threw the baby out with it

British Word of the Day: advice slip - a piece of paper printed for you after an ATM withdrawal, documenting the amount you have received. (American's "receipt") eg: "Did you grab the advice slip? I need to keep track of how much I'm spending."

Today was a very good day.

Day trip to Bath, England with Taylor. Originally the plan was to meet a group at the train station this morning around 8:15, but that was about the time we left because neither of us had paid attention to the time; the group also somehow managed to go to Salisbury today--I hope it worked well for them. Bath was a really excellent day-trip choice, and I can't imagine spending less time there. She's a day tripper, one-way ticket? NO! We bought return tickets, the smart students that we are.


Things I've learned (and on a Saturday, no less!):

Bath is ridiculously old.

The first king of all England was crowned at Bath Abbey in 923 AD.

The Roman baths have not always been there, but the naturally hot water has-- Ancient Celtics spent quite a bit of time there.

The Romans believed Sulis Minerva to be the giver of the hot springs and that they had supernatural healing qualities.

Bath's water tastes like a warm, rusty spoon. (They say you're supposed to know "where you're going" after life is over, when you drink the glass of the King's Spring water in The Pump Room. I was told this by nice, old man after I downed the glass thirstily.)

Hadrian made a law against nude bathing. Nobody listened.

Romans were incredibly advanced: lead pipes lead from "The Sacred Spring" to other baths in the building. They made a heating system to warm up the slabs of rock surrounding the Baths. They had beautiful brick arches covering the entire bath house unsupported in the middle--that's a ridiculous amount of weight for one building.

Want to know more? Go to Bath yourself!

It's picture time.

Bath Abbey. Ridiculously old.

The sun was bright on the pools of Bath.

The very ancient Roman baths.

Aesthetically pleasing rocks.

View from across. Someone posing.

The source of the springs.

A sculpture found near the Bath site: a Mastiff eating a deer, they said. I believe it. But not our family's Mastiff. He only ate our leftovers--generally not so keen on having to catch his dinner.

Pool of Minerva--note the coinage.
Standing near the bathwater.

Man dressed as ancient Roman priest, asking Minerva's "blessing".

The town of Bath, Abbey tower in background.

Hope you enjoyed this picture post!

I have to get to bed before I fall asleep on the zzzzz key.

Cheers!