As the sworn president of the Insane People Jane Austen Stan Club, I will admit that my opinion of Bath might be a little biased. However, Bath was one of the most incredible places I have ever been to, and that is a hill I will die on. Between the Jane Austen Museum, the Roman bathing pools, posh tea, and gorgeous view from the bridge, I found myself wishing I could have stayed there for days.
The baths of Bath were created during the reign of the Roman Empire in England and were crucial aspects of daily life: worship, exercise, hygiene, and medical treatment. While it was all interesting, the part that intrigued me the most was the creation of Bath’s patron goddess, Solis Minerva. It is the culmination of cultures between the Saxon and Roman people that bonded the people of the region. Solis was a goddess of the Saxon people. She was the goodness associated with the protection, water, and healing. The Minerva in her name stems from Roman mythology: the goddess of wisdom, crafting, and strategy. Seeing the similarities in the two traditions, the different cultures combined their goddesses into one person they worshiped together.
My other two favorite activities from Bath were The Pump Room and the Jane Austen museum. The experience of afternoon tea was everything I hoped it would be. I felt very posh by the end, and I am slightly surprised I am not still walking around with my pinkies up. It was crazy to think about the fact that I was standing in the place Jane Austen took her tea. Speaking of Jane Austen… I am really upset that I did not get a full tour of the house because it was extremely cool. However, even what I did see made me feel giddy by the end. The fangirl in me was dying to say the least.
Oh, and everyone say hello to my bff 😛
Theatre in London U of A 