Elvie's Year in Photos 2011: Day 225 Bath

Saturday 13 August

We were the last ones down for breakfast today! Surprisingly no-one had a hangover but even better we'd had a text from Gaz saying they'd arrived safely. After some discussion we decided to go to Bath for the day. None of us had been there for years and all fancied a tour of the Roman Baths there. At the waiters suggestion we drove to nearby Chippenham station and caught the train for the 15 minute journey. Unfortunately Wales were playing England in a friendly (!) in Cardiff and the train was packed with rugby supporters. We had to stand in the crowded door area but enjoyed the craic with fellow sufferers. Bath was lovely but also crowded. I hadn't realised what a major international tourist destination it had become. The baths were sufficiently large to swallow vast numbers of people without overcrowding so it wasn't too bad though it would be nice to go around there when it's empty. There have been more excavations since I was there last and improvements to the layout and information. Lunch was taken in a small cafe in a delightful square which was totally sheltered under the canopy of a magnificent London Plane tree. After we took a look at the Abbey and then found a pub to see what was happening to the rugby. Anne & I were shattered by now so we all caught the, thankfully empty, train home and had a snooze in our rooms. We decided we couldn't keep up the pace we'd set ourselves on Friday night so had a modicum of alcohol, a quiet meal, enlivened by Anne setting fire to her paper serviette at the table, and an early night. Here's Bath.