When in Bath...

Hearing: Two people chatting - they don't seem to be able to grasp the concept of a "quiet carriage"

I'm on a train on my way back to London from Bath where i have just spent a day walking around and seeing the sights. Out of the window fields, hills and farmhouses rush by. Cow laze together while sheep graze away on some very green grass which contrasts with the honey-brown colour of the fields of wheat.

Arriving in Bath around 10am this morning my first stop was the Jane Austen Centre. Although i know that Jane did not enjoy living in Bath & that it affected her writing, she is still the main reason behind my trip.

After the Jane Austen Centre i spent some time exploring, taking photos and just being a typical tourist. I walked to the Circus (not one with clowns but a set of houses built around a circular road), and the famous Royal Crescent where one house is currently on the market for a cool 3.5million pounds...that's about 5.2million dollars. Lots of people were enjoying the sun in the park in front of it and painters and artists were out trying to capture that magic glow of the stone when lit by sunlight.

The Royal Crescent

I walked past all the known Jane Austin residences including 13 Queen Square, 25 Gay St, 4 Sydney Place, i even took a walk in the Sydney Gardens where she often walked. To get to Sydney Place and Gardens you need to cross to the other side of the river Avon. I went via Pulteney Bridge (very cute i might add) and on the way back ducked down a little side staircase to scope out a little maze called Beazer Maze. And it was not just for kids as several adults took up the challenge to find their way to the middle.

Sydney Gardens

Sydney Park

Beazer Maze

Pulteney Bridge

Pulteney Bridge from the river

Back in the centre of Bath i meandered through the many lane ways and cute stores, a warm cheese and veg pasty in hand, while waiting for the Mayor tour to start. The tour is run by volunteers and runs for about 2 hours. It was well worth it, i always enjoy hearing the little bits of history that i wouldn't normally come across on my own. The guide told us about how Bath was founded (originally by the Romans), how it was lost and then discovered again after it had been built over, how it grew into the social city in history most people hear about, where the original city walls were and all the architectural quirks that can be found...if you know where to look.

The tour ended back at the Bath Abbey Churchyard and left me with just enough time to check out/rush through the Roman Baths before heading back to the station to catch my train. Unfortunately the Roman Baths are no longer in use and are just an exhibit but there is a brand new fancy Spa facility just down the road.

The Roman Baths (left) and Pump Room (right)

Bath Abbey

Roman Bath

The Roman baths natural spring

The Roman baths cold plunge pool - now a wishing well for some

Me! And the Roman baths ground level

I do wish that i had a bit more time for a cream tea in the pretty Pump Room and a narrow boat ride along the Avon, but still, I'm happy i managed to get to the main points of interest and the weather was very nice and warm...all in all, a pretty good day! :)

VP

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Barcelonetta Beach, Barcelona, Spain

Hearing: Jazz and Hip-hop/funk music

I just had to post from here...

To my right there are a bunch of young guys and girls doing some street dancing. To my left, couples are swing dancing away. It is 9.53pm on Barcelonetta Beach. It has only just gotten dark and i have been walking along the beach absorbing this electric atmosphere for at least the past hour and a half. I'll post up a couple of videos i took earlier.

Its amazing here, so much life and activity. People are just starting to have dinner in the surrounding restaurants and cafes. There are bicycle riders, skateboarders, roller bladers, joggers, strollers, dog-walkers going up and down the boardwalk. Two guys are busking - singing in English and another language along with their guitar and base around who a crowd has gathered to watch and listen. When i came out people were still in the water, some playing water volley ball, normal beach volley ball, paddle ball, still stretched out, chatting with friends, working out on the outdoor gym, playing football (futbol - ie soccer), i even saw a guy practicing some very fancy gymnastic style flips and a couple of people going over the sand with metal detectors.

In front of me is the boardwalk followed by a cafe/bar on the beach lit up with pink and red neon lights and behind that the beach and shoreline with small waves crashing away too add to the music. The streetlights make everything glow a soft orange in places and cast shadows across the beach, boardwalk and plazas in other places. Everywhere i look something is happening; people milling about, watching, chatting and soaking up the atmosphere.

