Our internet has been broken for what seems like aaaages but it's all up and running now so I can continue with the occasional sojourn into blogland.
So where was I?
Right-o. Bath! I believe we were heading towards the Roman Baths when Virgin decided I shouldn't be reporting. So back to that. Just a few pictures and musings … I've much else to share as well!
We got audio guides at the baths. They were like giant handheld mobile phones with a neck strap. You just wore it like bad costume jewellery until you saw a sign like the one above. Then you typed in the relevant number, pressed the green button to 'go' and then listened to the stories that have been pre-recorded. I listened to the Bill Bryson commentaries when they were available: mostly Bryson just expressing his hey-shoo-wow awe in very literary terms.
Mom listening to her audio guide. Because you have to hold the guide-phone up to your ear, most groups split up until they were just solitary individuals wandering around the displays, following the guide's instructions. ("look behind Minerva's head. Can you see the missing pieces? That's where…" etc.)
Lookee, some old coins! How beautiful they are. And how shiny. Those are earrings on the right – look very similar to my own, some 1800 years later. Oh, civilisation, how we've advanced.
They had quite a few of these displays to illustrate the kind of people and lifestyles that were prevalent at the time. Fascinating!
This is an indoors spring. Isn't it beautiful? It's so dark inside. They say that the water hasn't be filtered or purified so it's quite harmful to you – – even if you just dip your toes in! It was rather tempting though: the average temperature was 40'!
You have to walk through the exhibitions for about an hour before you get a glimpse of the baths. And then they kind of sneak up on you and make it all worthwhile.
It was really beautiful. Enormous bath, veerrry hot water, amazing architecture and just look at those statues!
The bath with Bath Abbey in the background. You'd never guess that this is what was hiding behind the walls when you're standing outside the Abbey. Rather remarkable.
Mom standing in front of the baths. You can get quite close up!
But there are still people watching and waiting for you to try get your toes all warm and cosy. They are all dressed up like Romans, of course. Novel!
The Bath again. You can see where the water used to be – – that dark line going around the buildings. Also, above the line are round handles for when you're lazing in the hot water and you want something to hold on. What a way to cure your ailments! And not to mention, to socialise and hobnob with the who's-who of the day.
Mom and Robyn listening to their audioguides.
A rather beautiful wishing-spa! You toss your coins in and make a wish. And then it sparkles for all of our cameras to capture. See how big it is! That is a lot of coins.
You have to exit through the gift shop! Sneaky!
… And then there's the Abbey.
It's quite something. Each stone that made up the floor was a mini-tombstone, in memoriam.
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