Magical Glastonbury

Glastonbury is a town that defies description.  Throw together a hill topped by a lone tower, a well where the water is red from being exposed to the holy grail, the largest abbey in medieval England, which now lays in ruins, and a whole bunch of pierced, tattooed, dyed and fried people who don't need to climb the hill to get high and you have this little town.  We spent our time contemplating the sacred (or racing flower petals in the stream) in the Chalice Well Gardens, dodging sheep dung on our climb up the Glastonbury Tor (hill), imagining the past grandeur of the now ruined Glastonbury Abbey (the sight of the earliest Christian church in England - 37 AD), and shopping for magical crystals and tarot cards.  Well, not everybody did the last thing.  Another glorious day - who could ask for more than the present moment?

Entrance to the Chalice Well

The students surround the well

Joseph of Arimathea, Jesus' uncle, is said to have buried the chalice used at the last supper near this well, turning the water a reddish colour.

The Glastonbury Tor from the Chalice Well Gardens

Kyle shoots one of the waterfalls originating from the well - note the reddish colour.

The boys race flower petals in the stream on either side of this pond.

Leah and Kyleigh take a break while climbing the Tor

This tower was part of a larger building that came down in an earthquake in 1274.  Henry VIII had the abbot of the Glastonbury Abbey hung from this tower during the dissolution of the monasteries during the English Protestant Reformation.  

My wife and kids will recognize this place - in the Chalice Well Gardens.

Thanks Ray for the picture!  On top of the Tor.

The pastel boys.

Ray poses for an army of photographers.

Part of the ruined Glastonbury Abbey.  Henry VIII had it destroyed to let the monastic orders in England know that they were no longer welcome.

Read the sign, not this.

Glastonbury Abbey was once the longest cathedral in England - 850 feet.

The abbey kitchen still stands today. 

Ray gets a Glastonbury Pasty while an interesting local, staff in hand, waits in line behind him.