Gentle days in Bath

Bath's lush green bowl that hugs the city.



Me at Jane Austen's old house--she didn't really approve of Bath, but whatever.



Bath terrorist controlling his allergies.



Bath's Royal Crescent--now the city's finest Georgian era apartments.



The Roman pumphouse--only one of Bath's baths. There was also the cross bath, the hot bath, and so on. For the Romans bathing was art.



The main bath with the Cathedral in the background, which is on the spot of what was the bath's main temple to Minerva.



The main bath again--it was just so inviting despite its algae green colour. It really is the temperature of a nice warm bath.



Experience the tranquility...



...we are.



Light pouring into the Cathedral.



Despite Austen's feelings for Bath, we quite enjoyed it. A beautiful, green city with gorgeous limestone architecture. The Baths were definitely worth admission. For 2000 years, pilgrims came here to pray, to seek assistance and healing, to relax. Interestingly, all the Roman drainage still operates. And their lead lining at the bottom of the main bath still keeps it water tight. They would have bathed in clear, warm water. Later the English removed the roof and it is the sunlight that makes algea grow and the water turn green. During excavations, they found many offerings to Minerva in the bottom of the pools--personal items, household items. Most interestingly were written curses asking the goddess to curse whoever stole their pitcher or did them a bad turn. It is hard to imagine these ancient peoples sometimes until you read these curses, and then you realize, oh, they were human, just like us. They made the same ground a place to ask for blessings for themselves and curses for their neighbour. It sounds familiar, doesn't it?