Bath at Last!

July 28 

Well, it didn’t take nearly as long to get to Bath as we thought it would - could have made it all the way yesterday.  Ah well, we wouldn’t have had a creepy adventure if we had :-)  

We’re staying at a very chi-chi address, although we’re in a basement apartment, so it’s not quite so la-de-da as we had hoped.  But the host is a charming young man, and his apartment is spacious and comfortable and much more welcoming than the last place.  His apartment is the bottom two levels of a 6 level original home owned by his family.  The very bottom was used as a bomb shelter for the entire crescent during the war - he has turned it into a games room fantasyland for young men!  A much better use, methinks!

Lansdown Crescent in Bath - home for the next 6 days.  Our entrance
was behind the grey car in the picture.  

The other end of Lansdown Crescent 

We settled our things, and then Jonathan took us on a walk about town to show us the highlights, and where to buy groceries.  He is very knowledgeable on the history of the area, and had lots of little tidbits to pass on.  

Beautiful old buildings.  Everywhere.

18th century "Market Pillar"  More info in the picture below

Not sure I've ever heard this phrase, but it must be popular
here. 

The entrance to the abbey - big pedestrian plaza in front of it.

They are really fond of these crescent style buildings here.  This is the
Royal Crescent.  

We wandered around looking at the very beautiful town of Bath, then picked up a few groceries, and headed back up the (very steep) hill to Lansdown Crescent where we made dinner and shared a meal with our host.  We’ll be here for the next 6 nights and are very glad we’ve made a better choice with AirBnB this time.  Actually, out of all the places we stayed, last night was the only one we didn’t like much, and it was only one night.  The overall experience has been fabulous.

"The office" at our Bath home.  The little printers box
on the wall is filled with fun little antique things including
a Roman coin from about 900 BC

Our host Jonathan giving us a little piano music before dinner.

July 29

Exciting day today!  I’ve been corresponding for a few years now via Facebook with a young man called James Shackell, who is a distant relative.  Shackell is not the most common name, and he had contacted me while doing some family tree research.  His dad and I share a common great grandfather and great grandmother, and so it’s been interesting getting to know him via social media.  But today we get to meet the family in person!  

Distant relatives meeting.  Me, Heather, James and Kathryn in front of
the Royal Crescent

Glen was there too!

Heather, Kathryn, & James Shackell.  Such nice people.

James, his sister Heather and their mom Kathryn met us for lunch, and then we spent the afternoon doing a walking tour of Bath.  We spent about 4 hours together, had a pint at a local watering hole, and while there we watched a game of cricket - James is a huge fan.  I am not well-versed in the rules of the game, so I asked a bit about it - good grief, is it ever complicated!  BUT, the weirdest thing I found out is one game can go on for FIVE DAYS!  I really thought I was hearing things, and may have made a bit of a spectacle of myself at the pub.  Anyhow, it’s true.  I really don’t think I could watch a game for that long.  However, they are most civilized and stop the game for lunch and tea!  

Another mini sink at the restaurant - just fits my hand!

The famed Pulteney Bridge on the Avon River in Bath.  It was built in 1774

and has shops built across its full span on both sides.

The falls near the Pulteney Bridge.

A park in Bath that is for locals only.  There is a little
bandstand in the middle, and musicians were playing as
we walked by.

Just a beautiful old building.  The whole town is like this.  Amazing

Very steep streets all lead down to the centre of town

We walked them back to their car, and made a date for dinner on the 31st at the family farm, and then headed back to our home up the very steep hill. Such nice people, and we all got along just fine right away.  I’m not sure if it was because there was a distant family connection or because they are just really nice people.  I think it’s both.