Bath

Decided to do Bath today instead of London. We'll probably do London the weekend after next, when we all get back from our various travels. I'll be heading to Galway on the coast of Ireland on Friday. As for Bath, it's beautiful. Probably one of the prettiest cities I've seen in a long time. Anyone who's a fan of Jane Austen will recognize Bath as the center of social activity and high culture during the time period. Though Austen herself paints Bath as oppressive and unfriendly city in many of her novels, particularly Persuasion and Northanger Abbey, it is nonetheless happy to play such a large role in the works of a talented and well-respected author. We toured the Bath Abbey, a modest church that echoes many of the architecutral features of other cathedrals we've seen in Oxford and Canterbury. The Roman Baths were interesting, with antique sculptures, Roman columns, and 10,000 year old water that fills a central reservoir once used by the Romans after their invasion of England. The baths were an attempt to mirror similar structures found in Rome. We also took a brief tour of the Jane Austen Centre, an interesting yet overpriced exhibit devouted to the famous author associated with the city. Not really worth the six pounds we paid to get in. Just got off the train from Reading after an hour-long ride from Bath. Bout time to catch up on some sleep, I think. Classes resume tomorrow.