Blue Lagoon Traveler

 Tues September 24th.  I was on my own today, after breakfast our tour group went to their next adventures.  I visited the Roman baths that were discovered in 1871 by Major Charles Davis. Because they were under homes, it took many years to purchase the homes and excavate the site and in 1897 the baths were open to the public. People flocked to the site for spa treatments on and off over the years, but they were closed permanently in 1978.  A nearby spa uses the same waters and opened in 2004.  The original baths are now a museum.   As a little background, the Roman Baths here, were built around 70 AD. The complex was constructed on the site of a hot spring that was worshipped by a local tribe long before the Romans arrived. The Romans identified the Celtic goddess Sulis with their own goddess Minerva, (Minerva was the goddess of wisdom, war, art, schools, justice and commerce) and named the site "Aquae Sulis Minerva" to honor both goddesses. The baths covered an area larger

Monday September 23rd.  Our roads today will lead to Bath England and our final destination.  The theme in Bath is Georgian England, so our tour guide used Georgian times to describe what our travels would have looked like around 1770-1800s, for someone with comparable income level as those of us on tour.  This included: how we would have looked (me in princess high waist gown with flowing fabrics-inspired by Grecian or old Roman styles); what we would have been traveling in (a private hire coach); and why we would be going to Bath (to go to Roman Baths). It was very fashionable to not only bathe in the waters but to also drink the water - for a curative.  It was a place to see and be seen.  Lisa, our guide said that lots of filming has been done in Bath, because it is so picturesque.  Some examples of tv or film, with scenes shot in Bath are, Northanger Abbey - a Jane Austin story, the film Persuasion - a recent romantic comedy, and the Netflix series Bridgerton.   On our drive to Bat

 Saturday September 21.    We had been told that it was going to rain on and off for a few days, so since it was still nice in the morning, I walked down the steep cliff path to the town, cove and beach.  I saw people swimming and surfing, it was 8am and only 55 degrees.  I was told the water was 66.   The first 3 pictures are from my walk down.   Then I enjoyed some time on the beach.  It was so peaceful.  We headed out to explore the coast.  First stop was Padstow, which sits on a protected estuary, just inland from the ocean.  As a little background, In the early 500’s people came to Padstow from Ireland. By the Middle Ages, it was a thriving trading area.  This was also a departure point for the Americas and their biggest industry is fishing including the world’s biggest supplier of kippers (a way to prepare herring) in the early 1900’s.  Unfortunately the glory days were 100 years ago, but they still have an active fishing harbor with just 20 fishing boats, mostly going after lobs