I love it here. Ive been in Barcelona for 3 days now and I've enjoyed every minute. A good friend of mine, Mele, is staying here with her husband and they have been very kind in letting me crash on their sofa (Thanks guys!). Its been great - although i must say, surreal too - seeing them here. Ive been out sightseeing which i have to post about later. Ive been to a fair few places, mainly the Sagrada Familia, Park Guell, Tibidabo, the Barri Gotic (Gothic Quarter), La Ramblas, Port Velle, Casa Batllo and of course Barcelonetta Beach just to name a few. All these posts along with a couple from London are in the pipeline.

Tomorrow is my last day here. I have some shopping to do for souvenirs, take advantage of the sales and a last stint on the beach to absorb as much sun as i can - I've already gotten a slight tan in my short time here! The weather has been great, very mild, so its perfect for anything you want to do or wear!

Anyhoo, my coffee has gone cold and my foots asleep, time to walk it off and see what else is happening on this beach.

VP

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Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and Warwick Castle

Hearing: People chatting in the street and faint traffic

Today i went on a tour that took me to a couple of places i was interested in seeing just outside London. It had a lot packed in to the one day and as such we didn't get a huge amount of time in the places we visited, but i still think it was well worth it.

The tour guide i must say was very good. He was knowledgeable and well spoken and had a dry sense of humour which reminded me of my friend A a lot. There are a couple of stories and jokes that i jotted down which i will retell here along with some of my photos from the day. There are 5 in total (though the guide told us more) but you'll need to scroll past the photos to see them all.

Story 1 - As we were driving out of London, the guide pointed out a small green square near Marble Arch, not really uncommon for London. This square however had a morbid history. Public hangings used to take place there (last of which was in 1783) much to the amusement and excitement of the Londoners of the time who would take a day off work specially so they could attend. The hangings became such a popular event that tired seating was introduced so that everyone could get a good view.

Oxford

Oxford

Christ Church College

Christ Church College - Tom Quad

Christ Church College - the cloister fountain

Christ Church College - stairs to the Dining Hall (Look familiar? it was used for a scene in the 1st and 2nd Harry Potter movies)

Christ Church College - Dining Hall - used in the 1st and 2nd Harry Potter movies

Christ Church College - Dining Hall

Oxford - Radcliffe Camera (used as one of the many University of Oxford libraries)

Oxford - A copy of Venice's Bridge of Sighs

Oxford

Oxford - Sheldonian Theatre

Oxford - Bodleian Library

 




 Story 2 (joke) - Driving past Buckingham Palace Gardens we were told how the gardens were only "open to the public" on certain days. During the year special garden parties are arranged for some 3000 guests who have done work for charity or made such contributions where guests mingle, and possibly have the chance to speak with or see the Queen. They usually finish around 5.30 at which point they all leave at once and clog up the roads "for important people...like us"

Stratford-Upon-Avon - Shakespeare's Birthplace

Stratford -Upon- Avon - Inside Shakespear's Birthplace - Dining room

Stratford -Upon- Avon - Shakespear's Birthplace from the inside looking out on to the courtyard

Stratford -Upon- Avon - Shakespear's Birthplace

Stratford -Upon- Avon

Stratford -Upon- Avon

Stratford -Upon- Avon - Shakespear's Birthplace (Street view)

Story 3 (joke) - Also on the way some low income housing was brought to our attention. As the guide went through what was required by a person to qualify for lo income housing by the government he dryly added that one of those requirements is that you can afford a satellite...and indeed it did look like every house had a satellite sticking out on the side.

Warwick Castle - Main Entrance

Warwick Castle - So many grand rooms, so little time!

Warwick Castle -Madame Tussaud's works her magic on the Queen

Warwick Castle -More of Madame Tussaud's work

Warwick Castle -More of Madame Tussaud's work

Warwick Castle - View from the mound

Story 4 - In describing the underground, the guide said that when it first began people would say that it was like going to hell. That was in the pre-electric days where the trains ran on steam. (I never thought about that aspect before but i can imagine how horrible it must have been!)

