After saying goodbye to the crew at Larmer Tree, Kerry and I drove to Stonehenge (via Salisbury). As expected, Stonehenge was a pile of big rocks in a field. :) It was raining, so we didn't dally long.
Our real destination was Bath, the city of stone houses, Roman history, Austen novels (she lived there briefly), shopping, and cream teas.
The drive there was beautiful, and I have to admit I felt an unexpected excitement as we started to get glimpses of the city nestled in the trees. I felt a little bit like Catherine of Northanger Abbey on her arrival there...
"They arrived at Bath. Catherine was all eager delight--her eyes were here, there, everywhere, as they approached its fine and striking environs, and afterwards drove through those streets which conducted them to the hotel. She was come to be happy, and she felt happy already."
But enough literary nerdiness. :)
Kerry and I visited the Bath Abbey, ate a picnic lunch in the square while listening to a busking opera singer, and toured the Roman Baths (fascinating, especially after having taught a unit on Rome to my 7th graders last year). In the afternoon we went to the Jane Austen Center (on the street where she stayed) and walked around the Circus and the Royal Crescent and a park nearby. We had jacket potatoes at a pub for dinner before Kerry dropped me off at Bath Spa University, where I had booked a dorm room for the night, and she drove home.
(Sheep in the field by Stonehenge - note the stone mile-marker)
(Bath)
(Bath Abbey)
(The Roman Baths)
(Jane and me - just hanging out)
(The Royal Crescent)
Oh, do keep up the literary nerdiness! And, you and Jane hanging out. Pretty cool!
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