We ventured out of London and into Bath for the day. I felt far underdressed when we went to afternoon tea at the Pump Room, where Jane Austen once sat for tea. We enjoyed the best earl grey that I had ever tasted along with numerous small sweet and savory snack foods. Before touring the baths, we were given the chance to explore and dig around in shops. There were numerous vintage clothing stores as well as jewelry spot that we explored.
We made our way to the Roman Baths. I was shocked by the ritualistic nature of attending the baths. There were so many specific steps in order to have the best soak, and yet I truly believe there is no way that anyone left the baths cleaner than they entered. Citizens were encouraged to work up a sweat, coat themselves in oils, scrape the dirt off of their bodies, and then soak in the baths. However, the baths were open to be used as toilets during your soak. Pairing this with the heat of the water as well as the lack of movement in the water led to a rather counter productive type of cleanse. Learning the other history do the baths and their significance among citizens was interesting despite the less than sanitary practices. The community that the baths allowed was fun to learn about.
After the tour of the Roman Baths we were released to explore the city. I found myself at a coffee shop in a small plaza that was built surround a beautiful tree. The life surrounding this little spot led me to sit and stay for a while. There was a man playing music and many groups of families and friends socializing. The community was quieter and certainly slower than the life in London. Bath turned out to be an adorable little place with lots of music, shops, and history to explore.
Theatre in London U of A 