UNITED KINGDOM: Amesbury & Salisbury – Wonderful Wiltshire

It’s that time of year again for my visit to the land of the stones. Amesbury, which is known for Stonehenge and the traffic jams it’s known to cause much to the consternation of Faith my half-sister. Family and friends are truly the most valuable commodity in my worldly wanderings. It’s a joy to have this ongoing continuity and emotional nourishment along the way.

My Amesbury visit is always accompanied by a surprise for young Charlie. Some of my favorite childhood memories were of relatives bearing gifts from afar so I’ve made sure to continue that tradition for the benefit of my daughter, granddaughters, Charlie and a few others. Choosing and giving cool gifts is something I know how to do, and I get a kick out of it.

CANALSIDE IN SALISBURY

ZIZZI – The Italian restaurant where the Russian spy and his daughter had a meal before being found slumped over on a park bench, having been poisoned by a chemical left on their tainted front doorknob. They both survived, but there were two British fatalities. My visit a year ago coincided with the exact day this crime was committed. It should come as little surprise that Trump backed Putin in denying that Russia had anything to do with violation of international law.

This is where the bench used to be before being removed.

This is where the prostitutes sat to display their wares through the streetside window.

KEN HOISTS A PINT

CHARLIE HAS A WELL DESERVED CROSSBOW

Mackenzie Manor – This is where Faith has a lovely apartment where I was fortunate to stay.

DOVECOT ON THE RIGHT

DOVECOT

NEOLITHIC SKELETON – This child’s skeleton was excavated by Keiller in 1929 from a grave at the bottom of a ditch of the early Neolithic causewayed enclosure at Windmill Hill. The age of the child was 2-3 years old, but it was impossible to determine the sex. It was buried in the ditch around 3350 BC.

NEOLITHIC AX HEAD

MEDIEVAL ARROWHEADS

BRONZE PUFFIN HAS A SNACK

DOWNTOWN SALISBURY

FUDGEHENGE

SALISBURY CATHEDRAL

THE WORLD’S OLDEST FUNCTIONING CLOCK

THE SALISBURY MAGNA CARTA – PRINTED ON HEMP PAPER

BRAMBLEDOWN COTTAGE

JOHN, CHARLIE, AND KEN

HERE I AM WITH SCOOBY

HERE’S CHARLIE SINGING A SONG HE WROTE ABOUT ME AND MY TRAVELS

Charlie is a huge Beatles fan, and like his parents, he can write, play, and sing.

ALEXA MAKES FRESH NAAN TO GO WITH THE CURRY

CHICKEN CURRY

ANTROBUS HOTEL – The Beatles stayed in this hotel when they were shooting the movie, “Help!”