Sign in with Facebook"Looking for Romans, finding Phillip" Bath by iandsmith
Bath Travel Guide: 910 reviews and 1,998 photos
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.
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:Wonderfully historic, lovely sandstone buildings, great gardens
- Cons:The train fare from London
- In a nutshell:Take the free tour and soak it up
Reviews (24)
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Comments (18)
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
What a likable page. I like your way of writing. Greets.
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!
I was only in Bath once, quite some years ago, and can't remember much about it now. Thanks for jogging my memory.
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...
That is too bad that guy Colin was making fun of your accent, eheheh You still called him nice though! Nice page on Bath :-)