Oct 12: From Bath, England
Cherrio, all!
Arrived in Bath on Saturday, over the jet lag. The SIM card that I was so proud of ordering to use in my phone doesn't work. Would you believe that a Blackberry is too advanced?! Getting a calling card today, in any case. So anyone that was trying to get a hold of me will hopefully be reading this.
Bath is beautiful. Yesterday did a minivan tour of the Cotswolds, which really look like cute little pictures in books. The weather was overcast and rainy for the first 2/3 of the trip, so not many pictures, but then it cleared up. We drove through many quaint towns, past Prince Charles' estate Highgrove (couldn't see anything), through farmlands. Even got invited into the Duke of Beauford's hunting lodge when we walked up to the gates! The caretaker was very gracious, took us upstairs for the stunning view. Our tourguide, Charles, said that had never happened before!
Today is beautiful--I wouldn't be typing this now if the phone was working! There is an internet cafe around the corner from the hotel. The Best Western is expensive, although not by Bath standards, and has the distinct advantage of being in the middle of everything. So after this I go to see Bath Abbey, only a couple blocks away. Then at 1:15 I get on the minibus again for going to Stone Henge!! I'm so excited, made the reservations yesterday with the hope that the forecast for today would be accurate. Right now the sky is a beautiful blue, perfectly nippy at about 60 degrees or so.
Very nice people, met another gal on the tour yesterday named April. She works in a hotel and had been recommending the tour, so thought she should see what it was about. She grew up in Bath, took another couple and me around last night to see the Circus and Crescent, main places in Bath. She's even going to come with me on Wednesday to get me through the bus system down to Glastonbury--such a relief to have someone who knows the ropes to help.
I love English manners--even when the bums ask you for money they are so polite, even when you turn them down! Although it was hard not to laugh when the woman at the cafe here told me she couldn't understand my accent--that's a switch!
Tomorrow will do the on-and-off tour bus of Bath itself, tonight planning on the 'Bizarre Bath Walking Tour', which is supposed to be very funny. The foot is holding up nicely, slight pain after getting in last night, but a lot of walking yesterday. Lots to see and do here, will rest more in Glastonbury. The heart is holding up well, didn't have to make allowances until the evening when going up a hill to the Circus & Crescent, then got very out of breath, had to walk VERY slowly. But I'm just thrilled at how well I'm getting around. SO glad that I didn't try this in April when the foot was worse--it wouldn't have been possible at all.
Thursday, Oct 15, the five year anniversary of the 1rst surgery. Hoping the weather co-operates and I can climb the Glastonbury Tor. Turns out there is a longer, but gentler, path up to the top, not just the stairs I'd seen in photos, which makes it much more doable for me. I'll just rest a lot.
OK, out to enjoy the beautiful weather and look at an 800+ year old cathedral--love this kind of stuff!! Roman Baths tomorrow--they're about 2,000 years old.
More later (or on a gloomy day), Laurie
Arrived in Bath on Saturday, over the jet lag. The SIM card that I was so proud of ordering to use in my phone doesn't work. Would you believe that a Blackberry is too advanced?! Getting a calling card today, in any case. So anyone that was trying to get a hold of me will hopefully be reading this.
Bath is beautiful. Yesterday did a minivan tour of the Cotswolds, which really look like cute little pictures in books. The weather was overcast and rainy for the first 2/3 of the trip, so not many pictures, but then it cleared up. We drove through many quaint towns, past Prince Charles' estate Highgrove (couldn't see anything), through farmlands. Even got invited into the Duke of Beauford's hunting lodge when we walked up to the gates! The caretaker was very gracious, took us upstairs for the stunning view. Our tourguide, Charles, said that had never happened before!
Today is beautiful--I wouldn't be typing this now if the phone was working! There is an internet cafe around the corner from the hotel. The Best Western is expensive, although not by Bath standards, and has the distinct advantage of being in the middle of everything. So after this I go to see Bath Abbey, only a couple blocks away. Then at 1:15 I get on the minibus again for going to Stone Henge!! I'm so excited, made the reservations yesterday with the hope that the forecast for today would be accurate. Right now the sky is a beautiful blue, perfectly nippy at about 60 degrees or so.
Very nice people, met another gal on the tour yesterday named April. She works in a hotel and had been recommending the tour, so thought she should see what it was about. She grew up in Bath, took another couple and me around last night to see the Circus and Crescent, main places in Bath. She's even going to come with me on Wednesday to get me through the bus system down to Glastonbury--such a relief to have someone who knows the ropes to help.
I love English manners--even when the bums ask you for money they are so polite, even when you turn them down! Although it was hard not to laugh when the woman at the cafe here told me she couldn't understand my accent--that's a switch!
Tomorrow will do the on-and-off tour bus of Bath itself, tonight planning on the 'Bizarre Bath Walking Tour', which is supposed to be very funny. The foot is holding up nicely, slight pain after getting in last night, but a lot of walking yesterday. Lots to see and do here, will rest more in Glastonbury. The heart is holding up well, didn't have to make allowances until the evening when going up a hill to the Circus & Crescent, then got very out of breath, had to walk VERY slowly. But I'm just thrilled at how well I'm getting around. SO glad that I didn't try this in April when the foot was worse--it wouldn't have been possible at all.
Thursday, Oct 15, the five year anniversary of the 1rst surgery. Hoping the weather co-operates and I can climb the Glastonbury Tor. Turns out there is a longer, but gentler, path up to the top, not just the stairs I'd seen in photos, which makes it much more doable for me. I'll just rest a lot.
OK, out to enjoy the beautiful weather and look at an 800+ year old cathedral--love this kind of stuff!! Roman Baths tomorrow--they're about 2,000 years old.
More later (or on a gloomy day), Laurie
posted by Laurie @ 5:19 AM
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