Sunday, April 09, 2006

Glastonbury

This is a pastoral English village known the world over for its legendary 3-day summer rock festival. In a chilly spring breeze the rolling farmland seemed a far cry from the churned mud and summer rain which is home to 150,000 souls and draws the very top rock acts.

Today we drove the 80 miles across country with my eldest son and future daughter-in-law principally to visit a purpose built shopping village full of factory outlets. I was bored rigid having bought a pair of shoes in the first 10 minutes then hovered around for another 3 hours waiting for all the necessary browsing to be done.

I made sure there was time on the way home for a short detour north to climb the famous tor which dominates the local country skyline. The monument on top is only of passing interest and in any event has been hijacked by druids, mystics, hippies and all manner of earthy leftfield groups. It seems to mean something different to each.

I had never made the long steep ascent before and was rewarded with spectacular views of the county of Somerset.



















11 comments:

Elena Horowitz-Brookes said...

Wow! These are fantastic shots. And I love your commentary which goes along with them. Seems like such a serene place for a huge rock festival. I'm glad you got to slip off and finally do something you wanted to do. Maybe you should have hooked up with the mystics and druids. Sounds quite interesting to me actually. That's where I'd be.

Perfect Virgo said...

Boulies - you should see the scene during a red summer sunset. Superb. There are at least 6 separate stages and numerous giant marquees. There are fields of miniature tents as tens of thousands of folk like to camp under the stars and soak up the mystical quality of the valley.

As the biggest festival in the UK, Glastonbury is televised, thank goodness. I would like to go in person one year but only if they could GUARANTEE no rain and no mud :)

Russell CJ Duffy said...

i'll go with you. never done glastonbury. forgive me for sounding so ignorant but is peter gabriel's 'solsbury hill' based on an area in or around there?

JJ said...

OMG how absolutely fuck'n beautiful!
I see you,
JJ

Perfect Virgo said...

CJ - we could pitch our tent in the old geezer's field! Yes Solsbury Hill is an actual flat-topped hill, another of the many interesting natural features in Somerset.

JJ - it's like your standing on top of the world. It was bitterly cold that day and it even hailed. In July I bet its balmy.

Perfect Virgo said...

Finn - it is tranquil and pastoral except for 3 days in June! The field are a green patchwork quilt over the rolling hills and civilisation seems suddenly very far away.

Yep, I reckon us old-timers could show the youngsters a good time...

The reviews you plucked from local rags are stylish and erudite, you sure did your research! I have this glorious image of your giant goofy grin poised over the washboard ready to grind a clicketty-click rhythm with those practiced gnashers...

Gel said...

A red summer sunset with those panaramas AND music! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!
P.S. I suppose I could tolerate the company of you, cj, and finn. ;)
(This is a winter sunrise in this blog pic)

Perfect Virgo said...

GEL - what a gorgeous winter sunrise in your picture, a pink and seductive daybreak. I am reasonable company when drunk on music though I can't speak for the other guys :-)

A.P. said...

WOW! I love these shots!

A.P. said...

I just came back to look at them again - they are stunning...what a view!
I'd definitely like to go there someday.

Perfect Virgo said...

Anna - yes, it is a tranquil and calm place to be.