Day 4 - Bath

I notice something unusual about the last post, in that it cut off part way through, with a "read more," button.  If you haven't clicked that, I encourage you to do so.

Day 4 – Bath

We went to Bath!  Hurrah! 

Living with Matthew for 24 hours a day had been driving me bonkers, so I requested two room keys and we split ways after lunch. 

Lunch was fantastic, though, were ate at Jimmy’s World Grill, which offered an authentic variety of Italian, Asian and Indian cuisine.  At the very least, Matthew and I can bond strongly over food.  The Indian station had a man posted, making fresh naan right there in front of you! 

After the pleasantly cheap lunch, I did some browsing along the main shopping roads.  I found a hair salon, and finally got a much needed haircut.  The stylist was apparently very endeared by the U.S.A, and was surprised to hear that I don’t spend much time there.  There was a list of complimentary beverages, and I needed to ask what “orange squash,” is.  I figured it would be juice of some sort, but when I see squash I think of gourds.  Turns out it is some form of juice from concentrate.

With my head and spirits lighter, I left the salon very happy, and continued my shop browsing.  At home, I am certainly not a clothes shopper by any means, but here I’ve notice more jackets and boots catching my eye.  Maybe it’s a difference in style, or maybe it’s just the notion of it being foreign.

Don't blink.

Eventually I came upon the namesake of the city; the Ancient Roman Baths.  Before we get to the baths, I have a shout out to Ryan, (and Kristin, if she's reading):  WHAT IS THIS?  OH MY GODDESS THEY'RE HERE!  This is the greatest evidence I've seen for them, they're CAUGHT in motion as they're climbing some sort of stone ladder for some unknown, ungodly reason.  Fortunately, the area was crowded enough that I knew I'd be safe.

For the baths themselves, I was very impressed with the cleverness of the building designs.  Standing 2000 years later, are the remains of elaborate waterways bringing up the steaming water from the hot springs into separate baths of differing temperatures. 

The baths served as a spiritual place of healing, in reverence of the Roman Goddess Sulis, who was likely an interpretation of Athena.  People from all social classes, and difference origins would come to bath in the springs and honor Sulis, and the worship of other deities, such as the Celtic triple goddesses and Mercury were welcome. 

 

Sulis, the Roman Goddess

I was very impressed by the roman jewellery as well.  Naturally I was drawn to those displays, and managed to get a picture of the carved gemstones used in rings.

Close up of a carved gem, magnified on the right for easy viewing.

Many pretty carved gems, mainly carnelian

"Curses" found at the Baths

I also found the notes interesting.  People would carve messages to the Goddess on a sheet of lead, roll it up and throw it into the spring.  Some have been recovered, and they are mostly curse requests, for the Goddess to smite whoever stole the victim’s cloak.  Often this would include a list of names of suspects.

At the end, there was a fountain where we were able to drink filtered spring water.  It was hot, and had a bit of a taste.
 

After leaving the Baths, I encountered a man with a booth on the street selling fossils and crystals.  Naturally, I stopped to check out what he was selling.  I accidentally tipped over a small sign, shifting a celestite crystal, and immediately apologized.  He responded in a very friendly manner, “That’s alright, rocks are tough enough to handle a bit of moving,”.  I don’t remember what I said, but I noticed him flinch at my accent.  He mentioned that the weather was much nicer than usual, and I commented on how everyone had told me to expect otherwise.  We laughed briefly at the idea of traditional English rain, and as I thanked him, and turned to leave, he handed me an English ammonite fossil.  I thanked him profusely, and told him that I would remember Bath this way.

Thank you so much!

-Elise