We Arrive in Bath Day 7c

Since we arrived in Bath an hour later than we had expected to, we did the only thing that we could conceivably be expected to do---look for food.  We wandered around the area near the bus station, hoping for a quaint little pub or family restaurant, or even a take-away fish and chips shop. However, the best we could do was Kentucky Fried Chicken. In Bath, England. Yes, I know. Pitiful. It was literally the best we could do.  But we were starving and soon we were not starving any more. Rather we were concerned with how we were to get to our Bed and Breakfast which was in Monkton Farleigh, which as it turns out, was a village some five miles away.  Not a walkable distance at night. Or even during the day.

After we ate, we wandered around a bit, enjoying the shopping, the city center, the houses and the church of St. John the Evangelist.  The darkness was not the best for taking pictures but it did have its own sort of ambience. A rather scary sort of ambience. Although I do have to say this for Bath at night:  not once did we see anything to make us feel afraid or nervous or wishing we were somewhere else. We felt quite safe albeit a little concerned about how we were to get to Monkton Farleigh.  Or maybe that was just me. When it gets dark, I tend to want to be near my bed. Or in it. Preferably in it.

                             The Church of St. John the Evangelist in Bath, England.

Sarah finally called our B and B hostess who advised us to take a taxi. She also advised us not to get a taxi near the bus station as they were more expensive there. So we located the recommended taxi stand and secured a taxi with a female taxi driver, literally about the same age as us. Well, not me. The same age as the girls. We felt relief as we piled our luggage strategically into her little car and three of us snuggled into the back seat and Sara in the front, since she was our designated extrovert. We relaxed, secure in the knowledge we were soon to be settling into our home for the next few days. Umm, soon is not the way it worked out. Nor could we really relax.

First off, the young lady wasn't quite sure how to get to Monkton Farleigh, which is a tiny little village on the outskirts of Bath. She acted like she had never heard of it before and certainly didn't know how to get there. (girl!!!!! that's your job!!!! You're a taxi driver!!!!!  you live in Bath for Pete's sake...)  But this was in the early days of GPS technology and she was finally able to pull up directions and we were on our way!

However, once she had finally figured it out where Monkton Farley was, somehow she chose the most hair raising route to get there. Or possibly the GPS chose it.  She went around the narrowest, most winding roads that she could possibly find, in the dark, in the middle of the deepest medieval forest you can imagine. I kid you not. We drove through a forest on a cow path.   Ok, I'm kidding about the cow path but that is the only part I am kidding about.

Finally she located Church Farm Bed and Breakfast, much to our relief, delight and undying gratitude. But in our hearts, we were hoping that, should we ever need another taxi, we would get a different driver.

Bus Ride to Bath Day 7b

Our bus (finally) arrived and we gleefully hopped aboard, choosing seats near the front.  Which maybe wasn't the brightest idea. (just keep that word "bright" in mind)

We were so enthusiastic about the things we were seeing outside the bus windows (and the things the bus driver was obligingly pointing out to us) that we were becoming a little snap-happy with our cameras. And somebody may have inadvertently left  her flash on which seemed to annoy the bus driver after a few (make that a lot) of non-stop flash pictures. He was very direct in his preferences, especially ones that concerned the camera flash. It was quickly turned OFF.

  

You may very well be amazed that our bus was able to navigate down this street. We were.

Grosvenor Gardens

Random London buildings.

Harrod's as seen through the front window of the bus. Lots of people getting some early Christmas shopping in.  Well, it is late October. Who wouldn't want to go to Harrod's and get a jump on the season?!!?

By now we were out of London and closing in on Windsor. I was tired and had almost dozed off. Somebody mentioned that there was Windsor Castle in the distance. I snapped awake and took this (less than stellar) photograph. Windsor Castle is that round tower thingie in the middle of the pic. Behind the telephone pole and barely visible through the trees.  But it's there and I saw it!          

