We all herded onto the bus and rolled over to Dyrham Park before continuing on to Bath.
At Dyrham ("deer" park) we saw a late 17th century old manor house and the grounds
Everything was so green...due to the rain falling on our heads.
Thank goodness I remembered to bring my umbrella.
The gardens were beautiful and there was a charming private cemetery nearby.
We had entrance to the house and were able to see how the rooms were set up.
Manor houses were basically the residence of wealthy slave-owners back in the day.
We got to try "perry"? Wine made from their own grown pears?....it wasn't bad.
They also had a gift shop and since I was headed to a Jane Austen city...I had to buy a book of Austen quotes. :)
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| the Dyrham manor house |
Bus ride from there to Bath.
My goodness...everyone was so squirrelly!
I guess everyone finally woke up. lol...
but this meant that the bus became very noisy and people were making unnecessary comments after everything Mark said. This wouldn't have bothered me so bad if I wasn't so sleepy and had a headache. I was annoyed.
So when we got to Bath and had checked into our YMCA hostel rooms, all I wanted to do was sleep...I knew that would adjust my attitude. Everyone else decided to go out for a walk in the city for our little free time before we went to the Roman Baths...I don't even think Emily my hostel roomie knew I was planning on taking a nap.
Because I couldn't hear much that Mark said on the bus, I assumed we were meeting in the hostel lounge to walk over together to the baths....so I woke up in time to freshen up a bit and went down to the lounge.
....empty....
crap! Where is everyone??
It hit me that we were probably supposed to meet Mark at the baths...so I called someone to confirm this...who put me on the phone with Mark...who directed me to the meeting place. haha! I didn't even look at my map...I just walked outside and looked for the tall spires on the Bath Abbey and made a beeline for it because they were waiting for me (or so I felt).
I hate being late, having people waiting for me, and feeling left behind. These things all at once?....you get a frantic Amy...especially when she just woke up from a nap and is still a little groggy. lol
So I zig-zagged through the crowd in front of the Abbey (some wedding was going on) and found Mark waiting for me. I went to him and we started to go into the Roman Baths when someone grabbed my arm from behind. I expected it to be one of my friends on the program...or some creeper on the street...either way I spun around to glare at them. I was really in no mood to have people grabbing me.
But I turned to look into the face of my Dad! haha! I was so startled!
I knew they were going on a day trip that day and Bath was one of the places, but I did not think I would end up actually running into them.
I would have been very excited to see them. But unfortunately sometimes I have a one-track mind. "Dad! I'm already late!!" :(
He kept asking if he could have my key...but I was so exasperated after what I had just been through that my mind was not thinking properly. lol! "Are you staying at the YMCA too?" haha...no, he meant my Vandon key so mom could sleep in my room away from Dad's snoring. So I gave him my key and rushed off to join my group. I felt like I blew him off and I feel bad about this now. But at the time I felt like everyone was waiting for me and Mark was right there. sigh...oh well...Dad understood.
After taking a little time to compose myself...lol, I get really shaken up when my pre-organized schedule is messed with. Organizer is definitely my spiritual gift. lol...one of them anyway. :)
The Baths were really cool! I love Roman architecture and historical ruins.
Here's a little info about the Roman baths and the city in general:
"The Romans were the first people to tap the hot springs of Bath, constructing a bathhouse over the springs so that they could enjoy the benefits of the waters. The Roman Baths flourished until the fifth century AD, lying forgotten until they were finally excavated some 1400 years later, actually missing out on Bath's Georgian heyday, when the nearby Cross Bath and Hot Bath were in use. It was during this period that many of Bath's landmark honey-coloured buildings were constructed."
It's incredible to think that such a beautiful place like this could somehow get buried with time and needed to be excavated. I loved the designs, old statues, and redish-stones. An ancient spa and social meeting place! I love being able to see history in front of me! So cool! :) The waters were green with a lot of rust...but what else would you expect?
