Melissa Ann Goodwin

Melissa Ann Goodwin

Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Part II of Our Trip to England and Wales: Two Days in Bath

From London, we took the train to Bath, where my friend Deirdre lives with her husband Nigel and their three beautiful children, Orla, Lorcan and Ronan. Nigel picked us up at the station and delivered us to our hotel:

The MacDonald Bath Spa Hotel
Another view of the hotel
Then we went straight to Deirdre and Nigel's house, because I haven't seen Deirdre in more than 15 years! She and I met at UNUM in Portland, Maine - she was a 20-year-old college intern from Limerick, Ireland, and I was a 35-year-old intern - having just finished graduate school and hoping to get a job with the company.  We worked all summer in a department called "Corporate Strategic Planning," - which was like a "think tank" - in other words, a collosal waste of the company's money!! Our jobs were to research our competitors and analyze their strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, my study was on Paul Revere Company, an insurance company in Massachusetts. Later, UNUM ended up acquiring Paul Revere in a merger. I'm sure my report had something to do with it. ;)

Our office was in downtown Portland, so Deirdre and I would take long walkabouts around the Old Port at lunchtime. I mean, Loooooonnnnnnggggg walkabouts. Eventually, I got a job in another part of UNUM, and Deirdre went back to Ireland, and then on to law school. But we have stayed in touch throughout all these years!

This is Deirdre - she is very, very pretty :) and a very faithful friend :)


On our first full day, RVPainter and I showed ourselves all around Bath. Once again, we brought blue skies to Britain..

We went to the Roman Baths:



And Bath Abbey ...




And around town...





That night, Nigel, Deirdre, RVPainter and I went out for a grown-ups only dinner in a local pub. The next day, the whole family took us out for what Orla later called our Beautiful Yummy Day:

First, Stonehenge ...



Orla, Lorcan, Deirdre and me

Nigel and Ronan

Dick is perplexed by Stonehenge and determined to figure it out
Then we went to Stourhead House, which is one of the National Trust properties. It was such a beautiful place!

There are acres and acres of land, with meandering paths and ponds with bridges...


And a magical Owl Tree...


And secret grottoes...



 And buildings like ones in ancient Greece - this one has statues inside ...


And afterward, we had ice cream! Then we went back to their house, where Orla and Lorcan dressed up in all their costumes for us. Orla was right - it really was a Beautiful Yummy Day!

The next day, we had to leave for Liverpool, and Deirdre, Orla and Lorcan came to see us off - in fact they road the train to Bristol Temple Meads with us. 


Then we sadly said goodbye and continued on our way - next stop - Liverpool!


15 comments:

  1. Anonymous9/18/2012

    I have always wanted to see Stonehenge in person.

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    1. Me too! It's really neat - very thought-inspiring. My dad had a real fascination with Stonehenge, and he and Mom did get to see it - possibly when you could still wander through it and touch it. Nigel said when he was small they used to run all around and climb all over it!!

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  2. What a wonderful trip! My daughter was able to see Stonehenge. She went on a class trip to England and France in 10th grade. Lucky girl.

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    1. It was a wonderful trip in every way - the best is yet to come! Your daughter WAS a lucky girl! I haven't been to France, and I would love to go.

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  3. I am always amazed at how green the UK is. Which I suppose shows that I really do come from 'a sunburnt country'. And yes, Stonehenge and the Roman Baths would be high on my must see list. Thank you.

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    1. The U.K. is beautiful. I loved riding on the train and passing the deep green fields with all the cows and sheep. Simply lovely.

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  4. England has some fantastic countryside. I'd love to see Bath some day.

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    1. I love Bath. And the U.K. is simply beautiful. I could live there.

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  5. I've always wanted to visit the UK! These pictures are beautiful. I'm glad you're enjoying your trip and have fun in Liverpool!!

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  6. Dear Melissa, I so like to travel, albeit vicariously, with fellow bloggers. Especially ones who snap such vivid photographs. In my 1976 trip I didn't see Bath or Liverpool, so I'm eager to read your next posting. That Roman bath must be at least 1,700 years old if not older. Right?
    Peace.

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    1. Yes, the Roman baths are incredibly old!! I didn't think they'd be that interesting, but they were! And it's all right there in the center of town - the baths are right next to the abbey. It's a great little city.

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  7. These pictures are amazing!!!! I must go!!! Bath is now on my bucket list. Next hurdle, convince my husband.

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    1. Jane, Bath is LOVELY! And it's hilly, all up and down and windey all around - good for staying in shape! I'd live there, and even more so because some of my favorite people already do!

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  8. So glad you are enjoying our wonderful country!

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