First stop was breakfast/lunch at a lovely small cafe called "Retro Cafe". Where I devoured a croque monsieur and a pot of tea. Oh boy was it filling - tons of melted cheese! With a very full belly we decided that we needed a walk - so headed off for the Royal Crescent.
This crescent has 30 terraced houses built by 1774. Lots of famous Lords have lived here over the years but now it is mainly privately owned but a substantial minority of the properties are owned by a housing association.
Of course Jane Austin's Persuasion was filmed here along with other films.
Sorry not a brilliant picture - discovered the limitations of my small camera.
The trees looked so pretty and the colours amazing.
But this tree looked rather out of place - it looks to me as if it belongs by the sea in some hot place.
Oh well onto the main reason for our visit - The Roman Bath Pump Rooms. (Well nearly had to stop for a quick play in the fallen leaves - big kids really!) This is a truly amazing place - well worth visiting along with the audio guide.
This is the ceiling in the entrance lobby - beautiful.
Amazing to think it was mainly buried and they have slowly been uncovering this area. From what I gather it was the Roman's equivalent of a leisure centre. Lots of different areas of swimming, relaxing, having massages and beauty treatments. Also there was a place of worship. Trying to get my head around what the treasurer of our church would say if I proposed converting the baptistry into a bathing area etc! The water comes from the Mendip hills and is about 46 degrees! I would have loved to have gone in the water if there hadn't been all that algae. And of course everyone puts their hands in the water even though there are signs forbidding you to do so!
After all this education it has to be time for tea and cakes. We found this gorgeous shop selling masses of varieties of tea and coffee - Tea House Emporium and then downstairs is a cafe. Oh boy I have never, ever seen a menu with pages and pages of varying types of tea. Even Mr P an avid coffee drinker could not resist having a tea and of course a delicious piece of raspberry and almond cream cake! I resisted the cake as I was still full from my lunch.
We just about had enough energy for a short stroll around the shops. But poor Mr P's feet and back were hurting (from the accident) and my shoulder too was letting me know we'd done enough. Time to call it a day and head to the B&B. Went onto late rooms to find this accommodation outside of Newport - Hazel Court
We paid £55 for a bedroom with a double bed, ensuite bathroom, television, dvd player (bookcase full of DVDs), dressing gowns, lots of smellies to use, kettle with lots of drinks and biscuits. Absolutely fantastic - rooms immaculate - not one bit of dust. Breakfast divine - masses of choice. Saw the B&B on Trip Advisor and it is full of praise. Well worth staying here if you are in this area. Oh nearly forgot to say went out to a lovely pub (recommended by the landlady) The Groes Wen Inn for a meal.
Sunday we drove to Hay on Wye, the weather not as nice - drizzly. But when you're spending your day going around all the second hand book shops it doesn't matter so much. After two shops we stopped for lunch - Shepherds Ice Cream Parlour and Cafe
Sadly this bookshop was closed on Sundays - would have been nice to have seen if they had any "nice murders"!
Sorry not much to say about this day - some of you are probably breathing a sigh of relief. But we had a lovely day and only spent £6 on books! Bit disappointing but good for the wallet!
Well I'm finishing now but just letting you know that I have not forgotten about the competition. Sometime this week I am going to make the prize. So keep watching this space.
No comments:
Post a Comment