Walking in Jane’s footsteps

Went to Bath Spa yesterday! I absolutely love Bath and I was so impressed with it – the last time James and I went, we had a business meeting and we couldn’t relax and enjoy the town. This time, I went with James’ Mum, and we just had a fantastic time.

I took the train to Bristol:

ipod cranked, seat next to me empty and extra leg room. It really doesn’t get any better! I switched at Bristol {and after much racing down platforms to find the correct train…} and got to Bath with time to spare. I waited in the sunshine for Kim, and then we were off. Kim is a caffeine addict, so we searched for a little cafe and finally found one – just 5 minutes from the railway station. We both had coffee {extremely unlike me – I haven’t had any for about 3 years, but it was good!} and planned our day.

We headed off in search of the Jane Austen Centre and found it not too long after:

I absolutely love Jane Austen – I’ve read all the books and seen all the movies. My favourite movies are the Keira Knightley version of Pride & Prejudice {more rough and tumble, sexier, dirtier and just all around earthier than the BBC version – which I also loved! Plus, the best Darcy ever in Matthew MacFadyen} and Emma Thompson’s Sense & Sensibility {which was a perfect, perfect movie!}.

Kim also posed with Jane {and accidentally grabbed her boob!} but I don’t have her permission to post those pics.

It was pretty and cramped inside. Colin Firth greeted us:

We browsed the gift shop, and then went in search of the ‘introductory talk’, which was held in a room upstairs. I had a look at some of the displays – one was a letter from Emma Thompson, sent to the Centre, along with a never-before-released picture of her and Kate Winslet.

The letter was vintage Emma – witty and self-deprecating. The picture was out-of-this-world gorgeous:

On the way into the exhibition itself, we met a rather curious gentleman. Kim and I are almost convinced he was a ghost. No one else seemed to be able to see him! And whoa, nelly! He was a little strange:

Hmmm.

Oh, hello there:

Nom nom nom… could eat that right up. He is freakishly gorgeous. I love that end scene, when he strides through the fields, chest hair out there for sho, hair mussed, all passionate and vulnerable and hoping for some action {oh, you know he was! Why else would he dress like he’d just rolled out of bed?} Might have to watch P&P later. He and Keira had some blazing chemistry.

Also snapped a shot of Kim’s favourite painting of Jane. It’s been called the most realistic and true-to-life:

Once we hit up the gift shop for goodies (Kim bought me a journal and I successfully avoided purchasing over-priced crochet gloves… they were oh so Carrie Bradshaw!} we were back on the street again. There, we saw a street performer that I am convinced was Yoko Ono:

Lunchie was at a delightful little bar – I forget the name. I had tapas!

Freshly smashed hummus, swimming in olive oil {mmmm! I enjoyed every bite of this!} with hunks of warm pitta.

Bruschetta with spiced avocado and tomato salsa. OMG this was really seriously delicious.

All together now!

Yes, the white bread was present and accounted for. But hey, it was yummy and it was a special day out! I tell you, this food was just BEAUTIFUL! I wanted to ask for the recipes it was so good We also had cocktails!

I had a ‘tickled pink’, which was martini roscata with pomegranate juice. Refreshing and only slightly sweet. I really liked it! Kim had Pimm’s with vodka and elderflower cordial.

After rolling ourselves out of there, we took a walk through Bath Abbey -

I considered lighting a candle for the Canadian soldiers in Afghanistan, but then got distracted by something:

Wait, what is that now?

Oh my. Health & Safety rocks my world but kinda ruins the moment. So I just said a little silent prayer for my brother and went on my way

We did a lot of window shopping and walked for hours, watched the buskers {there was one singer named Brooke Sharkey – I keep meaning to look her up. She had the most fantastic, smokey, complicated voice I have ever heard… it was really fabulous. I want to buy her CD!}.

Soon it was time for tea!

We went to the famous Pump Room, where Jane Austen herself used to sip tea and eat cakes.

Beautiful! We had a reserved table and perused the expensive menu:

Instead of champagne and smoked salmon, we went for the cheaper {and less filling!} option of tea and a cake. I had the Pump Room Blend with a strawberry eclair. Pure bliss:

Seriously.

That quickly disappeared, let me tell you.

Kim got the server to bring me ’spa water’, which in the 1700s, they thought was the elixir of youth.

Straight up nasty. It tasted like … eggs. Or feet. But I chugged it down.

It was just a fabulous day. I was fuller than I’ve ever been, ever, but it was well worth the calories!

Bye, Bath!