Part 2- Bath and Stonehenge

Welcome back to The Tiny Paper and Part II of the weekly blog.

Here we go, on a journey to Bath and Stonehenge, Saturday 18 July.

We packed up from our Bungalow in Wales and drove South West toward Bath, sadly having missed, due to rain, the outdoor Friday evening production of Merchant of Venice, or as Mike repeatedly, mistakenly referred to it as, "The Virgin of Menace". We were originally intending to go to a dog show in Mid England, but decided that we would much prefer seeing Stonehenge if we had to choose between the two. Since we were heading in the general direction of one of my most esteemed locations, I requested that we stop in Bath and see the Roman Spa and Pump House. One of the many locations on the UNESCO list of world heritage sights. UNESCO is The United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation, and it has an incredible list of locations designated for their cultural and scientific significance. Bath, and the Roman Bath & Spa are both on this list.

At this juncture of the trip, it was clear that my travel mates were completely accommodating my wishes on this side trip. Neil was certain that I would be quite disappointed with the Spas, but since I had wished to see them for so many years, I felt that good or bad I would be satisfied having experienced what I had so long dreamed of.

I am also very fond of Bath, having first heard of it while reading Jane Austin novels in my late teens and twenties. It always seemed to me such a rich and historic place, full of special character.

After parking we walked over to the Jane Austin Centre. We briefly walked in, but people were packed in like sardines, and I had the impression that it was a rather over-rated gift shop. I can not state that as fact, as I couldn't see a darned thing, but that is what it felt like. I would like to visit Bath again, and I would definitely take a look at the Centre again to see if I missed anything interesting there.

(I look ridiculous in this picture because of the crowds and irritation in actually getting to FINALLY take the picture!)

We walked south, following the signs to the Roman Baths and Pump House. Bath does have a lot of character and it is a bustling town centre as well. We walked around a corner and we were faced with the most beautiful Abbey. Next to the Abbey was a very long line, in drizzling rain, for the Roman Bath and Pump House. I felt that I should carry this burden, as no one else seemed quite as keen to see it as I was, so I suggested they tour Bath Abbey, while I waited in line and obtained the tickets for the Roman Baths.

They were quite impressed with the Abbey, and we got our audio tour head sets for the Roman Baths. Michael was ecstatic about this new form of media, and quickly and enthusiastically set about finding numbers and programming them into his Audio device.

The Roman Baths are stunning. I have never seen anything quite as unique and interesting as this ancient YMCA. There is a plethora of artifacts, and the audio tour is interesting and complete. To walk on flooring that was once obscured, then excavated and restored to a fraction of it's once known splendor is a treat to the senses. White stone, green water, gemstones, pewter curse cards, and tombstones that had been found recycled as part of the cities walled defenses can be seen.

There are many corridors and rooms to discover, and there are signs that tell you that you are NOT to drink, or even touch the water as it is untreated. I am a bit of a worrier about illness as many of you know, but even the germs and certain death from the black plague could not keep me from dipping one finger into the hot running water that flows into the pool, and it touted to be 10,000 years old. In the picture below, Mike and I proudly display our naughty fingers....and I haven't died yet!



After our amazing tour, which we were all very pleased with, we decide to eat. We had lunch at gascoyne place. Check out Mike's fish and chips!

I could have spent several days in Bath, but we had an agenda, so off we went toward Salisbury and the infamous Stonehenge. A lovely 1 and a half hour drive through the countryside and little villages with thatched roof Tudor cottages.

It was raining when we got there, but stopped while we were about 1/3 rd of the way through the tour, which also conveniently supplied Audio sets.

Stonehenge is amazing. It is prehistoric, and mossy. You can almost see how cold and solid the stones would feel if you could touch them. The symmetry is beautiful, and you can only wonder what the plan was when these stones were moved here and what purpose they would serve. As you look around at the massive green mounds throughout the pastures, you learn that these are where bodies were buried thousands of years ago. Before we left, a rainbow appeared behind the heel stone, offering the perfect ending for our tour.

Part 3, to be posted in the next few days, will take us to London, and up to the very hour in which I write this now, wherein Michael is riding through the mountains of West Virginia, beginning his summer vacation in America.

Til next time