My First England Trip - Bath (Day Two) Sunday (April 28th, 2013)

   Why are there seagulls outside my window? I thought as I opened my eyes.
    Light was stretching across the floor from underneath the curtains. I pushed the sheets off and started to roll over only to find that my bed was smaller than I remembered. I sat up and looked around, still trying to gather my thoughts. On the nightstand was my watch and bag and an empty bottle of water.
     I looked over to my left to see a high ceiling with a chandler hanging from it. At the far wall stood a desk with Keurig cups and Ipod station clock.
    This isn't my room.
     I stood and walked to the window, getting blasted in the face with bright sun. I shielded my eyes to see the old stone buildings stretching beyond the glass, a large abbey in the center of them. Reality came back to me. I was in Bath Spa in England! It seemed that my vacation hadn't sunk in yet and I was still thinking I had to go to work.
      I showered, dressed, and headed downstairs to the attached restaurant called Brasserie Brunel. Since I was a guest here, I was able to get a free breakfast. I checked over the menu and found an interesting choice. A full or half English breakfast was new to me and obviously part of the culture. I had promised myself to try and fit in as best I could. I ordered a full English and was surprised by what was on the platter. Two eggs any style, bacon (looked like a ham slice, but tasted like the bacon strips in America), sausage, mushrooms, two wedges of tomatoes, baked beans, and toast with jam, all along with tea leaves, a strainer and hot water for the tea cup at the table. I ate it all, though I was also surprised that I did. I don't normally (translate to EVER) eat tomatoes, baked beans, or mushrooms (unless on pizza) for breakfast. The choices opened my eyes to the deliciousness I was missing out on.

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A sample of what I ordered. I did not take this picture because by the time I thought to do so, I had already finished it.

One of the uphill streets.

Bath Abbey.

    With breakfast done, I took a new route as I set out into Bath and ended up at Bath Abbey. My plan was to go in, but I saw something else out of the corner of my eye. A small group was gathering around two people. I inched my way closer and found that it was a walking tour. It was set for 10:30 am. I decided that I could visit the abbey later. We walked back the way I came, stopping in a circle street. Our tour guide gestured to a long archway and told us about how that was the gateway to the original abbey. He went on to say that Henry VII burned the original to the ground because they didn't conform to his beliefs. The city believes that the original abbey stood from the gateway to Orange Grove (a pretty big layout when you look at a map). Continuing the tour, we traveled to the Orange Grove, which was named after the Duke of Orange. The big treat was when we went uphill to a place called The Circus.

    The Circus was a ring of flats that people lived in. The cost - 1 million pounds. He pointed out one of the flats.
    "That one was bought by Nicolas Cage, but he had to sell it due to his financial issues," he said. "Fun fact, the man who lives there currently is under investigation for fraud, so everyone believes that flat to be cursed."
    From the Circus, we walked to the Royal Crescent, a half-moon shaped row of flats. Our guide informed us that the price to live there was the same as the Circus. The Crescent had a large open field of grass, a field closer to it cut off by a pathway. As I looked closer at a sign, it seemed that that patch of grass was only for Royal Crescent residents.
     The group traveled downhill from the Royal Crescent, to the Victoria Gardens, named after Queen Victoria.
     "Now, Queen Victoria visited Bath Spa to see these gardens," our guide stopped us. "Bath, at the time, was dirty with soot and the Queen refused to ever come back, even with the restoration."
     Our tour concluded back at the Abbey. Ignoring my original plan of going inside, I decided to continue exploring on my own.

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Aerial view of The Royal Crescent and the Circus.

The Royal Crescent and the Circus. Which would you rather live in?

The Corridor.

One of the selections for Sunday Roast.

   I took out the map that I had gotten at the Royal Hotel and scanned it as I walked.
   Today's the day, I told myself. Today I will use this map and won't get...dang it! 
   I was lost again, though this time I was still within the city. I looked around, trying to find anything that resembled the things on the map. I had no luck. Two hours passed me by as I wandered, enjoying the scenery. There were gardens and river pathways, buildings still covered in soot from the old days, and all manner of people walking the streets.
    At 1:51 pm, I found the edge of familiar territory at The Cork. I walked into the pub to find that it was towards the end of Sunday Roast.

     I entered to the welcoming atmosphere. The music of The Temptations, Smokey Robinson, The Commadores, and Marvin Gaye drifted into my ears as I ordered and ate. Some patrons sat eating at a couch, others joined tables. I listened to the laughter and light-hearted conversation all around me. I ate my food in the relaxing environment, resting my aching body for the adventure ahead.

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The Cork.

The Cork Pub was a cozy place to be.

    I left The Cork and headed to my original destination that day, Bath Abbey. Once again, something caught my eye and I veered away from the Abbey, ending up at The Roman Baths next to it. I had read that the Baths were what the city was best known for. I rented a tour tape and walked through the building. Every once in a while, there would be a number for me to punch in and I would learn the history of whatever piece I was at.
    The large pool of water below the balcony (see left picture), was a public bath. Men, women, and children would gather and bathe together. Later, when I traveled to the ground floor, I discovered that there were private baths to use as well. Continuing through the chambers, I came across a huge pool. The tape told me that people would throw coins and even gems into it and make a wish. I found that some of the coins and gems had been fished out and put on display.

