Sunday, December 04, 2005

Day Trip To Bath

Mrs Dio and I had a trip to Bath today on a works organinsed coach outing for the Christmas shoppers. Bath is obviously a popular place for Welsh people to visit around this time of year as it was full of the buggers, I kid you not - I heard more Welsh accents than English.

I quickly spotted some amusing traits that make us Welshies stand out like sore thumbs when abroad in England. Hers's a rough list.

We're loud and excitable compared to the locals.
Only Welsh people can travel to one of the poshest towns in England and get excited on seeing a Pound Shop.
We're not posh, which is why the down market High Street stores (BHS, Pound World) was full of us.
Whilst trying to get fed, most of us ended up on High Street benches eating out of paper bags.
When we see someone we know on the main street, we immediately open our shopping bags wide and show people the contents squawking 'Oh! Look what I got for so and so!'

On the other hand, some stuff I noticed about Bath locals.

Lots of weird noses. Don't know if its the Roman connection or the Conservative heartland connection.
They all thought it was rather busy.
The prices in the shops didn't phase them
Not many black or Asian Bathonians to be seen

I would like to disclaim here that these are all pretty much sweeping generalisations but none the less ones that struck me during the day. That and Bath stone reminds me of either Korma or Diarrhoea. I enjoyed it though, it was a nice change, we didn't really see much more than the shopping bits.

It was fair to say it was hectic and crammed. The reason for going was for the Christmas Market around the Abbey, but it was so crammed (like the rest of the city) we didn't really bother. I wasn't really out for a snapping frenzy, but I took a few photos, hover for descriptions.

Juggler outside the Pump Rooms in Bath, England

Another view of the juggler outside the Pump Rooms in Bath, England

Old sign on building for the Brush Maunfactory and discreet christmas decorations in Bath

Georgian drainpipes and chimneys in Bath

Darkness draws in but the crowds persist in Bath

The Christmas Market at Bath Abbey as night draws on...

Posted by Dio Bach at 02:15

4 Comments:

Emma Reese said...: Thanks for the amusing observation and great pics (especially the last one is unique.) Aa, Bath... how I once was frenzy of when I was a Jane Austen fan! I used to study the map and knew every street and corner!; 3:48 PM
Elise Tomlinson said...: Wonderful photos Dio! You know, I had a near death experience in Bath one year, because I wasn't used to driving on the opposite side of the street and I nearly pulled out right in front of a fast moving lorry because I had checked for traffic in the wrong dirrection. Very scary! I missed getting hit by centimeters.; 10:24 PM
Joe said...: I grew up in Bath and I have a, let's say, prominent nose. I'd never noticed that as a trait amongst fellow Bathonians though. Nothing to do with it being a Conservative heartland either (they haven't had a Tory MP for years).

Also, there are plenty of black/Asian people living in Bath, but probably, like most other locals, they know better than to brave the city centre on a Saturday in December. It's horrible in January as well, with the sales in full swing.

Lovely place, though. Go in the summer and enjoy the parks and architecture. The nightlife is a bit rubbish though.; 12:22 PM
greg said...: Nice pics and lifestyle insight! Bath is always on the list for us USArs to go visit, but I haven't made it yet.

I know what Elise means - is a weird perspective to get used to (glad you made it out alive!) we kept wanting to drive off the road to avoid getting too close to the middle line. HUG! was our command for the driver to get off the curb. It's still a good thing to yell if you have to ;); 9:54 PM