself. Taking a deep breath, the scent of clean country air calmed my soul. I began the trek to the massive pillars and could feel the small crunching rocks under my feet. It was soothing, like a foot massage, compared to the uneven cobblestones in town. I had to be careful not to slip in my anticipation as I approached the giant stones. I walked the path to the closest stone pillar gazing about in wonder at being immersed in ancient history.
Reaching out, I put my hand on the treasure from the distant past. Cold, hard, and smoother than I had anticipated. I looked up and just shook my head. The sarsen stones of quartzite were very impressive, indeed. Where had they come from? How in the world did people ever move these monsters?
I walked around the circle very slowly, savoring the moment. I touched another stone. It was cool and damp under my fingers. I used my arms to try and measure how wide it was. Reaching out as far as I could, I still couldn’t even begin to hug the stone.
Using my imagination, I looked at the heel stone across the circle and wondered what it would be like to see the sun rise or set above it on the summer or winter solstice. I closed my eyes trying to envision the sun on my face. Would it be blinding and intense in summer? It was November now, so the sun peeking out did not feel very warm on my skin.
I was in awe at the wonder of this place, so many questions flooded my mind. What else was it used for besides tracking the celestial movement of the sun, moon, and stars? Did they bury people here? Was it a place of healing or domain of the dead? Did they offer any kind of sacrifices at this special prehistoric monument on Salisbury Plain? What was the rhyme and reason of the actual placement of the stones in the outer circle? Why the shape with two large standing pillars and a third suspended over them?
The morning sun was burning off the fog and the sky was beginning to clear. More tourists had pulled into the parking lot and were milling about the stone pillars. I knew I needed to just enjoy this place and not feel possessive about it. Feelings of serenity I had been experiencing were beginning to wane. It was almost time to leave. I wandered into the small information and souvenir shop at the corner of the parking lot. My eyes caught sight of a Stonehenge booklet that talked about its origins and use as a domain for the dead. I purchased the little booklet and carried it carefully as my treasure from this place back to the car.
Visiting Stonehenge was a dream come true. It awakened a wanderlust I knew I possessed but had not been able to implement in my life. My desire to travel and explore and experience new things had definitely been ignited. Happy thoughts about this place and this special moment in time made me smile. I began thinking about where in the world I wanted to travel for my next adventure.
Author: Evelyn Panfili
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