Charming Bath: Part 1

The City of Bath 

One of my favourite places.

Not entirely because of the Jane Austen connection. =D

 Located in the southwest of England

This Charming City is set in rolling hills with incredible 18th Century Georgian Architecture.

By car or by train, this city is worth the journey.

  (All photos are taken with my iPhone)

Landsdown Road

Bath Abbey 

Bath Abbey

With the sun shining, the beautiful summers day showed off this charming city.

A friend from the USA visited England for the first time this summer.

It was a privilege to show her some of my beloved places.

We didn't want to leave after our one night stay.

In hindsight, we should have stayed a few days more.

For although it is a smaller city in comparison to London and the like, it's pace,

 it's history, hidden stores and cafe's draw you in.

You find yourself relaxed and simply enjoying the moment you find yourself in.

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We arrived by train and walked the incredible streets to our B&B.

After dropping our bags off we set out to find the quintessential English tradition.

Afternoon Tea

Anticipating this important experience for my friend, I researched and discovered a place called

Bea's Vintage Tea Rooms

It did not disappoint!

While we sipped the delicious loose leaf tea awaiting the arrival of our food, we found a shelf containing books. Many of great interest to me, it was hard to choose. We found ourselves perusing the pages with excitement as they held much information and history of this great city.

  

I could have easily sat there all afternoon!

We quickly laid our books to the side as our food arrived :)

Afternoon Tea for Two

It was delicious.
And combined with the atmosphere, a lovely experience!

A single step.

They say that a journey of thousand miles starts with a single step... or something to that effect.

Literally or figuratively there is much to be said about a single step.

Or the audible yes one must muster the courage to speak aloud. 

And thus begins my journey of a thousand miles.

Perhaps better yet, my adventure into the unknown.

When I find my feet upon the cobbled streets of old, I can't help but wonder what step in the past lead me to this moment now.

A single step.

A single yes.

The one that places my foot upon a road older than I can make sense of. 

And the step that follows the first. 

Now leading down the stairs towards the path along the river in another nation.

How is this my life?

That my eyes behold the beauty and timelessness of generations past. 

To feel the same sun upon my face that kisses the waves of the sea that is before me.

Surrounded by the sound of life and conversation. 

To not know of what they speak, but know they communicate things of importance to one another. 

These were the dreams that were a luxury to imagine.

‘Real' dreams were made up of the immediate that surrounded.

Education, career, engagement, marriage, children... 

The dream that everyone else seemed to find a reality.

Somehow those 'real' dreams didn't come true for me.

But secret dreams of my heart, the hopes hidden away for those rainy days when I allowed myself to imagine walking the distant shores of Europe…have suddenly become my reality.

I have been given the opportunity, through no ability of my own, to see so much of the world.

Beyond the pages of the books from my history classes I have stepped.

I could not have planned this journey had I have mapped it and planned it to perfection.

An imposter at times I feel.

As those who have dedicated years to the study of history and culture, appreciating things I have never learned about; whose eyes may never behold the very things they have learned and know well.

Yet mine have.

A single step.

A single yes.

This is my reality.

So here's to my adventure.

I hope you enjoy the view.

This blog will serve as a tribute to the places I have had the privilege of seeing and experiencing and the people I have met along the way. 

~Sheena ~