"England, Europe and Everyday Life..."
Since coming to England we have
experienced so much, not just as a band
but as individuals. I for one, think it is safe
to say that in the past 4 months, I've
experienced more than I would have done
in a life time had I just stayed in America.
And that, by no means is a stab at America
or Americans.
So here in this photo diary entry I would
like to show you all of the things I've seen,
what they are and what they meant to me
as an American being able to see them.
I hope you all enjoy.
experienced so much, not just as a band
but as individuals. I for one, think it is safe
to say that in the past 4 months, I've
experienced more than I would have done
in a life time had I just stayed in America.
And that, by no means is a stab at America
or Americans.
So here in this photo diary entry I would
like to show you all of the things I've seen,
what they are and what they meant to me
as an American being able to see them.
I hope you all enjoy.
We came to England in May (2008) and had
about 3 weeks before the first gig. Thus, we had
loads of time to prepare ourselves, see some
sites and generally just poop around. I, having
never been outside of the U.S., was particularly
excited about "getting out there" and doing
some heavy tourism. So to get the practical stuff
out of the way, we first had to pick up our
Hartke gear from the distribution center in
Letchworth. Having been endorsed by Hartke,
Amanda and I were given a Hartke rig each. It
was quite exciting and we're still having a blast
with our amps!
On this very same day, I fell in love with fish &
chips.
about 3 weeks before the first gig. Thus, we had
loads of time to prepare ourselves, see some
sites and generally just poop around. I, having
never been outside of the U.S., was particularly
excited about "getting out there" and doing
some heavy tourism. So to get the practical stuff
out of the way, we first had to pick up our
Hartke gear from the distribution center in
Letchworth. Having been endorsed by Hartke,
Amanda and I were given a Hartke rig each. It
was quite exciting and we're still having a blast
with our amps!
On this very same day, I fell in love with fish &
chips.
Over the next week I had a list of things I
had been dying to see and poor Jo and
Amanda (being the only experienced drivers
in England) were to be my chauffeurs. First
things first the obvious writer's choice,
Shakespeare's Birthplace.
This was an amazing place to see, not just
because of who Shakespeare is, but because
in being there, seeing his house and the
town in which he grew up, it gave you a
really clear view into who he was and why he
wrote the masterful works of art that he did.
Of course since his death he has been
remembered in almost every area of the city
either by statues or other architectural
commemorations.
had been dying to see and poor Jo and
Amanda (being the only experienced drivers
in England) were to be my chauffeurs. First
things first the obvious writer's choice,
Shakespeare's Birthplace.
This was an amazing place to see, not just
because of who Shakespeare is, but because
in being there, seeing his house and the
town in which he grew up, it gave you a
really clear view into who he was and why he
wrote the masterful works of art that he did.
Of course since his death he has been
remembered in almost every area of the city
either by statues or other architectural
commemorations.
FIY: When Shakespeare left Stratford-Upon-Avon
going to London (Where he later built the Globe
Theatre, which showcased all of his magnificent
plays) he marked down the places and things he
saw in his long walk. The trail he took to London is
known these days as "The Shakespeare Way." One
of the first stops along this trail is the Roll Right
Stones. These Stones form one of England's only
complete Stone Circles and are some of the oldest
Standing stones in England. We stopped off at
these Stones which are located just outside of
Chipping Norton. There are three basic
"attractions" if you will:
-The King's Men Stone Circle
-The Whispering Knights Burial Chamber
-The King Stone
First, The Circle, which is made up of 77 neolithic
stones. They are amazing because they date back
to 2000BC (That's 4000 years...) and you can see
every year of age on their "faces." I've never seen
anything that old, let alone sat on one...
going to London (Where he later built the Globe
Theatre, which showcased all of his magnificent
plays) he marked down the places and things he
saw in his long walk. The trail he took to London is
known these days as "The Shakespeare Way." One
of the first stops along this trail is the Roll Right
Stones. These Stones form one of England's only
complete Stone Circles and are some of the oldest
Standing stones in England. We stopped off at
these Stones which are located just outside of
Chipping Norton. There are three basic
"attractions" if you will:
-The King's Men Stone Circle
-The Whispering Knights Burial Chamber
-The King Stone
First, The Circle, which is made up of 77 neolithic
stones. They are amazing because they date back
to 2000BC (That's 4000 years...) and you can see
every year of age on their "faces." I've never seen
anything that old, let alone sat on one...
The second group of stones which are across
a field from the circle, make up The
Whispering Knights Burial Chamber. This is
a 5000 year old neolithic "long barrow" (A
Long Barrow is rectangular or trapezoidal
earth mound....tomb.) And was given the
name "the whispering knights" because of
the different stones and the way they "lean
in" as if to be whispering plots against their
king. This part of the stones were fenced off
because of the many people that have tried
to rob the tomb.
a field from the circle, make up The
Whispering Knights Burial Chamber. This is
a 5000 year old neolithic "long barrow" (A
Long Barrow is rectangular or trapezoidal
earth mound....tomb.) And was given the
name "the whispering knights" because of
the different stones and the way they "lean
in" as if to be whispering plots against their
king. This part of the stones were fenced off
because of the many people that have tried
to rob the tomb.
