Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Day 5: Glastonbury (Glastonbury Abbey/Chalice Well)





















Imagine walking along in a small English town, surrounded by farms and rolling hills, and coming upon a walled park with the ruins of medieval structures jutting up from the grass. Glastonbury Abbey is a Historic Site and takes up several acres in the middle of town. The Abbey is shrouded in mystery: Were King Arthur and Queen Guinevere buried here? Did Joseph of Arimathea bring Jesus here? Was the Tor (seen from the Abbey) part of the mystical Avalon? Hmmm...unless Dr. Who whisks me away in the Tardis, I guess we'll never know for sure.

In the afternoon, I just made it in time to visit another historic site attached to the legend of King Arthur: Chalice Well. It is said that the well was around for two thousand years and is a place of healing. Rumor has it the Holy Grail was buried here. You can pay a couple pounds for a souvenir bottle and fill it up with water from the well. I have my little bottle in the fridge still. It is a tranquil place place with gardens, orchards, fountains, and of course, the Well itself.

Glastonbury is a very interesting, diverse place with a twist of goth, dash of hippie, and a pinch of religious zealotry to make it a just a little creepy. The main part of town itself is only a few blocks long. The shops are a mix of religious, metaphysical, occult, and other odds and ends including little green men. The best part was that most people seemed to be laid back and accepting of the eclectic mix of folks inhabiting the town. I loved it! I can't wait to go back someday, but in warmer weather!

1 comment: