The Curmudgeon's Call: Our Visit with Ron & Maureen, Part II: Bath

The Georgian city of Bath is located in Somerset, SW England, almost 100 miles west 0f London. Queen Elizabeth I issued a Royal Charter in 1590 granting city status to Bath. It was designated a World Heritage City in 1987. But way before that, Bath was a popular Roman hangout because of it's naturally occurring hot springs. The Romans liked it so much, in fact, that they constructed some of their famous Roman baths and a temple there. The obvious name of "Bath" apparently never occurred to them, for they applied the moniker of "Aqua Sulis" to the site. OK, to be fair, the Celts were already using the hot springs as a site for a shrine to their goddess Sulis, so when the Romans took over and began building their temple to Minerva on the same sight, they pointed out to the Celts how similar Sulis and Minerva really were, after all, and why don't we name the place in honor of your goddess? Then you can come here to worship our goddess and it will be a win-win for everybody. Amazingly, this seemed to work out, for the most part. In the 3rd century a wall was constructed around the city and by the 5th century the Romans were making their exit.

Well, the Anglo-Saxons moved in. Finally it dawns on someone to name the place Bath. Eventually an urban renewal project commenced and the old Roman layout was discarded. Edgar (The Peaceable) was crowned King here in 978 in a ceremony that forms the basis for the coronation ceremony used today.

The city that presents itself to us today is constructed of (wait for it) Bath Stone, which is Oolitic Limestone comprising granular fragments of calcium carbonate. Thus, the entire city has a distinctively warm, honey coloring.

Chimney pots are interesting. They give storks something to grasp onto while dropping babies down into the waiting arms of parents-to-be.

This was a favorite site, passed each time we walked into town.

Knock-knock

The streets of Bath looking unusually deserted.

I don't know what these two are up to, but they seem to be keeping their eyes on things.

Hello? Who did you say is calling? Dr. who? Oh, Dr. Who! I'm sorry, he can't come to the phone right now, he's on first.

River Avon with Pultney Bridge and the weir. I suppose you might say the River Avon is weired in Bath. Oh! Man! I'm cracking myself up!

Unlike the typical American bridge. The Pultney bridge provides river crossing plus shopping. It's a hard combination to beat.

The secret entrance to the infamous Dungeon of Bath where many have been incarcerated over the years. OK. I just made that up.

We were treated to lots of great busking. Here we have music, dancing and a pig statue. What more could a person ask for? By the way, pigs loom large in the legend of Bath, as the hot springs are said to have been discovered when leprous King Blaudid chased one of his errant pigs into the mud of the (now famous) hot springs. This summer pig statues, decorated by a variety of artists, are on display throughout the city.