May 31

First stop today was Glastonbury Abbey - what must have been a beautiful cathedral that was sacked by Henry VIII when he took over all the Catholic properties and is now a ruin.

 

 

It is said that Joseph of Aramithea came here after Jesus’ death, bringing with him a thornwood walking stick which he stuck into the ground near Glastonbury. It took root and grew, and this tree is supposed to be an offshoot of that tree, a variety of thorn tree which is native to the Middle East.

Next we went to Bath to see the Roman baths and the 18^th century neighborhoods around the baths that were built when the aristocracy came there to "take the waters." An amazing amount remains from the Roman era - a thousand years ago! As at most of the historic sites, audio players told us what we were seeing. At Bath there were also videos which overlaid what we see now with what it must have looked like then.

Tonight we are in Newport, Wales - for supper in our room we are having local Cheddar cheese, bread and mead from Glastonbury Abbey. Tomorrow we will drive thru South Wales on our way to catch the ferry to Ireland.