The King Stone is a single monolithic stone
that stands 50 yards away from the stone
circle. (The circle and the King Stone are
separated by a road and are both in separate
counties.) The age and purpose of the stone
are not really known, however it is believed to
be an outlier to the stone circle. I do not have
a photo of this particular stone, but you can
see it at (www.rollrightstones.co.uk) The
shape of this stone is caused by 19th century
passers by who would chip off pieces of the
stone to act as lucky charms against the devil.
that stands 50 yards away from the stone
circle. (The circle and the King Stone are
separated by a road and are both in separate
counties.) The age and purpose of the stone
are not really known, however it is believed to
be an outlier to the stone circle. I do not have
a photo of this particular stone, but you can
see it at (www.rollrightstones.co.uk) The
shape of this stone is caused by 19th century
passers by who would chip off pieces of the
stone to act as lucky charms against the devil.
After these stunning experiences, we make to the local pub and retire until the following
week where we then go to Avebury. I do not have any photos of Avebury, unfortunately,
however our trip there was documented on footage which can be seen on our videos page.
It is part 3 of the "Life on the Road" mini-documentary series.
week where we then go to Avebury. I do not have any photos of Avebury, unfortunately,
however our trip there was documented on footage which can be seen on our videos page.
It is part 3 of the "Life on the Road" mini-documentary series.
By this time we had started doing shows
around England and were driving up and
down the country and passing loads of
National and World Heritage sites. And it
was on the way to perform at Hawkfest in
Exeter, UK that we passed the New
Forest.
Becoming quite the explorer, I had to
have a look. The New Forest is excellent
in it's beauty as well as being one of the
many locations in Great Britain where
wild horses still roam free. Unfortunately
we only heard the horses and couldn't
get close enough to snap a photo.
around England and were driving up and
down the country and passing loads of
National and World Heritage sites. And it
was on the way to perform at Hawkfest in
Exeter, UK that we passed the New
Forest.
Becoming quite the explorer, I had to
have a look. The New Forest is excellent
in it's beauty as well as being one of the
many locations in Great Britain where
wild horses still roam free. Unfortunately
we only heard the horses and couldn't
get close enough to snap a photo.
But the experience was great regardless!
After a great festival in Honiton and a
stunning performance by Hawkwind we
headed up north to Nottingham where
we played a show and the next day
attended The Robin Hood Festival in.
Sherwood Forest. There we got to see
The Major Oak tree that is at least 800
years old, as well as other Sherwood
Oaks that were not far behind in age.
Sherwood is filled to the brim with
history as it had been used as the royal
hunting forest for Kings since 1066.
After a great festival in Honiton and a
stunning performance by Hawkwind we
headed up north to Nottingham where
we played a show and the next day
attended The Robin Hood Festival in.
Sherwood Forest. There we got to see
The Major Oak tree that is at least 800
years old, as well as other Sherwood
Oaks that were not far behind in age.
Sherwood is filled to the brim with
history as it had been used as the royal
hunting forest for Kings since 1066.
Sherwood stretches far across a large part of
England and borders a small forest in Derbyshire
which is home to the Chatsworth Estate. This
estate dates back to the 1500s and has been the
home to many of England's Dukes including it's
current owner The Duke of Devonshire. It is a
gorgeous house and the land it is on also hosts a
hunting tower which looks over the entire estate
from a hill in the forest. The forest itself also
holds many surprises which I discovered upon my
little hike with Jo and Amanda.
We found a Roman aqueduct which was in ruin
but still had water flowing from it's top. We also
saw steps which had been cut out of a huge stone
face that led up to the top of a waterfall and
stopped at a tiny pool which fed water to the
waterfall and aqueduct. There's no real record of
how old any of this is, but in seeing it, it's obvious
that it's quite old.
England and borders a small forest in Derbyshire
which is home to the Chatsworth Estate. This
estate dates back to the 1500s and has been the
home to many of England's Dukes including it's
current owner The Duke of Devonshire. It is a
gorgeous house and the land it is on also hosts a
hunting tower which looks over the entire estate
from a hill in the forest. The forest itself also
holds many surprises which I discovered upon my
little hike with Jo and Amanda.
We found a Roman aqueduct which was in ruin
but still had water flowing from it's top. We also
saw steps which had been cut out of a huge stone
face that led up to the top of a waterfall and
stopped at a tiny pool which fed water to the
waterfall and aqueduct. There's no real record of
how old any of this is, but in seeing it, it's obvious
that it's quite old.
The following week we were off to Holland
for our month long tour. Most of the trip I
filmed rather than photographed but I did
manage to get photos of windmills and
the more modern wind turbine. Holland
was truly beautiful. I won't go on about it,
because we have yet to release the 5th
part to our Life on the Road documentary
series. This "episode" will be all about our
dutch trip. Make sure to look out for it.
for our month long tour. Most of the trip I
filmed rather than photographed but I did
manage to get photos of windmills and
the more modern wind turbine. Holland
was truly beautiful. I won't go on about it,
because we have yet to release the 5th
part to our Life on the Road documentary
series. This "episode" will be all about our
dutch trip. Make sure to look out for it.
Since being back in England we've seen many
places, most of which will be appearing in the
upcoming mini-documentary that will be
released soon. I hope you all enjoyed these
photos and as a conclusion to this photo diary
entry I leave you with a few photos of the
London Underground. If you would like to see
more photos of any of these places you can find
them on my myspace!
www.myspace.com/erinbennettmusic
places, most of which will be appearing in the
upcoming mini-documentary that will be
released soon. I hope you all enjoyed these
photos and as a conclusion to this photo diary
entry I leave you with a few photos of the
London Underground. If you would like to see
more photos of any of these places you can find
them on my myspace!
www.myspace.com/erinbennettmusic
Copyright © 2007 Syren. All Rights Reserved.