After Windsor and some driving on the UK's version of an interstate highway, we began to drive through charming little villages.    And then the bus driver received a fateful radio message. Which was to impact us. Not in a huge, life-changing way. Basically just an hour-long inconvenience. For some inexplicable reason, our bus had to take a detour to pick up a stranded bus driver. I am not sure why or how this bus driver got stranded but who am I to object helping out a fellow human being.  She and our driver had a lively discussion which lasted the rest of our journey and was instrumental in keeping me entertained (and awake.)

We finally arrived in Bath an hour later than we had expected to. And by then it was getting dark. And I had long since quit taking pictures of the scenery.  Since it was dark and all. And then there was that whole camera flash issue.

Breakfast and Victoria Station Day 7a

Even though it had been a short night, we eagerly got up early enough for breakfast. After, of course, admiring the view from our hotel room window.

It was a nice buffet, which we thoroughly enjoyed, even though we were a little puzzled by the baked beans on the buffet.

Turns out, that's a thing for breakfast in the U.K.

Baked Beans aside, the Premier Hotel put forth a very nice spread.

We had a lovely breakfast, then packed up for the next leg of our holiday. Pooh attempted to stowaway in Rachel's camera case but alas, he got caught and was sent packing and ended up in my bag, right where he belonged.

 Our destination was the Victoria Coach station. We only had two changes on the underground to arrive at the bus station. And a little bit of a walk...





















Being nervous travelers and leaving nothing to chance, well, nothing that was under our control, we arrived quite early at the bus station. And found ourselves with plenty of time to kill.  And pigeons we wished we could kill. But I am getting off-topic...

We needed to use the facilities but could find none that we wouldn't have to pay for. We really didn't want to pay for what we deemed basic human necessities so we searched diligently for a free alternative. Finding none, we bit the bullet and paid.

Then, although this might be hard to believe, some of those in our party began to feel the old familiar pangs of hunger.  Our options were quite limited. We didn't feel like we ought to leave the bus station in search of food but the food available for purchase was, in a word, icky. But we are nothing if not resilient. So we bought and ate some icky food.



Then after a little more waiting and observing our surroundings, it was time to grab our things (aka lug our luggage) and get on the bus to Bath!!

A New Place to Lay Our Heads... Day 6k

Time to bid a fond farewell to Saint Paul's, the Thames, the bridge and whatever those bright lights are below...

Duly fortified after our feast at Nando's, we took the tube back to the hostel that unfortunately had no
room at the inn for this quartet of travelers. The only reason we went back there was because, if you will recall, we had to retrieve our bags from the lockers at the Restup Youth Hostel....

Happily, that went off without a hitch. It had been a long, long day and I was feeling it.  And it still wasn't over. We had to get to our hotel. Thankfully, we had no trouble finding the right bus (there was a bus stop conveniently located across the street from the hostel so we didn't have too far to lug our luggage--is that why they call it "luggage"?) and eventually we found ourselves at the Premier Hotel. Funny thing, though. The only room left was a double twin (two twin beds) so when we had made the reservation, we requested a cot . (I don't remember what the strategy was for the bedless, extra person...maybe the floor or perhaps the bathtub or, worst case scenario, we would take turns sleeping) (other options:  maybe we were going to request another cot once we got there or draw straws) Whatever. It turned out that it didn't matter.

When we checked in, we found out that a cot is a baby crib. The desk clerk wondered why we wanted a baby bed. ummm, oops.

We decided to make the best of it and bunk together. Two girls on a twin bed. A girl and her mom on a twin bed. But as it was so late, we all fell asleep as fast as our heads hit the pillow. I was so tired I didn't even notice I had only six inches of space on the bed and I'm pretty sure I didn't move once all night long.

We Find Food! day 6j

We continue on our quest for the oldest pub in London. We trek through some of the darkest and scariest streets in London. Luckily, we have Heather to protect us. She might be the smallest but I wouldn't want to meet up with her in a dark alley if I had nefarious designs on her purse or backpack.

