Glastonbury

Saturday 22 August - Ian and I decided to spend our last weekend together, before I fly to the states, by visiting Glastonbury. Normally a place we avoid at all costs during the festival season, we thought it would be safe to visit now. Our first stop was the farm museum, which had some charming displays demonstrating country life and the development of farming and farming equipment. From the museum we made our way to the famous abbey said to have been standing in 600 ad, all that remains are some picturesque ruins. These are housed within a lovely walled park, a charming place to stroll around or relax (assuming you can avoid the weirdos trying to pick up 'vibrations' or lying on the ground to absorb the energy of the place). Legend has it that King Arthur and Queen Guinevere were buried here, there remains being discovered in 1191. The pond on the grounds holds some massage fish which rival those at the Bristol zoo and some entertaining ducks. We were pursued by one onto the middle of the bridge to be fed rather than join his compatriots swimming in the water below. After the Abbey we walked through town and scaled the steep hill to the infamous tor (hill). Atop the hill is St. Michael's tower which offers a stunning view of the surrounding countryside. Evidence of people on the tor dates back to neolithic times. It was called the Isle of Avalon by the Ancient Britons as it was then surrounded by fenland (wetlands) and was effectively an island at the time. The tor and the surrounding area are steeped in an aura of mystery relating to the legend of King Arthur. We didn't feel any deep mystic forces but we enjoyed the scenery and the lovely day.