Friday 1 July 2011

End of June already – time is flashing by! We had lovely weather today for our open air bus trip around the city. We set off around 9.40am with the route starting near the Roman Baths, heading down towards the railway station, heading up towards the higher part of the city, along in front of Royal Crescent (buses are not allowed to go along there) and back along the opposite side of the city along Milsom Street (shopping haven) and back to the start again. I wouldn’t like to be a bus driver in Bath as the roads are narrow and full of traffic. I was amazed at how easily they would turn the bus into the narrowest of streets!

Bath is very vibrant and culturally alive with lots of artists busking in the many piazzas found within the city. There are many art shops and we have been very tempted to buy. You can also see quite alternative looking people – yesterday we saw a young gentleman I could only describe as a ‘dandy’ walking down the street. There were also quite a few young women dressed in a hippie style – rather 60ish as well as people dressed in period costume inviting people to have their photos taken in exchange for a small donation!

After our bus tour we hopped on a river boat for a half hour trip to Bathhampton about 4 miles up the river. It was very pleasant on the river and we enjoyed the hour up and back. There was not a lot to see but we saw a bit of wildlife – a couple of squirrels and a lovely little kingfisher. Nanny have a look at the photo – it is a lot different to the kingfishers we have in Oz and NZ.

A quick spot of lunch and off again to do the skyline tour which went to the outer regions of the city and back. Some lovely views were had of the city but unfortunately trees on the way prevented Kev from taking photos. We also visited Bath University a huge campus in a delightful setting where there was a cricket tournament on and crowds of students taking part. It’s a very green city with lots of parks and plenty of trees.

After our touring we wandered around the streets for another hour or so eventually getting the bus back up the hill to our B&B. Another lovely day! Kevin wants to add a bit about me getting us lost but of course that’s a load of rubbish and I was always totally in control!! Yes she has been so much in control that we have visited every shoe shop in the city and there are a lot of them. Jannie wants another pair of sandals somewhat like the ones she left behind in Christchurch!!

Mike you would love this place with its architectural significance it is absolutely gorgeous. Royal Crescent is just magnificent and tomorrow we are going to walk there and take some photos. Its where My Fair Lady was filmed. Other major films have been filmed here including Vanity Fair, The Other Bolyn Girl and one of the Harry Potter ones.