I had not been to Bath for 38 years but as we are staying in Bristol for a week we decided to pay Bath a visit.
Just a short train ride, £10 return and only a 12 minute journey.
On arrival, we soon discovered that Bath’s main thoroughfares are most certainly a contrast to Bristol city center,. They obviously have a larger maintenance budget as the whole town seems clean, neat and tidy!
We obviously had to see the Roman baths (£23 entry) and we did enjoy the adventure very much.
The only negative was even on a week day it was vey busy and I did think a few times, if any of us had Covid it would soon be a lot of us!
Next up was lunch in one of the new style ‘order your self’ emporiums, in this case we both has Asian rice and noodle dishes, Sarah’s was great, mine had a bit of ‘not so fresh salmon’ but I did like the rest of it!
The Abbey was next, £7.50 entry, (Bristol Carhedral is free) a wonderful building both inside and out.
Not a dark intimidating place like some are but, a lovely light, warm and airy atmosphere with beautiful glass. It is a very clean Abbey, clean in many ways from the design to the actual floor.
We also saw from a distance another large church building that looked worth investigating. As it tuned out, it was no longer a church but a cafe! So we had a cup of tea and cake….
Back on the train and then a little walking diversion to visit St Mary Redcliffe church.
Now this is something special indeed!
St Mary Redcliffe is Britain’s largest parish church, a very gothic and detailed exterior, nothing short of amazing really!
No entry charge and with the added bonus of some friendly custodians inside to help you appreciate the tremendous scale and magnificence that only such a large building can offer.
The stained glass is way up with the best we have seen, very vibrant and colorful.
However it must be said that unlike the Bath Abbey with its heated floor and bright atmosphere, I would not fancy sleeping in St Marys! it is quite ‘Dracula’!
I spoke to this wonderful 88 year old gentleman who told me about his personal experiences of being a chorister boy singing unaccompanied in front of a full church of parishioners .
He sung ‘Once in Royal Davids City’ in a completely blacked and out full house.
He told me the choir master approached him at the critical moment just as the last of the light was extinguished and rang a tone bell in his ear and whispered ‘ this is your moment.’
Here are a few of ‘The Great Indoors’ photos…
