The Roman Baaaaths

I finally handed in my last paper, got my other two papers given back to me, presented on Melmoth the Wanderer, and presented on Northanger Abby. These past two weeks have been so busy with work and full of stress, and I am just overjoyed that it's behind me (though in six weeks I have to do it all over again). Friday and Saturday were spent exploring the beautiful city of Bath. Since Friday was Erin's birthday, we both decided not to do any work and instead go shopping. To celebrate Erin's birthday, a bunch of us (Kate, Kate, Sasha, Rachel, Cullyn, Erin & I) went to Strada. Strada was AMAZING. I got a Caprese salad and Spaghetti al Ragù.

Saturday, after doing some homework, was tourist day. First, we went to the Jane Austen Centre. As we walked up to the entrance, there was a man outside dressed in Regency clothing and it was no other than Martin (a fellow Jane Austen dancer).  The centre itself was alright and sadly the tea room was closed.  We next headed down to the Roman Baths. They were really awesome. The Roman Bath House was much larger than I thought it actually was. The baths, house, and temple are such an impressive showcase of architecture and house some amazing artifacts. One artifact is the head of the bronze statue of Sullis Minerva, the goddess to whom the temple was dedicated to. When the temple actually stood, is was located where the Bath Abby stands now.

Head of Sullis Minerva

After the Baths, Erin and I were terribly hungry and decided to go Sally Lunns for something to eat. Sally Lunns is the oldest house in Bath and the home of the original Bath bun. The Sally Lunn Bath bun should not be confused with the Bath bun, for they are two completely different buns. Sally Lunn came to Bath in 1680. The Sally Lunn bun is much larger than the Bath bun and very light and airy. These buns are usually served with different jams, butters, and/or clotted creams. I had the Jane Austen Cream Tea, which was a half a toasted Sally Lunn Bun, with their homemade raspberry spread and a ton of clotted cream. It was absolutely delicious! Now I have yet to try a Bath bun, which is suppose to be much sweeter (it has a sugar lump in the center), but it is on the list.

Today has been spent finishing Northanger Abby, preparing to teach an art lesson to the year five class (they will be drawing what they believe the future will look like in 50 years), and starting The Private Memoirs and Confessions of a Justified Sinner. On a positive note, there are only four days until mid semester break where I will be heading to Dublin, Edinburgh, & York. I cannot wait! This break marks the the half way point of my study abroad semester.  If this first half has gone by so quickly, I cannot imagine how quick the second half will go by.