From Muhlenburg County to Bath

On Sunday morning it was nice to wake up to breakfast made by my mom. It seems like so so long since I've been able to do that.

Today we were going to the ancient city of Bath. Ryan and his family happened to be going too! We happened to spot them on the train and decided to tag along with them for the day. The train was so crowded that mom, dad, and I all had to sit in separate places where ever we could find a seat. Dad ended up sitting with a man and his two young daughters. When he told them he was going to visit the Roman baths one of he little girls responded "the Roman soldiers killed Jesus. They put nails in his hands" And so the story of Easter was presented to my father on his first ever train ride from an unlikely source that morning.

Hanging around with Ryan's family was great. First, I was happy that Dad finally had someone to chat it up with. Second, I was happy to not have to be the lone tour guide-especially since it was my first time in that city. Ryan has been a few times because he has friends there. So it was nice not to have to think about which direction to go from the train station and how to find where I was on a map. And in general, it was just a nice relaxing day with good company in a city that wasn't too demanding on inexperience tourist like ourselves.

The day was absolutely gorgeous and Bath is just breathtaking. At first when mom and I saw the light gray houses lined on the hill from the train we didn't realize that was our destination! The town is really quaint but it looks so elegant because all of the buildings and the pavements are made from the same stone. The main square was full of people and as we passed through were greeted by Bath Abby...which is just beautiful.

We were also greeted by a Australian street magician/ entertainer who proceeded to draw his stage our with chalk and invited via blowing a whistle to watch his performance. Now, I am not a person who will generally watch such things...I guess I just feel that if I came to see the city there's no reason to waste time on a guy who is going to ask me for money in return for a few tricks. But Mom and Dad went right on up to the chalk line and we were given front row access to the show. I have to say, it was pretty hilarious and I actually enjoyed it- Ryan's dad became an active participant and even dared to throw fiery torches around!!
Now, all of this was entertaining- but when the guy ended up on a unicycle in a pink tutu decorated with strategically placed red hearts -- well, I still just don't know what to make of it. It was good to see mom and dad really enjoying it

If the cross dressing unicycling knife juggling Australian wasn't enough, then the next street entertainment sealed the deal for Dad martin. We hadn't even gone 100 meters from the last performance when we entered this square of people on benches and all alone in the middle was a guy singing and playing an acoustic guitar. Fine enough...and like good tourists we walked right in the middle of this empty square right next to the guy...who just HAPPENED to be singing none other than "take me back to Muhlenburg County".....Dad couldn't resist when he heard and right as we passed him he looks at the guy and shouts "I'm From There!" The guy just kept on singing like Dad didn't even exist...he probably didn't even hear him. So we continued to the other side of the square....but Dad was just too excited to leave and took Ryan's dad back into the middle of the Square to receive an up-close serenading of Muhlenburg County. Because he really had no experience with English currency, I doubt Dad even knows how much money he gave the guy. Seeing dad so mesmerized by hearing a song from our home state was better than the magic show itself.

We found a great spot to eat that offered Sunday Roast for less than 5 pounds each. The Litten. The food was the traditional English style similar to what I've had at Oxford and tasted wonderful. My favorite thing here is the "new potatoes" which are prepared to be crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. They are great.

Next we explored the Roman Baths which is basically the reason that Bath ended up being established as anything around 60AD. It was hard to grasp the fact that this place wasn't just old-but ancient...and I can only imagine how amazing it must have seemed when they were discovered to exist under a neighborhood of houses....even more exciting is the thought that there is no telling how many more baths or Roman ruins there are under the rest of the city that exists today. Seeing steam rise from the waters was a surprise as I had never been to a hot spring before.
It really is just amazing to see the system for water and heated floors and quality
pampering that the Romans had in place so long ago. I think it is just hard not to underestimate the minds of the past - even though they are the reason for whatever new technologies and research we are capable of today- we see ourselves as so developed. It makes me wonder what future generations will think. Like us, I'm guessing they will grow up thinking they have such a better grasp on how government should work, new technology, etc. and because of that they are superior somehow in mind, capabilities- It is a bit humbling to realize that my mind is no greater than that of one 2000+ years ago, as I have no responsibility for the resources available to me- and that thought leads me to think of the cultures existing today which function on a system comparable to one so long ago- either by choice or just circumstance- my abilities are not really any greater at the most basic level that exist with out the convenience of whatever past brilliant people have handed down.

Our tour of the baths was followed by a nice walk along the river, a stop for a postcard, and a farewell to Ryan's family for the day. We enjoyed Cadbury hot chocolate as we waited for the train which was pretty much the most incredible thing for a chocolate lover like me. I guess I just didn't think about Cadbury being from England until Easter arrived and Cabury is everywhere with the cheapest creme eggs I have ever seen. Actually Cadbury is everywhere even before Easter. It's like Hershey's for England. I have to say that is one thing I will miss when I leave. American chocolate just can't compare.

It was well past sundown when we arrived back in Oxford, but Mom was wonderful and cooked an little "Easter dinner" for me! As usual she would say it was nothing special because it wasn't exactly home made-but I was thrilled to have even just a bit of mom's cooking-(complete with canned cranberry sauce which is a requirement for all Easter menus in my life). If she doesn't open a restaurant one day the world will have truly missed out.