     The tour concluded with a chance to drink filtered water from the baths. It was considered healing water and would cure anyone. I took a small cup from the stack and held it under the gentle waterfall. It looked okay to me as I swirled it around.
     "Bottoms up," I muttered as I tipped it back into my mouth.
     The warmth of the water hit my tongue and I paused, deciding if I should spit it out. I was surrounded by other tourists and I didn't want to make this part of the attraction bad. I swallowed the warm water, tossed the cup, and left.

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Old Roman coins collected from the pools.

One of the gems either put as tribute to the Roman Baths or quite possibly, fell from someone's ring (it was known to happen). This is a close up, but these gems were actually smaller than a fingernail. Beautiful craftsmanship.

      Trying to forget the taste, I headed over to Bath Abbey, determined not to be deterred again. The building itself was beautiful, with statues of angels climbing the outside. I entered, paid a donation, and walked onto the floor and paused. There were different sizes of stone tiles on the floor. I walked up to the nearest one and read it. My blood drained as I realized it was a grave. I, who was uncomfortable walking in cemeteries, was standing next to the dead. I moved to the side as I realized I was above a bodies head. I turned my own head and found the entire floor was made of grave tiles, some as large as a person. While I had heard of this in old churches, I wasn't truly prepared. While I walked around, snapping pictures of the beauty, I made sure to avoid the center of the bodies and just walked around them as best I could.
     Getting hungry, I left the Abbey and searched for a place to eat. I found a fast food type place that served me fish n' chips. Friends and family had told me that I needed to try it, but the experience kind of disappointed me. I didn't know what I was expecting with it, but I knew that this was not what I was supposed to have. Still, food was what I needed and I ate it happily. I looked out the window at the people that passed by. They walked in and out of the buildings, the setting sun casting shadows over their paths. How small I felt, sitting in the restaurant and seeing how many other people were around me. I started to feel lonely. Finishing my meal, I left and joined the thinning crowd in the outside world.

     I returned to my hotel at 8:35 pm. Zoe was at the front desk, writing something in a book. I inquired about it and she told me that it was a time sheet to log the hours that she had worked. I was surprised.
     "You don't have to do this at your job?" she asked.
     "No, we just use a fingerprint reader to clock in or out."
     She seemed impressed and asked if we used spy technology for everyday life. As the night continued, we discovered the differences in each other's culture. I learned some British lingo, talked about the difference in schooling and bacon (of all things), and some of the other employees joined in. This was the experience I had come for, this was what I longed for. By 10 pm, Zoe and the others left and I went to my room. I dropped my writer's bag and watch on the table. I docked by Ipod to charge and play music as I looked out through the open curtains. The shining lights of Bath Spa illuminated the navy blue sky.
     This is my last night in this beautiful city, I realized.
     When morning came, I would be on my way to London. Would I be all right? Was two days enough time to be ready for a transfer to a big city?
     I can't think like that. It will be fine. You'll do great!
     I drew the curtains, changed into my sleep attire, and slid into bed. I stared up at the ceiling again, preparing myself for tomorrow. I would finally live my dream of going to London, England. I couldn't, no, I wouldn't let my fear get the better of me. This trip was mine and I would enjoy it 100%. I reached over to the bedside table and turned off the lamp. I curled up in the bed and steadied my breathing.
    This time tomorrow, I will be in London...I can't wait, I smiled as I drifted to sleep.

​To be continued...

Music for the Journey Pt. 3:

Waking to seagulls: Tsuntsun Kenken by Yasuhiro Misawa (Kotoura-san Blu-ray Special CD 1)
Full English Breakfast: Peorth by Hamaguchi Shirou (Ah! My Goddess Sorezore no Tsubasa Original Soundtrack)
Walking Tour: Emily's Reel by Yo-Yo Ma, Edgar Meyer & Mark O'Connor (Appalachian Journey)
Lost Again: Lightning Bolt by Jake Bugg (Lightning Bolt - Single)
                          Chaconne in G Major by Daniel Hope, Lorenza Borrani, Jonathan Cohen, Kristian Bezuidenhout, Stefan                               Maass, Stefan Rath & Hans-Kristian Kjos Sorensen (Air - A Baroque Journey)
The Cork/Sunday Roast: My Girl by The Temptations (20th Century Masters - The Millennium Collection: Motown                                                        1960s , Vol. 1)
                                                    Ooo Baby Baby by Smokey Robinson & The Miracles (My World - The Definitive Collection)
                                                 Brick House by The Commodores (The Best of The Commodores: The Millennium Collection)  
                                                  Ain't No Mountain High Enough by Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell (The Very Best of Marvin                                                         Gaye)
The Roman Baths: Carla no Kokuhaku by Yasuharu Takanashi (TV Anime "FAIRY TAIL" Original Soundtrack Vol. 3)
Bath Abbey: Heimr Àrnadalr by Christophe Beck (Frozen Original Motion Picture Soundtrack [Deluxe Edition])
Fish n' Chips: Moment of Rest by Maeda Jun (Angel Beats! Original Soundtrack)
Talking with Zoe: Saigo no Yoru by Kawada Ruka (Kiniro Mosaic Sound Book - Hajimemashite Yoroshiku ne.)
Last night to look at the city: A Tender Feeling by Kajiura Yuki (Sword Art Online Original Soundtrack Vol. 1)
End Pt. 3:​ Runs & Winds by Joshua Hyslop (In Deepest Blue)