January 30/2010 :: Bath - The Most Fashionable City Around

Day 8
Mood: Overwhelmed by the beauty of it all
Weather: Gorgeously sunny
Word of the Day: "Fashionable" as in "Bath is oh-so fashionable."

Today was freaking fantastic!!

We woke up early to catch the tour bus to Bath. After 1.5 hours of napping on the tour bus we arrived in Bath. It was so beautiful. The city of Bath was built upon by the Romans though it is said to be 7000 years old. The Romans built massive baths around the only naturally occurring hot spring in the UK. Until they were overthrown it was a huge center and meeting place for Romans and Britons alike where they worshiped a mixed goddess Sulis-Minerva. Until Christianity took over it was a beautiful site.


Going to see the baths was beautiful. They've rebuilt a great deal of the baths but many things were actually excavated from the remains of the site in the 19th century. I was literally drooling over the history of it all. I went through it all with Etsy who is still instructing me on the proper way to say her name. I'm totally embarrassed about saying it wrong though. >////< Estonian is a really tough language! But really interesting at the same time.

After going through the baths we were allowed some free time. VT and I went to the Jane Austen Center. Jane Austen lived in Bath for 5 years (and hated all her time spent here). She lived, for a few months, at 25 Gay Street...the center was at number 40 because number 25 is not a Dentist. XD We went through and I decided that, seeing as I enjoyed her books, I should get the complete series. I didn't buy it there though, I'm sure the set is available at home...it'd make a lovely gift from my sisters. *wink wink wiiiink*

We learned how to use a Victorian fan for signals. This one is definitely a "come hither" look. XD

After that we got back on the coach and had a tour around the mountains of Bath. We learned about how Bath was revitalized by a postman, a doctor and a gambler. The postman built a huge mansion on the mountain so we went up there and snapped an amazing view.


I'm so sorry but the picture just doesn't capture how stunning it was. Rows upon rows of Edwardian styled housing lining up and down the hills. Beautiful and grand. It was the best view I've seen thus far.

Back on the bus as we circled round back to Circus Street and to the most "fashionable" street from back in the Edwardian and Victorian period. This was the place to be if you wanted to be fashionable. Every house looks exactly the same, by mandate, and it's gorgeous. One of the houses here is actually a hotel but their forbidden by regulations to put up any advertisement. Here's the image of the most fashionable street, can you spot the hotel?


So yes, after this we walked around some more. Sat down in a Starbucks and, as usual, I couldn't bring myself to buy any food. I made my lunch today and it was delicious. We then got on the bus and I had a very good conversation with Citsy (another girl from Estonia...so her nickname is unfortunately a variation on Etsy my roomie...hopefully I'll come up with something a bit more clever in the future). She was teaching me about the Estonian language and I was intensely thrilled with it all. I couldn't bring myself to attempt to say anything for fear of completely massacring her language. For some reason someone speaking English with an accent doesn't bother me in the least but I can't bear speaking someone else's language with my own accent. Is that pathetic?

Perhaps. XD

But all the same it was so much fun! Talking with her was a real thrill and I learned quite a bit. We then got off the bus and walked back home. I made myself some food~

There's a trip next weekend to Wales and...*drumroll* CARDIFF! The spot we get off at is at Cardiff Castle, a 25 minute walk from the Doctor Who Exhibition. So, depending on how much free time is given, I will get a £31 ticket and go. Because seriously, the prices for tickets I've seen are much higher. *nod nod* But if I can't make it to the DWE then...it's not worth it in the least. I need to make it there! Have to!

Anyway, the pub right by my rez opens today so we're all going out tonight.

Byeee!!

:: Julianne ::