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| the water was a little steamy |
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| outside of the Baths...and the city square...a popular hangout during the day |
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| the Abbey in Bath was beautiful in the sunset |
That night I went to a pub with some of the group to get some food. I think I ordered beef stew...it was very good and surprisingly cheap! So I couldn't pass up the dessert! I think it was a raspberry crumble with vanilla ice cream. SO GOOD!!
The pub had a fun atmosphere. We even got a little live music from an old-timers band later in the evening. We had only planned on staying there for dinner, but ended up staying the rest of the night. haha! The locals were very friendly...a couple of the girls from our group discovered this. *wink* Poor Rachel had a creeper after her all night. He was from a group of guys who go to different pubs to watch the Rugby matches. We actually saw them the next day in the city square...wearing the same shirts and smelling awful. Yuck. We ran away before they could recognize us. Lol!
Saturday, March 19th:
our hostel gave us an English breakfast...but it really wasn't quality eating. lol, those sausages were nasty.
We were supposed to go on a boat along the river Avon that morning but it didn't work out, so instead Mark got us sight-seeing bus tickets. This was still neat! It was a great way to see the city...from the top of an open double-decker bus. I did both tours, one of the city and one of the surrounding parks and hills. Wish I could have gotten a picture over the city...but the bus was moving and trees were flying by.
It is required that all of the buildings in Bath are made from Bath stone. This stone looks dirty the older it gets...so many houses looked ancient and historical! I definitely felt like I was in a Roman city!
Our tour guide pointed out one of Jane Austen's houses when she lived here! Jane actually hated Bath...she preferred the country to the city (sounds like me). When she lived in Bath, her family became increasingly poorer and they lived in a number of houses according to their status...until they were nearly in the slums. But their generous brother offered for them to live in one of his houses in the country...where Jane had the proper atmosphere to finish/write the majority of her books. Her attitude towards Bath can sort of be made out in her novels. I've only read three of her books so far, but plan to read all of them...and Persuasion is the only book with Bath in it that I've read thus far....so I was very excited to see the city where the wealthy took their "holiday" in Jane Austen's time. :)
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| the door with the plaque by it is where she lived |
After the bus tour we kind of just walked around the cute streets and shops for awhile and watched the street performers.
My favorite street was the one right behind the Abbey with all the cafes, tea shops, and bakery's with fudge and candy apples. We got to taste some maple nut fudge that one shop was making...gooey, warm, and delicious!!
We also saw the inside of the Abbey. It was nice and bright in there...compared to some churches. I loved the high gothicly-designed ceilings.
After eating a pasty (not a huge fan), Jessica and I skipped off to the Jane Austen museum!!
The museum was located in a flat, another location where she lived in Bath.
It was small...but they don't have many artifacts from her life since she didn't become famous until after her death. I wasn't expecting anything massive.
We enjoyed walking around learning a little more about one of our favorite writers. :)
The gift shop was heaven! lol. I had to really practice some self control to keep from buying the whole store!!
My favorite purchased items are a wax and seal kit...so now I can write and seal fancy letters with an "A" for Amy:)
and....are you ready for this?
A Pride and Prejudice comic book!!
Yes.
A comic book!
So Awesome!!!
I'm purposefully not reading it until I get home. :)
We then went to the tea rooms upstairs and got a lovely table in the sun.
We had proper tea...Austen style. :) I got crumpets as well. My first crumpets. I think I'll stick with scones from now on. lol, they were nothing special.
The walls were decorated with illustrations from the books and movies.
I got my picture with Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth)...rockin the side pon. haha! love it!
After we left we just walked around some shops for awhile...including Pulteney Bridge (one of the only shop-lined inhabited bridges, in the UK anyways).
I saw a hat shop and had to go in. lol...those hats were huge!! If I only had a horse race to go to, haha! I felt like it could have been the mad hatter's shop from Alice in Wonderland. :)
I grabbed my swimsuit from the hostel and we went back into town to find some others who might like to go to the spa with me. Most everyone was in a pub watching the rugby game. Those pubs were packed! Let me tell you....they take their rugby seriously!!
