Monday, 1 August 2011
Glastonbury, England
Weather: Overcast and moist, high of 65 degrees Fahrenheit, low of 53.
Sir Thomas awoke in his bunk bed at the Glastonbury Backpacker’s Hostel nestled within the Crown off High street in downtown Glastonbury refreshed and excited to begin explorations for the day. Top of his mind was meeting up with Dancing Hands, climbing to the top of the Tor, and finding holy wells. He had a traditional English Breakfast in the pub below and read through the book “Pottery in Britain: 4000 BC to AD 100” by Lloyd Laing. It was a hearty breakfast of eggs, beans, tomatoes, black pudding, sausage, bacon, and bread. He had his traditional cup of tea and then set off onto the street to explore Glastonbury.
English Breakfast,
Riddled with the legends of King Arthur, gateways to the Otherworld, the Holy Grail, and a thorn tree that blossoms twice a year … he was intrigued with all that awaited his explorations. He visited numerous metaphysical and Pagan shops, the Chocolate Love Temple, the Tribunal, Gothic Image, and the Glastonbury Experience. He meditatively walked the Labyrinth and began hunting for the legendary Blue Spring. He couldn’t find it. It was supposedly nestled along the cavernous well springs of the White Spring and the Chalice Well. He learned that Glastonbury was once an island, and the seven Isles of Avalon was once here. He heard about the Blue Bowl that some believe was the Holy Grail, but it turned out to be a Italian art piece that someone buried in the lost Bride Well dedicated to St. Brigid. Rumors surrounded that the Lost Bride Well was called the Blue Spring because this infamous artifact was last hidden there. A new quest has begun. He wandered into the Lilith Pagan Book shop and hunting for more clues.
All the well sources, drinking fountains, and connections to water were adorned with blue ribbons. He didn’t understand it. Even ones that looked like street drainage but had water flowing from them. Was there certain meaning to them? He was intrigued with the drinking fountain all adorned at the Glastonbury Methodist Church that sat in an alcove along the street behind which used to be a pond (now hidden underground) that they used to wash carts with long ago. He explored the Glastonbury Abbey, house and gardens, exploring where they claim King Arthur and Guinevere are said to be buried in the graveyard.
August 1, 2011: The White Spring, Glastonbury, England.
He visited Chalice Well which he found a bit touristy and discovered the magical White Spring and its associated temple behind the walls of Chalice Well. He collected water from the Chalice Well and the White Spring to add to his apothecary of magical waters from Europe he would be bringing back to the States with him. He bathed himself in the White Spring, re-dedicating himself to his Matron Goddess Brighid.
Annointed, asperged, and smudged Sir Thomas began his trek up the high hill of one of the legendary Isles of Avalon, the Glastonbury Tor. It was a steep climb and with his heavy backpack had a bit of a struggle upward then got his second wind and progressed up. One of the most infamous and sacred landmarks of the United Kingdom, he had a panoramic view of the three counties, then explored the ruins, took photos of the sheep grazing and crapping on the ancient monuments, and saw the sacred heart on the adjourning hill side. He took to it as a oracle that he would be soon meeting his twin flame this year.
After climbing down the Tor, Sir Thomas went by the Somerset Rural Life Museum and pondered stopping in but decided to go on. He spied an oddity along the road – a red British telephone booth stuffed full of animals. He went by the Glastonbury Abbey and wandered the Gardens. He went by the Town Hall where Karen Kay holds her Faerie Balls. He checked back in at the Glastonbury Backpacker’s Hostel, wandered by the Goddess Temple and stopped in for a meditation. Wandering around the Glastonbury Experience Courtyard, he met up with Dancing Hands and they went shopping together and had tea. They wandered into the Stone Age shop and Sir Thomas found a extremely large Faerie Star with his Amethyst birth stone in the center. Dancing Hands encouraged him into buying it even though it cost close to 60 pounds.
Sir Leaf and Dancing Hands. August 1, 2011:
He then bid farewell, boarded the National Rail and headed back to Bristol and caught the Great Western to London on his way to Scotland. He stopped into a Starbucks in London for a Chai Creme Frappacino. He checked internet and discovered he received his blogging paycheck for Ninerniner.com. He slept on the rail from London to Edinburgh to continue his explorations of the United Kingdom.
ACCOUNTING: -60 GBP (98.08 USD) Stone Age Somerset Faerie Star, -88.50 Train ride Bristol to Edinburgh stopoff in London, First Great Western train/bus travel Glastonbury to Bristol -5.95, Receive blogging payment from Ninerniner July work +48.25 (50 payment minus fees), Starbucks in London -3.70 Chai creme Frappacino.
Mileage: 0
A view of this day in 2010.
