I still have a number of posts I intend to share about my trip to England in September. I hope you won't mind being dropped back in time a little bit here and there. :)
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We arrived in Bath around lunch hour on Friday, September 13, 2013. We stored our bags at the hotel and then had a delicious meal in the hotel's restaurant, Alllium Brasserie, which boasts a Michelin chef. In the afternoon we walked about the city browsing through shops, drinking Starbucks, and catching up with friends. That evening was a meet and greet down in the lounge, but unfortunately I had a wicked migraine and stayed in our room to rest and recuperate. The next morning we gathered in our Regency finery to participate in the Grand Regency Promenade held each year as part of the annual Jane Austen Festival.
Here's some video footage I found on YouTube. Our group is featured from about 1:00-1:15.
The afternoon was ours to explore Bath. I took in the display at the Roman Baths site. It was interesting but I found the place hot and crowded and did not feel like being enclosed that way. The baths were fascinating but I felt too claustrophobic to linger. I confess to hurrying through as quickly as possible. I do plan on reading more about the baths though.
I did a little bit of souvenier shopping for friends and family and then headed off to find a delightful yarn shop called wool.
After picking out some yarn, needles, and patterns, Judah and I strolled upward to the Jane Austen Centre to have tea in their tea room and browse in their shop. I highly recommend the "Jane Austen" tea blend available for purchase or order.
Judah was snapped up by one of the servers while I paid for tea. It was a few minutes before I got him back!
I've included photos of me from the 2010 (pregnant with Emma) with the greeter at the centre who is apparently the most photographed man in England. I also had to have a photo with the statue of Jane of course!
That evening was the ball at the Assembly Rooms. However, I did not attend as when the tickets were booked I had not yet had Judah and didn't know if I would be able to go with a baby or not.
Judah being the laid back, happy baby that he is, I could have gone, but it gives me an excuse to go back another time! We spent a quiet evening together at the hotel.
The next morning I with friends to a nearby town called Bradford-On-Avon to attend a service at the Old Baptist Church which has been part of Bradford-On-Avon's history since the 1600s.
After the service we met up with the family of the former minister of that church and had a lovely time chatting and seeing their beautiful home, built in the 1600s. I also got to see a copy of a Gutenberg Bible. The cover had been replaced, but the pages inside were intact and fully legible. Amazing!
That afternoon Judah and I went out in the rain and strolled around Bath some more.
I decided that I needed to pay a visit to Bath Abbey again this trip. I had toured it a little in 2010 but as it was a Sunday there were no tours, instead I attended evensong. It was wonderful! The light coming through the stained glass windows, the incredible ceilings, the voices of the choir, the friendly church deacons and parishoners...ahhh. We didn't stay for the full service as Judah was getting a bit antsy after being in the wrap for so long, so we quietly slipped out after about 25 minutes.
(The photos of the interior of the abbey were ones I took in 2010 as I didn't take any of the interior on this tour. My hands were much fuller this time!)