No one wanted to go with me however. :( Apparently they had heard it wasn't worth it (which was not the report I had at all!)
I was a little frustrated, but I got a quick bite and by golly...I just went to the spa alone!!
Because people can't use the historical Roman baths, they have a modern thermal spa nearby.
It's a little expensive, but I needed some relax time and it was SO worth it!!
The first room I went to was the sauna. In this large steamy room, there were four smaller glass- hot-sauna compartments that you could sit in. Each compartment had a different scent put into the air. The heat, steam, and strong smell really cleared up the sinuses!
My favorite scent was a musky pine smell. There was a minty room as well...but it made my eyes sore.The rooms were so steamy that you could hardly see anyone else.
Once you had enough of the heat in these small compartments, you could go out into the middle of the room and stand under pouring water from the ceiling to cool off. :)
There were also basins along the walls of the room that you could rest your feet in bubbling water. So lovely. :)
On the roof of the spa there was a large pool...basically a large hot tub, one side even bubbled. I went at night, so everything was lit up and I could see down into the sparkling city. Ahhh...
Mark had told us earlier that the moon that night was supposed to be closer to the earth than it's been in many years...and therefore larger. So I was able to see the big bright moon and stars as I soaked. :) How perfect!
I saw Jason in this pool, a guy also in the London program, and we chatted for awhile about what we had done that day. He told me he went to the American museum in Bath and learned about how the British basically think of our "American cowboys" as "Greek Gods" or mythological heroes! lol!
mmm
It was so nice. :) I'm not a big swimmer, but saunas and hot tubs with the moon and stars above me? yes please!! :) Great ending to my wonderful day.
I didn't know what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised. :)
"Set in rural Wiltshire, Lacock village is famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings, and its more recent role as a television and film location. The Abbey museum celebrates the achievements of former resident William Henry Fox Talbot, famous for his contributions to the invention of photography. Dating back to the 13th century, Lacock remains largely unchanged over the centuries and has many limewashed, half-timbered and stone houses. During the Middle Ages Lacock became a prosperous and thriving town through its wool industry.
This is all I knew coming in...OH! and that Harry Potter was filmed at the Abbey. :)
So, of course, I made a beeline there. :D
The Abbey was separated from the rest of Lacock, surrounded by woods and pasture.
I walked around it and found the entrance, felt like I was entering the basement through the open stone door....then...
BAM!!! HALLS OF HOGWARTS!!
I might have started giggling and bouncing around. sigh...I can be so immature sometimes. :)
They used the cloisters of the Abbey as the hallways of Hogwarts in the first movie....along with some of the surrounding arched-ceiling rooms as classrooms and where Harry finds the Mirror of Erised!
Oh my goodness!!
I was SO THERE!! unreal!
I just stood in the halls looking all around me gaping. lol! Dude, Harry Potter walked this same foor! :)
The rest of the Abbey was an old country house that we could tour...and also see the window where the first (ever?) picture was taken!
Next I caught up with Megan and Jake and we walked over to the town...stopping for a bit to eat in the Stable tea room. Like usual, I got my cream tea and scones with clotted cream and jam....along with a bowl of leek and potato soup.
Mmm
...I write about food a lot. It's kind of a problem. I just love to eat!
We then explored the streets of Lacock...so darling!! They have taken great pains to keep the village looking authentic and historical. Not a telephone pole in sight! :)
Because of this, many movies have been filmed here. Two of my personal favorites being Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version...as Meryton) and Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter!
The stone and limewashed with timber houses were so charming and quaint!
This is the kind of England I dreamed about coming to...not the bustling modern-day London.
Mark told us that to own a house in Lacock is VERY expensive. Most of the cottages in the village are owned by wealthy people in London who use them as summer or weekend get-aways.
ahhh....maybe if I marry a rich man someday he can buy me a summer house here. :)
We walked over to the church and graveyard where Harry's parents are buried in the movie. I also went in the church and found a photo album in the back with pictures of a Wedding that the royal family had attended there not long ago. haha! oh...Prince Harry and Harry Potter. :)
We were all sad about having to go back to London. I could have spent a week in Bath and Lacock. Definitely my kind of England...cozy cottages, small villages, rolling green hills and sheep. How lovely!
