Happy Fourth of July everyone! It was very strange to celebrate it in the UK but it was a full day to say the least. After a day of sightseeing, we went to this restuarant called Old Orleans for an all-american dinner. They even gave us mini-flags! So fun.
For the day, we went to the city of Bath to see the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. The Roman Baths were very cool....the water was actually hot! a bit stinky but hot nonetheless! Bath Abbey is one of the most famous churches in Enlgand because it stands on the site of an old Norman church where the first king of all England (Edgar, in case you were wondering) was crowned. In the church, there are tombs in the floor and the walls with tombstones lining the entire interior. It was kinda creepy but still interesting. (How important did you have to be to get such a prime location?)
If you look at my pictures, you will see several painted pigs, similar to those Bulldogs that are sprinkled around Athens. Well, according to Bath lore, an ancient King sent his son Bathuld away to Bath to tend to the pigs because he was suffering from Leprosy. Since Bathuld was in such close proximity to the pigs, they all caught Leprosy as well. Just when all seemed lost, Bathuld and the pigs were walking alongside the river and came upon a mud pit. Well, pigs being pigs went straight for the mud. They came out and when they got washed off, Bathuld discovered that they had been cured. So he then rolled around in the mud and was also cured from the horrible disease that had plaqued him for years. He then went on the become King Bathlud. Some story, right?
Other interesting things gleaned from the Bath visit:
-Avon is the Saxon word for "river" so when the Romans conquered England and would ask the natives for the name of any river, the Saxons would say "Avon." Thats why there are so many Avon rivers in the UK.
-Queen Victoria hated Bath because during one visit, she heard a townie say that she had fat ankles. She refused to return following the incident and would call for all the curtains on her train to be drawn when riding through the city.
-Vanity Fair, the movie, was filmed in Bath.
-The Bath waters are said to have healing properties.
For the day, we went to the city of Bath to see the Roman Baths and Bath Abbey. The Roman Baths were very cool....the water was actually hot! a bit stinky but hot nonetheless! Bath Abbey is one of the most famous churches in Enlgand because it stands on the site of an old Norman church where the first king of all England (Edgar, in case you were wondering) was crowned. In the church, there are tombs in the floor and the walls with tombstones lining the entire interior. It was kinda creepy but still interesting. (How important did you have to be to get such a prime location?)
If you look at my pictures, you will see several painted pigs, similar to those Bulldogs that are sprinkled around Athens. Well, according to Bath lore, an ancient King sent his son Bathuld away to Bath to tend to the pigs because he was suffering from Leprosy. Since Bathuld was in such close proximity to the pigs, they all caught Leprosy as well. Just when all seemed lost, Bathuld and the pigs were walking alongside the river and came upon a mud pit. Well, pigs being pigs went straight for the mud. They came out and when they got washed off, Bathuld discovered that they had been cured. So he then rolled around in the mud and was also cured from the horrible disease that had plaqued him for years. He then went on the become King Bathlud. Some story, right?
Other interesting things gleaned from the Bath visit:
-Avon is the Saxon word for "river" so when the Romans conquered England and would ask the natives for the name of any river, the Saxons would say "Avon." Thats why there are so many Avon rivers in the UK.
-Queen Victoria hated Bath because during one visit, she heard a townie say that she had fat ankles. She refused to return following the incident and would call for all the curtains on her train to be drawn when riding through the city.
-Vanity Fair, the movie, was filmed in Bath.
-The Bath waters are said to have healing properties.
2 comments:
Hey==
You have some real trivial tidbits there Al. I need better instruction to find your pictures though. It sounds like a full, fun day. Please excuse me if I have no pitty for you studying in some garden in Oxford, munching strawberries and chocolate for the day! enjoy.
I don't know where to go see your pictures either...help!
I watched the Wimbleton women's finals this AM and thought of you being over there.
It all sounds so interesting and you are doing a wonderful job describing your experiences. Thanks, Aunt Wendy
Post a Comment