A wonderful adventure for Spring Break started only five days ago, but feels like far longer. Nothing like the pursuit of new discoveries to bring life into focus with far greater clarity.
My aunt and I arrived in Bath yesterday afternoon to relatively clear skies. This was fortunate because our directions to Henrietta House took us in a circuitous route that allowed us to see far more of the city than was necessary with our bags. We were pleased to discover our B&B was not just reasonable but delightfully quaint.
Bath has celebrated two great phases in it's history, the discovery of the hot springs and subsequent building by the Romans, then the building to entertains the wealthy and middle classes in the Georgian times. Our first stop was Cream Tea for two - complete with Earl Grey tea, two scones each, our choice of salted or unsalted butter, jam and devonshire cream. Then next stop was the thermal baths.
A new thermal spa has recently been built to provide the true experience of what the Romans and English in Georgian times flocked to the area to experience. You enter for 2 hours, 4 hours, or the entire day. I paid my £26 to enter for two hours and went to the roof top pool overlooking the city. Experience with Harrison Hot Springs and Fairmont Hot Springs had me expecting very hot water. The pools in both the rooftop and indoor pools are kept a little cooler than body temperature, apparently optimal temperature for bathing pools. My initial thought was that I wouldn't be staying the entire time to float in these pools. Then I discovered them.
The steam rooms were on the middle level. Four cylindrical shaped glass steam rooms were lit with four different colours of light in a dim room with a mineral water circular shower in the middle. The green room was scented with eucalyptus and mint. The purple room was lotus flower. The red room was sandalwood. My very favorite room was scented with lemongrass and ginger. The rest of the time floated in the process of heating up, cooling down in a pool, in the shower or on the outdoor terrace. This is what the baths were all about. The pursuit of complete relaxation. Something far too elusive in my life. The good German/ Scottish work ethic has not really allowed for this to fully unfold. Perhaps I need to live in Bath or take something of Bath home with me.
Today another massive and splendid English breakfast. The farm that my sausage and bacon came from was cited and the orange/ pear juice was a smoothie of real juice. We discovered today that Jane Austen was not exaggerating about the windy, cold rain that pelts down in the country. Our first decision was to buy tickets for the Hop On Hop Off bus rather than take a leisurely stroll through the rain. We hoped off at the Jane Austen Museum. Jane Austen is one of my "coping with life strategies". I have my own well watched dvd's and Netflix for backup to deal with the stressors of life. So I LOVED the museum and delighted in having Cream Tea once again in the tea room.
We Hopped on to finish our City Tour. Then it was off to The Roman Baths. It was like walking into another time. Yet the whole notion of a current day swimming pool was very much there. NI Loved this quote:
"The picture is not complete without some quarrelsome fellow, a thief caught in the act, or the man who loves the sound of his own voice in the bath- not to mention those who jump in with a tremendous splash."
Seneca
Epistulae Morales, 56
1st century AD
This could be Kits Pool in summer
When we Hopped On the bus again, we headed for the Abbey. Inadvertently we ended up in a very deserted St. John's Cathedral and were able to explore on our own until closing time. Very cool. Then the rector shepherded us out to see the steam train that only comes through town once a week. A significant event that we needed to witness.
When we did make it to the Abbey, it was in time for Evensong. Attending church for worship rather than to sightsee brings a difference in perspective. The voices, the music from the huge pipe organ as well as the beauty of the architecture and the stained glass made for a very moving experience. Quite perfect in fact.
Our next stop was the oldest
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