Story 5 - Continuing on from his underground story the guide spoke of how the Queen was please with the "new"train line to Windsor Castle as it allowed her to get there without being covered in dust. Other people however were afraid of the train. Doctors would advise pregnant women not to go on them. Religious people said it was unnatural for humans to travel at such high speeds - that it was an insult to the Lord.

Hope you enjoyed the stories and photos, till next time...

VP

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London Deja Vu

Hearing: Westminster Abbey and the Big Ben chimes, traffic going past on Broad Sanctuary/Victoria Street

London in the summer has this smell. Nothing unpleasant, its quite nice actually but i cant describe it properly. It smells like summer, fresh, floral, sweet, but something more...

National Gallery and St Martin-in-the-Fields

After landing into Heathrow yesterday and hopping on the tube it hit me like a forgotten memory. It was bright and sunny and a great welcome for the start of my holiday. the only "downers"were that there was trackwork on the the Piccadilly line so it was hop-off, bus it, and hop back on. And when i checked into my accommodation i found that it was a lower ground room that looked out on to a cement wall a metre away. The trackwork thing couldn't be helped, the room however has put a dint into my expectations. Unfortunately the place is full and i was advised to speak with the office on Monday to see if there is anything they can do. I'm not one to usuallymake a f uss but there is one thing i loathe to put up with, its a room with no natural light, anything else, small bed/room/ensuite/no ensuite etc i don't care. But i digress, the place overall is pretty good not to mention the fantastic location.

My view during lunch

2012 Olympics Countdown Clock

After dumping my stuff i headed out for a wander and in search of a grocery store. Lots of people were out and about. I found a Waitrose, picked up some stuff and headed back to my room. I would like to say that i toughed it out and stayed up to fight jet lag but i couldn't. Over 30 hours of travel was just too much and i was sound asleep by 8pm. It did bite me in the butt though. I woke up around 5.30am for a moment not realising where i was & was not able to go back to bed. I bummed around the room, ate strawberries id picked up yesterday, did my usual internet stuff (the place has free internet!) and then headed for breakfast.

Don't know if this is a new installment in Trafalgar Square but I've never noticed it before

Soon enough i was out and about, not walking, but bounding down the street on my way to Piccadilly Circus. I did intend to take Tottenhamcourt Road but ended up on Oxford St which was fine by me. All the stores had sales and i couldn't help popping into a few. I was good though and managed to walk away without spending anything. I think the trick is that i was hungry so food took a priority. I bought myself a sandwich from Pret-A-Manger and polished it off fairly quickly once i got to Trafalgar Square.
 

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Crowds near the London Eye

London is BUSY! There are tourist groups everywhere. Ive never seen so many. Maybe its because its the weekend or maybe its just because its summer. I'll find out soon enough. There was a countdown clock placed in Trafalgar Square counting down the 326 days, hours, minutes and seconds to the 2012 Olympics in front of which people were taking photos.

Two London icons, the London Eye and Big Ben

Did i mention i got asked for directions? i LOVE it when that happens. It makes me feel like i really belong in a place, that i don't stick out like a tourist.

So after finally snapping Nelson properly thanks to the fab zoom on my new camera i headed down to Westminster Abbey where i have been people watching this past hour and trying to make myself realise I'm not in a dream even though my eyes are insisting that i am. Its an eerie feeling i can tell you. I look about here and i get this sense of Deja Vu, and yes i know i have been here before but i don't have a better way of explaining it. I guess the jet lag and overcast weather doesn't help.

My view as i write this post

I should wander around a bit more. I'll post photos of my meanderings to close out this post. Enjoy!

VP

A couple of guys i saw just chilling out in the Victoria Tower Gardens next to the Houses of Parliament

See all those people on the right? They are cuing up for the London Eye!! The cue doubled back on itself a couple of times too!

South Bank - something is always happening here

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