More Romans

We began our day at the Roman Baths - several of us had seen them before but the advances in excavation and display were so  wonderful that we felt we were seeing them for the first time. The Roman footprint was really extensive and seeing the remains in Bath brought the Roman civilisation into perspective especially having seen so much on Hadrian' s  Wall.

This beautiful head of Minerva was one of the "finds".  The Roman Baths here were not only a social place to bathe but a place to worship and Minerva was the main object of this worship. Exploration is continuing and it is hoped that more of this statue will be discovered.  We also saw coins and jewellery found from sacrifices to the gods.  The lead piping still functioning today is the original Roman lead piping.

Following lunch in a courtyard cafe (these were thick on the ground) we walked up the hill to the New Assembly Rooms to view not only the restored Georgian grandeur of this important social meeting place but a spectacular display of clothing from the 1700 to the present.  How times have changed.  Lady Di's going away outfit plus a ball gown and suit were displayed - she was a very slender girl.

Imagine the under garments needed for this one! 

Bath is incredibly busy with tourists, buskers, traffic, buses etc.  The quality of the buskers is outstanding - everything from Jazz to High Opera and everything in between.

Tomorrow we leave for Illfracombe - that is if we can get our cars out of the most difficult car park any of us have ever encountered.  Twenty point turns needed to get in- how many to get out?

Breakfast tomorrow at Bradford Upon Avon before heading for the coast.