Like I said, it also had that "country" feel that made me feel comfortable and at home.
I'm so glad the weather cooperated with us. If I wasn't already...I fell in love with England this weekend!!! :)
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| the Jane Austen Centre |
It was small...but they don't have many artifacts from her life since she didn't become famous until after her death. I wasn't expecting anything massive.
We enjoyed walking around learning a little more about one of our favorite writers. :)
The gift shop was heaven! lol. I had to really practice some self control to keep from buying the whole store!!
My favorite purchased items are a wax and seal kit...so now I can write and seal fancy letters with an "A" for Amy:)
and....are you ready for this?
A Pride and Prejudice comic book!!
Yes.
A comic book!
So Awesome!!!
I'm purposefully not reading it until I get home. :)
We then went to the tea rooms upstairs and got a lovely table in the sun.
We had proper tea...Austen style. :) I got crumpets as well. My first crumpets. I think I'll stick with scones from now on. lol, they were nothing special.
The walls were decorated with illustrations from the books and movies.
I got my picture with Mr. Darcy (Colin Firth)...rockin the side pon. haha! love it!
 |
| the only image we have of Jane Austen...a picture drawn by her sister Cassandra. (the original is in the Portrait Gallery in London...much smaller) |
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| my crumpets |
After we left we just walked around some shops for awhile...including Pulteney Bridge (one of the only shop-lined inhabited bridges, in the UK anyways).
I saw a hat shop and had to go in. lol...those hats were huge!! If I only had a horse race to go to, haha! I felt like it could have been the mad hatter's shop from Alice in Wonderland. :)
I grabbed my swimsuit from the hostel and we went back into town to find some others who might like to go to the spa with me. Most everyone was in a pub watching the rugby game. Those pubs were packed! Let me tell you....they take their rugby seriously!!
No one wanted to go with me however. :( Apparently they had heard it wasn't worth it (which was not the report I had at all!)
I was a little frustrated, but I got a quick bite and by golly...I just went to the spa alone!!
Because people can't use the historical Roman baths, they have a modern thermal spa nearby.
It's a little expensive, but I needed some relax time and it was SO worth it!!
The first room I went to was the sauna. In this large steamy room, there were four smaller glass- hot-sauna compartments that you could sit in. Each compartment had a different scent put into the air. The heat, steam, and strong smell really cleared up the sinuses!
My favorite scent was a musky pine smell. There was a minty room as well...but it made my eyes sore.The rooms were so steamy that you could hardly see anyone else.
Once you had enough of the heat in these small compartments, you could go out into the middle of the room and stand under pouring water from the ceiling to cool off. :)
There were also basins along the walls of the room that you could rest your feet in bubbling water. So lovely. :)
On the roof of the spa there was a large pool...basically a large hot tub, one side even bubbled. I went at night, so everything was lit up and I could see down into the sparkling city. Ahhh...
Mark had told us earlier that the moon that night was supposed to be closer to the earth than it's been in many years...and therefore larger. So I was able to see the big bright moon and stars as I soaked. :) How perfect!
I saw Jason in this pool, a guy also in the London program, and we chatted for awhile about what we had done that day. He told me he went to the American museum in Bath and learned about how the British basically think of our "American cowboys" as "Greek Gods" or mythological heroes! lol!
mmm
It was so nice. :) I'm not a big swimmer, but saunas and hot tubs with the moon and stars above me? yes please!! :) Great ending to my wonderful day.
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| the moon that night!!! |
Sunday, March 20th:
I was determined to get a famous Bath bun from Sally Lunes bakery before we left Bath.
So I got up early and headed out...crossing my fingers that they were open on a Sunday morning.
Of course not. Hardly anything is.
