This day started out with a lovely train ride, in which I realized just how much I enjoy transit. Staring at the world passing by, listening to music, resting against the window, I felt at peace. So at peace, I started to nod off.
Bath was beautiful. It was almost as busy as London, but with less cars and shorter buildings. The crowds moved with less direction, content to see what may come around the next bend. The shops were less expensive, and I was later able to find multiple thrift stores within a small radius. Oh, and there was ornate architecture absolutely everywhere. It got kind of overwhelming within the first 10 minutes. Luckily, I was given something to focus on in touring the roman baths.
I studied Rome last semester, so I had a bit of academic context for the structure and meaning behind a roman bath house. I was proud to recognize the order of the rooms, the flow between Apodyterium (changing room), Palaestra (exercise area), Frigidarium (cold bath), Tepidarium (warm bath), and Caldarium (hot bath). The order would then alternate or reverse, leading back to the start. I was most interested in the design and architecture of the Caldarium. I love a hot bath, and the idea of getting into one of those terribly hot saunas fueled by fire and hot springs sounds like an interesting experience. I know public baths still exist in some forms, but I wish they were a more prominent feature of society at large. Most leisure spaces are expensive and private, meant as a short escape from “the grind” before getting right back into it. Or they are loud and bombastically social, with social codes preventing deep conversation. A bath sounds like the perfect place to have a long, thoughtful conversation, and recharge in a healthy, lazy way. Leaving the baths, I had a sip of the available spring water, said to have healing properties. It was some of the water I’ve had in my life now, that’s for sure.
After the baths, we had afternoon cream tea in the Pump Room. I had the house blend, which was nice but nothing astounding. The treats accompanying the tea were unexpectedly extravagant, though. I most enjoyed this little lemon tart, which was almost sickly sweet. I think most dishes here in Britain have less sugar than their American counterparts, so my palette was more susceptible to the joy a small burst of sweet could bring. This tea event was absurdly expensive, but otherwise exactly what I want from something like the baths. A space to relax, indulge, and share time.
The train ride back was another indulgence for me. The same process of music, brooding, and nodding off. lovely.
Theatre in London U of A 