"Looking for Romans, finding Phillip" Bath by iandsmith

Bath Travel Guide: 910 reviews and 1,998 photos

A mixed day indeed

Spent a week in London with a side trip to Bath on THE DAY in September.
There were people talking about it on the return platform, rumours were flying, something was happening but when we boarded the train an American couple were talking on their mobile to their children in New York. While we travelled back from Bath to London we thus got updates with tantalizing snippets of information. Then I reached the sanctity of my motel and the awful reality sank in. I'll always remember the next day being so apprehensive about leaving the safety of my room. It took me a couple of hours to summon the courage to face the world and yet I was, in more ways than one, so removed from the incident. It was a seminal moment in my life.
On the subject of Bath however, the Abbey was actually built over the site of the Roman temple to Minerva. The inside exudes a brightness due to the walls. Over 50% of them is glass!
Standing across from the Parade Gardens and next to the Roman Baths, the Abbey is the centre point of Bath.
About the time IT actually happened I was taking a picture showing an African musician in front of Bath Abbey symbolising about how good it was that cultures can intermingle harmoniously! Shows how different minds view the world differently.
I have since revisited and, as you will see from my new pages, had a totally different experience of Bath something to do with rugby.

Roman, not quite.

The "Roman" baths had lured me to Bath (amongst other things) and I hadn't done a lot of research otherwise I would have known that what is flaunted as THE ROMAN BATHS is actually only a couple of centuries old. Yes, there are remnants of the Roman Baths here but, after having been to Turkey and Italy, they really don't rate very highly.
They are often under glass or in the side areas of the baths you see here. Personally, I felt this bordered on false advertising.
What I fell in love with was the town and its more recent history. The fact that Governor Arthur Phillip, Australia's first governor, returned to England, specifically Bath, and actually died in a house pointed out by my guide was something I found fascinating, along with all the other historical gems that abound in this city of sandstone.

Pros and Cons
  • Pros:Wonderfully historic, lovely sandstone buildings, great gardens
  • Cons:The train fare from London
  • In a nutshell:Take the free tour and soak it up
  • Last visit to Bath: Oct 2005
  • Intro Updated Dec 23, 2005
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Reviews (24)

Comments (18)

  • TheWanderingCamel's Profile Photo
    Feb 9, 2007 at 6:04 PM

    Next time you're in Bath, make your way to Bathampton - not only is AP buried there, there's a lovely memorial chapel featuring Australian woods and windows with the states' crests. Did you have a Bath bun for tea whilst you were there? Nice oage - leyle

  • Pawtuxet's Profile Photo
    Dec 4, 2005 at 3:50 AM

    Thanks for filling me in on all the things I missed in Bath. Did one of those dreadful tours that hustle you through too fast. Your photos are wonderful.

  • arlequin_g's Profile Photo
    Sep 24, 2005 at 2:31 AM

    Very amazing place. I've been several times to England and have seen a lot of places, but there are always new places to discover and this is one. I have to go there.

  • grandmaR's Profile Photo
    Jul 29, 2005 at 6:22 PM

    My daughter and mother went to Bath in 1978 and their pictures were so lovely that I had to go. It was very crowded when I was there, and I didn't ever find the Circuis. I didn't find VT until after I got home - so not many pictures.

  • uglyscot's Profile Photo
    Jun 24, 2005 at 11:38 PM

    You've made my day, Ian. Now I don't feel guilty about not visiting the "Roman"Baths. I thought the ticket too expensive, and preferred to absorb the atmosphere elsewhere. Thanks.

  • olja1234's Profile Photo
    Apr 24, 2005 at 2:00 AM

    What a likable page. I like your way of writing. Greets.

  • evaanna's Profile Photo
    Mar 4, 2005 at 7:41 AM

    I was in Bath for a day years ago. Colin must have had his job then and wasn't there, but I did meet other volunteer guides, proud of their heritage at other places. A very interesting page, lovely photos!

  • steventilly's Profile Photo
    Feb 16, 2005 at 3:56 PM

    I was only in Bath once, quite some years ago, and can't remember much about it now. Thanks for jogging my memory.

  • easyoar's Profile Photo
    Feb 13, 2005 at 12:41 PM

    Last time I went to Bath, we caught a married Spanish politician with his mistress, when I pointed a long lens at him, he disappeared rather quickly. It's a nice town though! Nice tips, I'll have to try and find Colin next time I'm there...

  • jamiesno's Profile Photo
    Dec 18, 2004 at 3:42 PM

    That is too bad that guy Colin was making fun of your accent, eheheh You still called him nice though! Nice page on Bath :-)

iandsmith

“The shortest distance between two people is laughter (note sign in picture)”

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