But, we have met with success and found our objective.  The only serious obstacle is the fact that The Anchor will not open for another half an hour. We will have starved to death by then.

However, we notice an intriguing and very much open restaurant just across the way. We have no idea what or who Nando is but hunger is a great motivator.  

The decor is interesting, to say the least. African-inspired paintings on the wall.

 Very cool. Very brightly colored. Very unique.

And the food did not disappoint...     Rachel and I ordered lemon herb Peri Peri chicken wings, with garlic bread and a salad that had amazingly tasty tomatoes. I am not a tomato connoisseur or even much of a tomato lover, but oh, my, those were some good tomatoes. And the chicken was absolutely to die for...   Our taste buds had a party and we have never been the same. 

We have both craved Peri Peri chicken ever since.

Several varieties of Peri Peri sauce.

And we had a fantastic view of St. Peter's across the river.  Magic, pure magic.  

The Eternal Quest...For Food day 6i

Hunger descends upon us all. Well, mostly Sara. Also the desire to see something notable and historic. Like the oldest surviving pub on this side of the Thames. So we decide to eat at The Anchor,  where such notables as Dr. Samuel Johnson, Charles Dickens and even (well, of course!) Shakespeare dined and drank.

We wandered for awhile and we stopped and sat on the curb near this sidewalk cafe. Just because it was so pretty. And to get our bearings and figure out where we were and where The Anchor was and how best to get ourselves there.

                                  We noticed this little Fish and Chips place but since we had already                                             consumed our requisite fish and chips a day or two earlier, we continued our search.



the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral

Still looking for food...but enjoying the view along the way...

A nod to Shakespeare day 6h

Only a nod because neither place was open...sigh


We didn't realize that our wanderings would take us by The Shakespeare, but it was a neat thing to see.  In my usual way, I wondered at his name.

Some of my research turned up the following quote from Dr. Who. And I was delighted to discover I wasn't the only one who has a quirky mind...

Leela: 'To be, or not to be, that is the question.'          That is a very stupid question!
The Doctor: It's Shakespeare.
Leela: And that is a very stupid name. You do not shake a spear, you throw it! Throwspeare, now that is a name.

~John Dorney, Doctor Who: The Fourth Doctor 

ahem...

From the opposite side of the Thames, we saw a very familiar sight, a sight we had only seen in pictures but one that we knew:   the Globe Theater!!   Another serendipitous moment in our wandering.

There's not a whole lot to say about Shakespeare...mainly because he says enough himself!!

And so I continue this blog post with much of his help (thanks Will!)

With my heart upon my sleeve, we march on toward what may well be a wild goose chase, as our journey this eve seems to have neither rhyme nor reason. With bated breath, I discover we are only a river’s width from the brave new world (to us, anyway) of the Globe Theater.  With our feet begging for a rest, we know we are made of sterner stuff and although our wanderings seem too much of a good thing, we will not take a break nor sleep one wink until we have arrived at the be-all and the end-all of the foregone conclusion of our next destination. And by then, we are comforted knowing what's done is done and all's well that ends well.

               “You speak an infinite deal of nothing.”      ~Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice

                                           “And nothing is, but what is not.”   ~Shakespeare, MacBeth

"And though she be but little, she be fierce."  ~Shakespeare

"The last taste of sweets is sweetest last."

~Shakespeare, Richard II

                                  “Educated men are so impressive!”    ~Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet



And in an effort to prove myself educated (well, at least knowing my way around some of the classics) I close with these two quotes:


“England has two books, the Bible and Shakespeare. England made Shakespeare,but the Bible made England.”          ~Victor Hugo



Not like Homer would I write,
Not like Dante if I might,
Not like Shakespeare at his best,
Not like Goethe or the rest,
Like myself, however small,
Like myself, or not at all.        

~William Allingham