I ended up walking down the darling bakery-lined streets, fresh morning air, and very few people. Mmm...it was nice. :)
I love going for morning walks when the streets aren't busy...everything is so peaceful and quiet.
I can't do this in London...not as safe as a smaller city like Bath.
I found a shop that was just opening up and bought a Bath bun (nothing special...just a bun with raisins and crusted sugar) and went to Costa to get tea. It was nice to actually be able to sit by the window and enjoy my tea and bun without feeling so crowded! Loved it!
The morning was gorgeous. Perfect weather and the sun made everything golden. :D ahhh...
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| One of my favorite streets in Bath...with Sally Lunes...where I was "supposed" to have breakfast that morning |
We were all really sad to leave Bath. I know I didn't want to leave! It felt much more like home than any place I've been here so far. The atmosphere of the smaller city, combined with the beautiful sights and countryside were very refreshing. I couldn't live in London for more than a semester...but I could definitely see myself being able to live in Bath. :)
But...sigh...we had to move on. :(
We all got on the bus and drove through the beautiful rolling hills and green sheep pastures of the Cotswolds to a small village called Lacock.
I didn't know what to expect, and I was pleasantly surprised. :)
"Set in rural Wiltshire, Lacock village is famous for its picturesque streets, historic buildings, and its more recent role as a television and film location. The Abbey museum celebrates the achievements of former resident William Henry Fox Talbot, famous for his contributions to the invention of photography. Dating back to the 13th century, Lacock remains largely unchanged over the centuries and has many limewashed, half-timbered and stone houses. During the Middle Ages Lacock became a prosperous and thriving town through its wool industry.
This is all I knew coming in...OH! and that Harry Potter was filmed at the Abbey. :)
So, of course, I made a beeline there. :D
The Abbey was separated from the rest of Lacock, surrounded by woods and pasture.
I walked around it and found the entrance, felt like I was entering the basement through the open stone door....then...
BAM!!! HALLS OF HOGWARTS!!
I might have started giggling and bouncing around. sigh...I can be so immature sometimes. :)
They used the cloisters of the Abbey as the hallways of Hogwarts in the first movie....along with some of the surrounding arched-ceiling rooms as classrooms and where Harry finds the Mirror of Erised!
Oh my goodness!!
I was SO THERE!! unreal!
I just stood in the halls looking all around me gaping. lol! Dude, Harry Potter walked this same foor! :)
The rest of the Abbey was an old country house that we could tour...and also see the window where the first (ever?) picture was taken!
 | ||||
| enter the Abbey through this door |
 |
| HOGWARTS |
Next I caught up with Megan and Jake and we walked over to the town...stopping for a bit to eat in the Stable tea room. Like usual, I got my cream tea and scones with clotted cream and jam....along with a bowl of leek and potato soup.
Mmm
...I write about food a lot. It's kind of a problem. I just love to eat!
We then explored the streets of Lacock...so darling!! They have taken great pains to keep the village looking authentic and historical. Not a telephone pole in sight! :)
Because of this, many movies have been filmed here. Two of my personal favorites being Pride and Prejudice (the BBC version...as Meryton) and Godric's Hollow in Harry Potter!
The stone and limewashed with timber houses were so charming and quaint!
This is the kind of England I dreamed about coming to...not the bustling modern-day London.
Mark told us that to own a house in Lacock is VERY expensive. Most of the cottages in the village are owned by wealthy people in London who use them as summer or weekend get-aways.
ahhh....maybe if I marry a rich man someday he can buy me a summer house here. :)
We walked over to the church and graveyard where Harry's parents are buried in the movie. I also went in the church and found a photo album in the back with pictures of a Wedding that the royal family had attended there not long ago. haha! oh...Prince Harry and Harry Potter. :)
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| maybe the house where Harry met that creepy snake lady |
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| the chapel the royal family went to a wedding in...and the graveyard from Godric's Hollow is right behind it |
Like I said, it also had that "country" feel that made me feel comfortable and at home.
I'm so glad the weather cooperated with us. If I wasn't already...I fell in love with England this weekend!!! :)
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