Stanley's pictures: Our First Day In Bath,

Friday 1 December 2023

Our First Day In Bath,

we picked up Steve and Kai,

and were soon crossing the River Thames,

and driving into clear blue skies,

we stopped for breakfast,

Burger King it was,

Kai all set,

as was I!

back into the car,

the girls ready for the next part of the drive,

we soon parked up in Bath,

we walked past this imposing building,

on our way to Queen Square Garden,

which we walked through,

passing the obelisk in the centre of it,

and continued towards our hotel,

which was opposite the theatre,

and here it is Hotel Z,

we could not check in until after 3.00 in the afternoon, so a walk around town it was,

opposite the hotel a few restaurants,

but before we left,

a few photographs,

outside the hotel,

which was just a few yards from this bar,

a nicely decorated balcony over the entrance to this store,

we were looking for restaurants for the evenings meal as we spotted Yum Yum Thai,

we also looked in one of the local Chinese food stores,

a huge tree in the middle of the square,

we walked downhill and around the corner, and found Yum Yum on its lower level,

it was a tad too cold for ice creams,

we were looking for the river, and knew it must be near as there were a few willow trees in the area,

and there it was,

we were gong to make our way to Pulteney Weir, when we noticed this cheeky chappie,

getting a free ride,

as off he sped,

the railway arches built in the glory days of steam travel to the town,

a look up river,

the girls were busy taking selfies,

on the road bridge over the river,

next under the first of the streets decorated for Christmas,

and the stalls in them, this one with hand drawn maps,

with countries,

detailed on them,

in the distance,

more Christmas lights,

with home decorations,

under them,

a bright colourful shop,

which will be popular at any time of the year!

the archway next to the bath itself,

we will be seeing this closer later tomorrow,

at every intersection it seemed like there was a street performer,

this is the exit from the bath, which also houses a restaurant, The Pump Room,

we made our way around the corner,

passing shops on the right,

and the entrance to the restaurant,

and our first view of the Christmas tree,

and Bath Abbey,

which looked splendid,

so it was time,

for a pose,

we made our way towards the town garden,

which was next to the river,

which was in flood,

the water racing over the weir,

a quick pose from Diana,

the last time we were here,

was in September 2019, we called here after staying at Burton on the Water,

unlike today,

the water was much slower in its flow,

looking upstream,

and down,

Myself and Steve,

a selfie from Diana,

and just a few more,

for the album,

we next visited a covered market,

where all manner of goods,

were displayed,

and here flags of every nation,

we know there is a Filipino flag in there, but we could not find it,

in the centre of the market a sign post,

in case you get lost!

there were food stalls here as well,

plus a book stall,

then a real surprise,

only on Sunday I made a post of how I had not seen any haberdashery stores for more than a few years,

and here was one,

and it was huge!

it seemed and in fact did go on almost forever,

cottons and threads,

in a kaleidoscope of colours,

plus wools,

in every shade and all of the fittings needed for dress making, amazing, it is called Sew N Sew, in the Guildhall Market,

outside,

we started wandering,

looking at shops,

that interested us, beers for Steve and myself,

fossils and minerals for myself,

minerals of a different kind for Diana,

and Kai,

if you know what I mean,

and Christmas clothes for everyone,

Steve weaken and bought a few beers for Christmas,

by now it was time to check in,

our room,

with a view,

of downstairs,

as we had now checked in, we walked back through Queen Square,

so Steve could drop the beers in the car,

but we went by a slightly different route,

up the hill,

and past the ice rink,

we just had to have a look,

so downstairs we went,

we tried to get Diana to have a try,

but it was a no deal,

we walked past the crazy golf course,

which is illuminated at night,

we also had to pick up our suitcases from the car,

in the lift,

and up to our room,

as it happens as we booked it we were told it was a complimentary cheese and wine evening for guests,

well we did not need asking twice!

so eyes down and tuck in it was,

the restaurant next to the theatre illuminated,

as was our hotel,

we started to look for a restaurant,

we made our way into the square with the big tree, now also illuminated,

we passed a Spoon's,

the Abbey,

now resplendent,

in changing colours,

the undercover shops,

now closed,

but the stalls were still open,

and the carol singers were in good voice,

decision made, a Indian it was, The Grand Eastern Bath, and what a surprise it was when we went upstairs,

not only was it huge,

the walls and ceiling was so nicely decorated,

the room was in fact previously a ballroom, it must have been so grand, all of the walls were also decorated with Indian murals, what a fabulous interior!

I decided for this evening to join Steve,

with a beer as our pompoms arrived,

I have to admit I also had a starter, I just can not resist a prawn puri,

the plates for our main meal arrived,

and what a feast it was, there was one new dish from northern India we had not tried amongst others so a nowadbar was also included, I have tried looking up what it was, but although I copied the spelling from the menu could find no trace of it, in any event all of the dishes were so nice,

carful on the steps on the way down! the bill came to £177.00 including service, the girls made their way back to the hotel, whilst Steve and myself had a night cap in the local bar,