Bath in Daylight

Sunday 26 November, 2008

This was our first view of Bath as we approached the centre over a paddock yesterday. We’d seen nothing like it the night before and we stood in awe.

Bath is narrow ancient streets of creamy bathstone and cobbles, churches and the Abbey, the Roman Baths and buskers, street performers and sightseers. More people than we’ve seen together in one place since London. Crowded and a bit crass, I’m afraid.

I had a lot to look at, though: all the places associated with Jane Austen from her holidays and later residence here. So many scenes from “Northanger Abbey” and “Persuasion” played out among the Georgian structures.

Image via Wikipedia

We walked around looking at the buildings where Jane and her family had stayed, where Anne Elliot had gone to the theatre, where Catherine Morton and Isabella Thorpe had followed the two insufferable swains from the assembly rooms. I enjoyed it, despite the hordes blocking my way at every step. Alex was mightily patient.

His favourite activity was watching the jugglers, the card tricksters and acrobats in the square in front of the Abbey. He must have spent a couple of hours in the first row, collecting the jokes and savouring the death-defying moves. Back down the hill to Bath today, to go inside the Abbey and the Baths, to have a (very expensive) cup of coffee at the Pump Room.

Go here to see a selection of the Bath photos.

Tomorrow morning (early!) we leave for Wales and the Brecon Beacons.