A Weekend in Bath: Just for Girls!

I didn't think that I could top my visit to Stratford-Upon-Avon... but my visit to the lovely city of Bath, with my department head, mentor and friend, Jayne Conway, has proven to be the highlight of my visit here to date. Trips to London aside, the female company of a fabulous woman, who enjoyed all the experiences on this trip for the first time alongside me, was great! Thank you so much Jayne for treating me to a lovely overnight stay in such a marvelous city.

Despite having been to Bath before, Jayne has always found herself with her husband and son in tow, so has never had the chance to experience the Roman Baths and the other museums we visited on this trip...so I am so glad I could experience this with her....although my good friend and mentor Nancy Sweeney, back at home in Northbridge, was always at the forefront of my mind as I toured this marvelous city. Nancy is our much beloved and treasured Latin teacher and is also the respected matriarch of the district. She too would have loved to see this wonderful Roman architectural and cultural masterpiece.

The day began with a warning on the BBC news that the stormy weather, wind and rain hitting the UK should be heeded by residents and it was suggested that all day trips be cancelled as the traveling could prove hazardous. Ha.... as Jayne said, "if you heeded all these things in this country you'd never go anywhere" and off we went. The traveling was fine, actually and we managed to arrive at our hotel without incident. Thankfully I had grabbed my fashionable Wellies, as the rain pelted us during our initial exploration of the city.

Our first stop was a cafe for a cuppa and then we proceeded to the Roman Baths. Thankfully, an indoor exhibit for the most part. We grabbed our audio guide and off we went. The tour of this Roman complex - encompassing the fully excavated main bath area, temple, altar and courtyard was magnificently explained on the audio guide, allowing each individual tourist to proceed throughout the museum at their own pace. The artifacts, temple and wall reconstructions using pieces of excavated columns, and figures allowed me to picture how an authentic Roman would have lived.

There were pieces of the exhibit, such as the gems recovered from the drainage systems when excavated that were particularly poignant. It brought home the age of these magnificent structures and also the idea that a young woman may have gotten up from the waters of the bath, looked at the hand only to realize that perhaps the gemstone in a ring given her by a lover was now lost. Each gem had an owner, with a life and story...what must they be?

Our next venture in the rain found us headed to the Fashion Museum and Assembly Rooms. Unfortunately the Assembly Rooms were closed for a private wedding. These rooms were large, grandiose ball rooms used for entertainment in the 18th and 19th century by the rich. There would be balls, gambling and other forms of entertainment where people would gather after their evening supper. The Fashion Museum was well worth the trip - and trying on corsets and crinolines gave both Jane and I a good laugh...something Micaela would have never participated in and would have only classified as "dorkiness." It was good to know that I was with a woman who braved the dress up experience! Quite fun!

Dinner for the evening found us in the Indian Eye - billed as the most authentic Indian food in the city, frequented by the likes of Jane Seymour and the cast of the East Enders - it provided a great venue for my first venture into authentic Indian food. Yummy!!!

On Sunday the sun shone brightly in the sky and seeing Bath by sunlight was a different experience altogether...while no less lovely in the rain, it was nice not to venture forth bundled in coats and Wellies!

This day found us back at the Circus and the Crescent; two architectural structures designed for the wealthiest citizens of Bath in the 18th and 19th centuries. We were able to enter Number One Crescent - an authentically restored regency period townhouse. It was lovely. We also learned that only the facade was designed by the architect John Wood, all the homes behind the facade were individually contracted builds and all are unique and different.

We then ventured to the Jane Austen Center where Jayne and I learned more about one of our mutual favorite authors. On the tour one learns that Miss Austen was not a particular fan of Bath, preferring the quiet of the countryside to the bustle and pretentiousness of the city. She lived in Bath during a time in her life where she and her mother and sister were at the mercy of of the generosity of her brothers to care for them. During their time in Bath they were progressively moving down the hill to the inner areas of the town, as their financial situation dictated. Considering she only lived here for a short five years of her life, they have capitalized on her later fame.

Our time in Bath went all too quickly, and like most other places I have visited, more time was needed to soak it all in, but it will be one I will not soon forget...and hopefully someday I will come back, next time with Nancy, and experience it all again!