Bath - 3 July

We continued our Roman theme today with a visit to Bath.

 Every time I go I intend on getting over to the Assembly rooms and every time I go I don't make it. Today was no exception! But I knew I wanted the kids to see the Roman baths. We had the best lunch of our trip (Cornish pasties!!) in the Parade Gardens and then we hit the baths.

It's a hot spring - you can see the bubbles in the pool. This blows my mind somewhat, that it's still going and still hot!

Roman drains, still going strong!

They have changed the museum and exhibits since I was there last... as well as the baths complex being totally impressive all by itself, the museum was one of the best I've been to, anywhere. We spent ages there! The kids were all totally engrossed by the stories on their audio guides, even the little two. Everywhere we looked they were begging for the next number to punch in to listen to the information. It was awesome!

Original plumbing!

At the end of the museum there's a tap, and you can partake of the waters. I'm sure that's how they would have said it in the eighteenth century. It is pretty smelly and rather nasty - who likes drinking warm water? blech - but we all had some, just to say we'd done it! I was amused by the fact that all the way around the baths there are signs up saying don't touch the water, it's not safe... but then they let you drink it?!

After the baths we went into Jane Austen's Bath. We went up to the Circus and paraded along the Royal Crescent. The kids had no idea why we there. I told them that when they read Jane Austen or Georgette Heyer's books when they're older they will able to picture the heroines in their proper context, and they would thank me then. I'll have to wait a few years but I still think it was worth it!

By the time we were done there we discovered that there was no time to get across town to the Assembly rooms, so my dreams of swanning across the dance floor pretending to be Anne Elliott or Catherine Morland were dashed, once again. I don't think the boys would have understood, anyway. We were probably better off with the Romans!