We booked into the Edgar Hotel in Bath but did not arrive until after dark. As our Navwoman advised us that we were arriving at our destination we turned into a scene directly out of a Jane Austen novel. The Great Pulteny Road is a very wide thoroughfare with a row of three storey Georgian houses along either side for about 500 metres. As you walk along the pavement you can look down to see each house has two floors below the road level that are actually level with the rear yard. I kept expecting to see the cast of Upstairs Downstairs to walk onto the street.
After booking in we decided to walk a short way down the road to the Avon River and over the bridge. As we turned the corner of one street both Jene and I were stopped in our tracks by the sight of the Bath Abbey lit up at the end of the street. Not only was its size impressive but the way in which it was lit just enhanced its beauty. After walking around some more we stopped for dinner opposite the Abbey and watched people passing. It was obvious that it was a university town by the number of young adults but we were also impressed that so many people were out after 9:00 enjoying the chilly night.
The next morning we had a lovely English Breakfast in the front room looking out on to the street. I felt like Professor Higgins sitting with Jen as Eliza Doolittle out of My Fair Lady. That might have been because Jen now walks around saying 'Cor Blimey' a lot!!!
We checked out but decided to stay in Bath for awhile. We looked inside the Bath Abbey which was huge with beautiful stained glass windows, ornate carvings and a huge vaulted ceiling. On the pillars there were flags representing local army regiments that used to exist and the right up the front was a threadbare Australian Flag. This was included in respect for Governor Arthur Phillip who arrived with the First Fleet in Sydney in 1788. After his term as Governor he returned to England and retired to Bath.
After our visit to the Abbey I went on a two hour walking tour of the city while Jene went shopping. On my tour we saw some of the most beautiful Georgian architecture in the form of the Circus and Royal Crescent. The city was well planned and is one of the mot beautiful cities I have visited. There were lots of nerdy things to see and learn all of which I am willing to share at any time. The folk story of Bladdad and his pigs and why they built acorn adornments on the Circle rooftops or how the University still pays a peppercorn rent to the city for its land are two of my favorites!! If anyone is planning to visit Bath you need to allow at least a full 24 hours if not longer to really appreciate it.
Unfortunately we needed to move on as we had very important people to stay with. Doreen and Derek are Scott's mums oldest friends. Doreen grew up with mum, including school and throughout mums dating period, time to get the dirt!!
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