Bakercourt's Blog

On our last night we went to a very old pub while we waited for the train. There was a team of touring South African Rugby Players! 

And we all shared a plate of chips with sachets of mayonnaise! 

The trip home was quite late so we were all tired and sleepy! That's G and I leaning over in the reflection, with Robyn napping under her hood and mom having a good laugh at the whole situation. 

Ah yes, a bit out of order, but this is G weighing himself at the station. We had quite a long wait so we were enjoying the only entertainment there. This particular picture is Robyn trying to put weight on the footplate so that we could all try and have a go. Unfortunately the scale was very clever and only had a registered weight reading for a few seconds before it reset itself!

Day two started off early with a walking tour. I was a bit concerned that there were so many very old people gathering around the meeting point (how would they keep up with the walking tour?) only to discover that those old people were our guides! The group was quite big so they split us up into smaller groups of 12. Our guide was David who told us funny stories the whole way around Bath. He also told us that all off the most important sights are within ten  minutes of the centre of Bath! That gives you an indication of how small it is. 

It was very bright, it's not just us pulling faces. 

We walked up Milsom Street – – a favourite location in the novels of Jane Austen (who lived here and wrote her most famous pieces whilst living in Bath, who knew?).

… and Bennett Street! Ah, literary friends, delight. This is the Bennetts.

We walked up to the Assembly Rooms (if ever you read about a ball in a Jane Austen novel, or a place where people gathered, this was it). Beautiful, big rooms filled with amazing chandeliers and beautiful decor. These are the original glass chandeliers!

Isn't it quaint?

This is the Circus (as in circle). The houses are built in a circular design – – they all face inwards towards a very large trio of trees (they're 200 years old, David told us). 

This is the Royal Crescent. It's spectacular! All build around in a giant arc. 

Some funny houses to the left of the Crescent. David explained the very complex geometry behind their design – fascinating. Worth visiting if you ever get the chance.

It was starting to rain at this point so we were heading back (and putting cameras away).

Finally, this is the famed avenue lined with trees that is always featured in Austen novels (David was full of Austen trivia!), featured specifically and perhaps most memorably in Persuasion. Audrey, we thought of you endlessly.

Hurrah! 

I had to stop and admire this beautiful building (a bookbinder!). I've been hunting around London for someone who offers a night-time or weekend bookbinding course but no luck so far. I'll have to keep looking. If they're in Bath, they've got to have one or two in London methinks.

We were walking to our B&B when mom spotted this hilarious restaurant sign. It's funny because it's a Dr Suess thing – one fish two fish, red fish blue fish. I think she may know the entire book off by heart by now, but we all had a good laugh at the time. 

Bath is very beautiful! This is the view of the river from the bridge that leads to the B&B. We later learned that the bridge in the photo was in fact an architectural design phenomenon that was inspired by Palladian design (as is most of Bath) and offers retail shopping space along either side of the bridge. I'll show you what I mean later.

This is our B&B room. We had two rooms but the little time we spent at 'home' we spent in this room because it was larger and sunnier. Graeme, Mom and Robyn drinking tea before we head out to explore Bath!

Robyn found this bag at Lakeland. It was starting to become a trend! Did I show you the bag she found in London? No? 

That's it. Right, so back to Bath.

After much (much) walking around which I won't share with you just yet because the sights come later, we sat down at a Bath Rugby Pub and had some lunch. Interesting artwork! It was quite funny because Graeme and I placed our order at the bar and the man said to us … 'if you need any tomato sauce, salt or mayonnaise, it's next to the cat.' It took us a while, but we soon realised that there was a giant black cat curled up in its bed – on a table next to the condiments. Luckily the sauces were all sealed up in little sachets! 

We then headed out for more walking and exploring (mostly of the shops).

And eventually, after a few hours, we were exhausted! We waited patiently while everyone tried on hiking boots. 

And then to Graeme's delight we went to another pub! Our B&B landlady recommended it – it was the Royal Oak, across from our front door, and was rumoured to be affordable and comfortable.

 Rumours were true. We had giant baked potatoes (which were delicious!) covered in chicken-mayonnaise with sweetcorn, served with a side-salad. Graeme had scampi.