Day 7

Today was our field trip to Bath. We started off at 8:30 in the morning. Grabbed our packed lunches and headed out back to the bus.After about and hour and a half drive wevmade it to the town of Bath! On our drive over we passed beautiful green fields spotted with sheep!

 

When we made it into town we all piled out of the coach and started our walk to the baths. I only almost died twice due to either a car or bus so I thought it was a good walk! When we made it to the baths we listened to a lady singing in the square. She had a beautiful and amazing voice. She was singing a piece ftom the Titanic I believe... not sure I've never seen the Titanic so I can't verify it.

We then walked through the baths. They hand you these audio listening tape things that you can listen to the descriptions of the exhibits through. I would much rather read the descriptions than listen to them though.

 

After we made it through the baths a group of us stopped in the center for packed lunches. There we encountered the pigeon man! I kid you not the "Feed the Birds" song from Mary Poppins was running through my head the whole time. We rounded the corner and came upon a live statue man. He was pretty amazing as you will see below...

 

After lunch we all decided to head for gelato and pretty much took up half of the gelato store for almost an hour. Then the whole group (or most of us) met in front of the Bath Abbey and went on a tour of the inside. I really felt a spiritual awakening in the Abbey and was able to get about half of a rosary said while we were inside (I'll have to finish the other half later). It was absolutely glorious and divine. Just stepping inside made me want to be a better person!

 

When we finished our Abbey tour (I didn't want to leave by the way so if I don't make it home you can send me letters there) we got a guided tour around the city of Bath on the architecture that was present there. John Wood Sr. is one of the famous architects in history that truly changed how houses were being constructed. His vision was uniformity throughout the town of Bath building these housing complexes that looked like palaces.

 

We all met up at the coach after our tour and rode back home together. Everyone was so exhausted that we were all just trying to find a comfortable position to sleep in on the coach. We made back in just in time for dinner and everyone had about an hour to relax before the optional (very fun) movie night. We watched the film "Life of Pi" and every time I see it I just find more and more symbolism within the movie. It really seems to me that the author is telling a story that could be very similar to C.S. Lewis' own personal journey to Christianity. It was absolutely fantastic! Oh and the snacks were delicious as well!

 

Just to prove that England is not always gray and rainy!

One of the more modern looking buildings is actually the college.

For those at home who complain about rest stop bathrooms. Trust me these are way worse...

One of the many bathhouses in Bath.

Bath Abbey from the front.

Some of the majestic details of the Abbey.

The Roman Bath house.

A cool sign post

The wonderful lady with the fantastic voice!

And she had a Winnie the Pooh wallet so I know she also has great taste!

A beautiful chandelier in the entry way of the Roman bath house.

A Roman statue that was added after the Romans had left... Long after in fact it was created in the 19th century.

The bath from above

A really cool model of what the baths would have looked like.

and in a little more solid form...

The following are some of the artifacts recovered from the baths.

Mosaic tiles that would have been found on the floor of the baths.

A boar statue

There were a multitude of roman gravestones in the museum.

Beautiful ancient jewelry.

This tin mask was found in the drain of the baths.

These were curses on neighbors and family members that would have been melted in the fire to be sent to the gods.

The underground area of the baths. It did not smell very pleasant.

This was the start of a temple to one of the gods.

This was a rendition of that gods head.

A headdress.

It was a Roman-Irish brooch found in the baths.

One of the baths sources of water.

Some of the many gemstones found in the baths.

Some real life romans waiting to use the baths!

Piping to (or from) the baths.

A little pool set aside from the rest of the baths.



Brick arch

 

Enjoying the serenity of the baths! Thinking "ah spa!"

You can see the Abbey from the baths.

East pool (I think?)

Empty bath



Some of the lovely hot springs water for you to drink.

It was warm and disgusting!



Pigeon Man!

Amethyst was so brave! 



Drew totally rocked the pigeon look!

This performer was amazing! He was exactly like a real statue!!

Here we are enjoying packed lunches

More of the abbey

This seagull just didn't quite belong...



Gelato anyone?

Pistachio seemed to be the flavor of the day...



Listening and singing along to the Bohemian Rhapsody that was being played by some performers.

These guys were really good.

Inside of the abbey.

See the beautiful fanning at the top?

 

 

 

One of the Eagle Lecterns we learned about in class. The eagle is supposed to be looking towards the light of heaven apparently.

Amazing  Organ



Such intricate carvings... 

One of the beautiful altars that was still placed against the back wall.

 

                                       

On to a tour of bath!

One of the first row of shops.

John Woods first project

His famous Queens Square



The back of Queens Square

This is his second project called the circus. It was a complete circle of houses.

Katie one of my lovely roommates!

The houses are literally in a circle!

This building was called the crescent it was built by John Wood Jr.

This wall is called a haha wall. I will leave that to your imagination...

Beautiful common park!

Beautiful 19th century garden!

Stew showing off!

Local architecture that was done right before John Woods Sr. started his plans.

Cute little marketplace!