Building the Wall
The Hadrian's Wall between Housesteads and Birdoswald counts as the most scenic part, though I doubt the Roman soldiers who built the Wall had an eye for the landscape. For them, it was difficult terrain in an alien country.
For some reason, the guys had taken a liking to olive tree groves, vineyards and sunshine, not to mists and windswept mountains. ;)
Housesteads, view from Vircovicium fortress"It's raining, it's cold, we're out of stones and the centurion is in a mean mood because his local girlfriend kicked him out. Why did I join the army again?"
"Erm, regular pay, health insurance and retirement funds?"
"Health insurance? That damn
medicus told me I only have a cold and I'm not sick. And the pay was late
twice because the Selgovae keep attacking the escort. Next time they'll tell us to walk to Eboracum and get it ourselves; wait and see."
"Don't worry, Gaius Numerius, once we're done with this bloody wall, we'll get stationed elsewhere. Aegypt or Spain, maybe."
"With our luck it will be the German
Limes. Another place full of rain and savages. And trees." (*)
Housesteads (not the original heigth, but you can see how broad the wall was)Centurion marches up to them. " Gaius Numerius, Quintus Didius, why are you lazy sods sitting around? There's work to be done!"
"There are no more stones, centurion."
"Damn, what twit of a civilian in the staff has messed up
this time? The whole useless lot should be sent to the arena as fodder for the lions, it would be the one useful thing they did in their life."
Near Walltown Crags (the line on the ridge of the hill is the wall)"Centurion, it gets worse. The last wine delivery is missing as well, and some of those sleazy looking tribal warriors with those funny beards carry knives and spears that look suspiciouly like our manufacture ware."
"What?!" Centurion bangs hand on wall. "Ouw. Gaius Numerius, are you saying that someone is selling army equipment to the enemy?"
"I'm not saying anything. I'm just telling what I've seen. Don't want to get into trouble."
"Don't worry. Someone else will get into trouble this time. Get back to your tent, there's no use sitting out here in the rain. But ... as soon as I've found those damn stones, I want to see some very busy legionaries."
"Aye."
One of the Walltown CragsCenturion leaves.
"What's that, did Titus Merula's girlfriend move back in?"
"I don't know. But let me tell you something, Gaius Numerius. There's one thing a centurion loves more than rasing hell for us legionaries."
"And what, Quintus Didius?"
"Raising hell for the civilian staff."
Wall at Birdoswald"I hope he'll find the missing wine as well, not only those damn stones."
"He will, believe me."
"Yeah, in the bellies of the staff and the tribunes. Spoiled brats, the lot."
"That they are. Well, let's follow orders and get inside, Gaius Numerius. There should be some beer left. And boar roast."
"Knowing our cook and his love for indigenous food, we'll end up with lukewarm
cervisia and boar in mint sauce."
Mile castle near Birdoswald, view towards the fortress (to the left)* Gaius Numerius is mistaken, of course. There are not only trees in Germania; we do have some vineyards as well.
And
our beer is definitely
not lukewarm. :)