Bath (December 5, 2009)

The base was offering a day trip to the Christmas Markets in Bath, so we decided to go.  We went more for Bath than for the markets, and that turned out well since most people were there for the markets.  The actual Roman baths were not crowded at all.

We paused outside the entrance to the Baths to get a picture of the beautiful Bath Abbey outside. 

We got inside and the tour wand came with the admission price, so despite our Tower of London experience we tried again.  It turned out you could listen to a variety of recordings and you could pick which to listen to as you went along.  It was a better system by far for a family trying to stay on the same page. :)  They even had a special group of recordings for kids, which weren't as graphic and were more silly sometimes.

The main bath, seen from above.  There would have been a ceiling back when the Romans used it. Much of what you see today is recreated, at least on the top part.  It was rediscovered and excavated in the 18th century. There are many baths in the complex, there were some that were hotter, some that were colder, some that were really cold.  There were even locker rooms (so to speak) where they used the steam to heat the room from below the floor.  Very cool.

While we were up on the walkway above the baths, we could look over the wall and see the shops set up for the Christmas Market.  Neat, but crowded!

Looking out a window at where the hot water comes in.  This is as close as we got to the hot water coming in, and it was bubbling, but they said it was natural gasses, not boiling bubbles.  :)

All of us by the main bath, downstairs.  What's crazy is that you could totally jump in if you wanted to.  There's nothing stopping you, not even any guards around.  Of course, the pool is lead lined, so that can't be good for you... but still.  I do wonder how many people "acidentally" fall in every year.

We just stepped right over where the water came into the main bath.

This was inside, and it's just a drainage canal, but the Romans knew how to make everything aesthetically pleasing.  It seemed to be a waterfall, not run off. 

In the Pump Room, you can taste the water from the spring.  It wasn't as bad as we had heard, it was minerally, but fine.  One sip was enough, though back in the day it was recommended that a person drink liters and liters of it to get healthy!

Scott and the girls at the counter for the mineral water.

We left the baths and went out into the Christmas Market, and the first thing we saw was a carousel.  So the girls rode it.  :)  The markets were like Disneyland on New Year's Eve - WAY too crowded.  So we shopped a tiny bit and headed out of the crowds and over to the river to get some fresh air.

This is the Avon river, the bridge is the Pulteney Bridge - it looks just like a regular street when you're on it, with shops and everything.  Very cool. The weir sure was pretty.

Don't ask me why they have stairs in the middle of the river, they just do.  LOL

Cambria took a picture of me from on top of Scott's shoulders!  Nice rain hair, huh?

One of the main streets with market stalls.

On our way back to our shuttle bus, we thought we'd stop for something warm to drink.  Check out the name of this coffee shop - what a crack up!  LOL

All in all, a good day in Bath, though there is so much more to see.  We'll head back in the spring or summer when we can really enjoy the beauty of the town and its gardens.