Feli: EOI Salamanca - A trip to England

Once again, with our enthusiastic teachers and organizers, Gregorio and José Luis, we have been to England. Though our hotel was in Bath, from there we went to visit different places, like Bath, Oxford, Stonehenge, Salisbury and Bristol. 

The bunch of "Romans"

First of all, I would like to say that it has been a memorable, very rewarding experience.

Secondly, I am going to talk about Bath, not because the other cities did not seem to me attractive or interesting, but so that other travelling classmates can speak of them.

Bath is not a very large city, as it has about 84,000 inhabitans. It is surrounded by hills which give wonderful views of the city. However, my first impression, when we were approaching the city, was a bit disappointing, perhaps because it was winter and the landscape was not as green as I had imagined.

Bath

We arrived at the hotel at noon. In the afternoon, with a warm sun and a better light, we walked across the main streets and saw some lovely monuments, as well as squares, shops and cafés. From that moment my mind changed completely, so much so that now I can say that I would like to live there for some months.

     

The Roman Baths

Bath is vibrant and modern, one of the most magnificent cities in Britain. It is a masterpiece of Georgian architecture, built with the distinctive honey-coloured Bath stone. With over 2,000 years of history, Bath has earned an exceptional reputation as a city of culture and hospitality and is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

     

The river Avon and Pulteney Bridge

During our stay we visited the world-famous Roman Baths, one of the best examples of preserved Roman architecture; also the 15th/16th century Gothic Abbey, with its superb fan vaulting ceilings and the vast stained glass windows; the iconic Royal Crescent and Circus square, inspired by Rome´s Colosseum; the Theatre Royal, with its impressive facade; the Assembly Rooms, where the fashionable society meet to have tea or enjoy various entertainments; the Jane Austen Centre, which tells the story of the author´s life experience in Bath; the Pulteney Bridge, with built-in shops within its structure; and last but not least, the beautiful River Avon, which encircles Bath and was once important as a trade route, but today it is mainly used for recreation. 

    

Indeed we also tasted the typical Cream Tea, consisting of homemade scones and clotted cream, and also some different kinds of traditional local English beer. 

Cream tea at the Pump Room

     

As I said before, I loved the whole city, but to me the Roman Baths were particularly impressive, not only for the lovely building itself, but for the history and legend around the baths. In Britain´s only hot spring, the Romans built a magnificent temple and bathing complex that still flows with natural hot water.

     

The construction of the baths only began once the hot spring had been controlled and the land around it was drained and dried out. The precise hydraulic engineering shows the skill of the Romans in the art of taming the springs.

      

It was a must-see destination for pilgrims seeking the guidance of the goddess Sulis Minerva and looking to heal in the curative waters.

     

A scale model of the original baths with the Temple of Minerva

At the Roman Baths visitors can see the remains and architectural fragments of the Temple of Sulis Minerva, as well as the well-preserved bathhouse, which was frequented by residents and pilgrims nearly 2,000 years ago. There are numerous other treasures, which have been unearthed through archeological excavations over the past 300 years. 

     

Nowadays, the Thermae Bath Spa combines five of the city´s buildings with the contemporary New Royal Bath. This is Britain´s only natural thermal spa. 

    

Finally, I can say that there are many fascinating places to see in Bath whatever your interests, and also great places to enjoy yourself and relax, so I strongly recommend you to visit it soon. It would be marvellous to go back again. 


Thank you so much, dear Feli, I was really looking forward to one of our "Bath Romans" writing an entry about the trip, so well done! Hopefully it won't be the last ...