Pottery in Britain: 4000 BC to AD1900 by Lloyd Laing. A guide to identifying potsherds.
Pottery in Britain: 4000 BC to AD1900 by Lloyd Laing. A guide to identifying potsherds.
Glastonbury Backpackers Hostel – The Crown,
Walking the streets of Glastonbury
Gothic Image shop, Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Tribunal(http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=38787)l: Late 15th century town house.
Glastonbury Tribunal
Lilith shoppe, Glastonbury, England.
Labyrinth Maze at church, downtown, Glastonbury, England.
Celtic cross, city centre, Glastonbury, England.
Chocolate Love Temple, Glastonbury, England.
drinking fountain at Glastonbury Methodist church, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=38791)
Glastonbury Abbey House and Gardens,
Glastonbury Abbey House and Gardens, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=38795)
Chalice Well and Gardens, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=3407)
The White Spring, Glastonbury, England.(http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=3409).
The chalice well, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=3407)
Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=4287)
Heart on the hillside –
August 1, 2011: Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=4287) (c) 2011-2012 – photography by Leaf McGowan, technogypsie.com. Glastonbury Tor, one of the most famous and sacred landmarks in the West Country. From the summit at 158 metres, you can get amazing views over three counties – Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. What is the tor? “Tor” is a West Country word of Celtic origin meaning hill. The conical shape of Glastonbury Tor is natural – due to its rocks. It is made up of horizontal bands of clays and limestone with a cap of hard sandstone. The sandstone resists erosion, but the clays and limestone have worn away, resulting in the steep slopes. A historic landscape: Before modern drainage, the tor in winter would have towered as an island above the flooded Somerset Levels. The terraces on the slopes date back to medieval times when the hillside was one of the few dry places where people could grow crops and graze animals. A place of pilgrimage: The tor has been a place of pilgrimage for over 10,000 years. Many thousands of people still visit each year, some for its links with religion, legends and beliefs, and others because it is such a renowned landmark. History of the Tower: on the summit is St. Michael’s Tower, part of a 14th century church. It was built to replace a previous church which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1275. The second church lasted until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. At this time, the tor was the scene of the hanging of Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury. The Tor was the site of a 6th century settlement, the earliest yet found in Glastonbury. Some believe this was the first Christian community in the area, said to have been founded by Joseph of Arimathea in AD 63. 8th Century: The great Abbey: A stone church was built on the site of the present abbey ruins in the 8th century. It was rebuilt and became one of the wealthiest abbeys in Britain, but was destroyed in 1539
August 1, 2011: Glastonbury Tor, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=4287) (c) 2011-2012 – photography by Leaf McGowan, technogypsie.com. Glastonbury Tor, one of the most famous and sacred landmarks in the West Country. From the summit at 158 metres, you can get amazing views over three counties – Somerset, Dorset, and Wiltshire. What is the tor? “Tor” is a West Country word of Celtic origin meaning hill. The conical shape of Glastonbury Tor is natural – due to its rocks. It is made up of horizontal bands of clays and limestone with a cap of hard sandstone. The sandstone resists erosion, but the clays and limestone have worn away, resulting in the steep slopes. A historic landscape: Before modern drainage, the tor in winter would have towered as an island above the flooded Somerset Levels. The terraces on the slopes date back to medieval times when the hillside was one of the few dry places where people could grow crops and graze animals. A place of pilgrimage: The tor has been a place of pilgrimage for over 10,000 years. Many thousands of people still visit each year, some for its links with religion, legends and beliefs, and others because it is such a renowned landmark. History of the Tower: on the summit is St. Michael’s Tower, part of a 14th century church. It was built to replace a previous church which had been destroyed by an earthquake in 1275. The second church lasted until the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1539. At this time, the tor was the scene of the hanging of Richard Whiting, the last Abbot of Glastonbury. The Tor was the site of a 6th century settlement, the earliest yet found in Glastonbury. Some believe this was the first Christian community in the area, said to have been founded by Joseph of Arimathea in AD 63. 8th Century: The great Abbey: A stone church was built on the site of the present abbey ruins in the 8th century. It was rebuilt and became one of the wealthiest abbeys in Britain, but was destroyed in 1539
Somerset Rural Life Museum, Glastonbury, England.
Telephone booth full of stuffed animals, Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Holy Well, Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Holy Well, Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Abbey, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=38795)
Town Map; Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Town Hall, Glastonbury, England.
Glastonbury Backpackers – The Crown, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=4305)
English Breakfast, Glastonbury, England.
Avalon Foundation/ Glastonbury Experience Courtyard, Glastonbury, England. (http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=38807)
Goddess Temple: http://www.technogypsie.com/reviews/?p=3411.
Sir Leaf and Dancing Hands. August 1, 2011: Avalon Foundation/Courtyard, Glastonbury, England.