A Bit of Rome and Celts in Bath (#14)

In order to get to Bath, even though closer than our last trip, we had to take 3 trains. We were introduced to the British Rail Line - GWR - which wins our award for the worst rail line of the trip. We also happend to be in Bath on record breaking hot days for the area. Ted said it was 17 degrees higher than normal. Not hotter than we have experienced, but much hotter than Bath is easily prepared to accommodate.

Many riders would share how much they dislike British rail on this trip. With record heat, we ended up with the one rail car without AC. This also was the trip with only one functioning toilet that stopped functioning right before we got to our destination.

We booked the lovely Leighton Guest House. However, there were no warnings that this brief 13 minute walk would be uphill. After a very hot day, we were excited to have a very cool air conditioned room after our trek up the hill.

As is our plan, we walked around the first evening and found a coolish meal at a Moroccan restaurant with a breeze. Dinner was over when the sun peered over the buildings and blazed on our meal.

We started off our first full day with our planned walking tour of about 16 other tourists.

We learned the history of how the Royal Crescent and Circus were created with the concept of building a common facade and then selling all the units behind to individual owners and builders. The Circus was made in the same dimension as Stone Henge. We have seen circle cicle forts dating back to the Iron Age in Ireland.

This is an original carriage that 2 men would use to carry guests to and from the baths. When leaving in unison, they would calling out Chair Go which turned into the common british term Cheerio for hello/goodbye.

These weirs are designed to help Bath from flooding. Only had the first flood in January of 2025.

Roman Baths are considered a Unesco World Heritage site with the emblem above the ticket counter.

Prior to the early 1900's, the Roman Baths had been left to fill in from the rise of Christianity. Dirt was filled to the first floor level which is also current Bath street level. When the bath drains starting clogging and all the homes in the area started to flood, they escavated and found the Roman Baths and went about restoring them for visitors.

This is a mosaic flooring tile that was in one of the changing areas in the Roman Bath complex.

This covered the entrance to Aqua Sulis. Sulis means eye or vision and was the Celtic goddess associated with the three natural hot springs of Bath. When the Romans started building a structure around the natural hotspings, they incorporated the word Sulis and included a celtic figurehad in the middle of the Roman Oak leaves signifying a merger of the two groups.

The entire complex was extensive and is still being discovered underneath the streets of Bath.

The goddess Sulis Minerva was worshipped at Aquae Sulis. From the coins found over 300 years from distant lands, Aquae Sulis is thought to have been a pilgrimage site for those seaking healing. Archaelogists also have found Bath Curse Tablets where individuals of lower classes threw curses for the Goddess Sulis Minerva to help return stolen goods and seek vengeance on the theif.

The arch over the building would have been over 60 ft high and awe inspring. Remnants were found somewhat intact by the archeologists.

While Ted was talking bikes at the shop, another tourist asked if Laura would take her picture in front of the phone booth and then offered to take hers.

Stay: 3 nights

Leighton House - Boutique Guesthouse

Pros: Nice breakfast, big room, will bring drinks to room

Cons: Hill to get there, not in city center, no refrigerator

Hotel: 4 star

City: 5 star