Aquae Sulis

Spot the Roman!

The predicted heavy rain started just as we went to bed last night. Heard it periodically through the night as there is a Velux window in our bedroom. 
Just mizzle as we walked into Bath this morning but a bit annoying as it was really too warm for a rain coat.
We were going to be Bath tourists this morning.

We had a timed booking to visit the Roman Baths at 10.00 am, a suitable place for a damp morning.
Got their bang on time and there was barely any queue though there was a very long one for entry into the Abbey. Once in though it did seem very busy. (Bath is on a very popular excursion from London taking in Windsor and Stonehenge at the same time! -  as well as being a big tourist centre in it’s own right)
I have definitely been before but Chris hasn’t, not sure why this is, I may have gone on one of my solo forays from Bristol over the years Grace was living there, it would definitely have just been a case of a last minute decision to ‘pop’ in, non of this pre booking that has taken over everywhere.
I don’t recall all the inside displays of artefacts which were excellent and the ‘rooms’ have been enhanced by film projections showing figures in period costume.

The baths and temple buildings were completed at the site of the Sacred Springs - natural hot springs - in 76 AD and used throughout the Roman occupation, these remains are now all below street level. Much of what you can see above ground now, for example the figures around the terrace were added in the 19th century when the site became popular for taking the waters and had a grand opening in 1897. The Roman Baths were not discovered and explored until this time. Before leaving we were able to try the waters which were warm and not at all unpleasant.

Not sure when the Roman in the picture arrived or if he is there everyday but I liked him, he was very pleasant so I thought he could feature in my blip today.

We couldn’t get a table in the Pump Room they were all booked but I have definitely been there with Grace,  so we found a cafe in the Abbey Churchyard for a coffee and a toastie. We could watch all the activity in this popular area including lots of walking tours starting out and there was along queue all the time we were there for the Baths, it tends to be like that year round.

Did a bit of shopping before returning on the bus by which time the sun was out. Hopefully the weather is on the up now for the rest of the week.


Waters of a different kind were being taken at the beach in Mallorca!