Inside the Circle - A visit to Stonehenge

For so many years I have wondered if I would ever get the chance to visit Stonehenge. And then I had left it so long that the next thing I heard was that no one could enter the circle but could only walk around, a distance away, on the other side of a fence. At that point I put off the idea of ever seeing Stonehenge.
Well today all that changed. After some research I discovered that there are companies that have permission to take tour groups inside the Stonehenge circle. There are a couple of hitches of course, the cost is several times more than a regular tour to the site and you go outside the regular open hours. That means a very early morning or a late evening. But to have the privilege of entering Stonehenge? I decided it was worth it - and it was.
What a gift it was to enter this World Heritage Site and 3,000 year old stone circle. It is a gift of wonderment at the mysteries of the site and its construction. This little blog cannot begin to describe what is known and surmised about the history of Stonehenge. As research continues some questions seem to be answered, and new questions arise with new discoveries.
What I do know is the awe I felt at being in such a place. Looking up at the huge lichen covered stones with enormous lintels (top stones) balanced between them makes one feel like just a small, temporary dot in time; which of course one is but we seldom actually have that realization. And then there are the smaller 'blue' stones that form a circle within the larger circle. What are the mysteries attached to them? There are even lichens, that are found nowhere else but Stonehenge, growing on some of the stones. These add to the beauty but must not be touched because of their fragility. And there is so much more at this site that is mysterious and fascinating. The visit was money and time well worth spending.