Pandas in the UK and Wales

Day 14: England – Bath

Farewell Wales!!! We crossed over the Severn and were back in England. We loved Wales and will miss the green fields, sheep farms, narrow lanes, beautiful old villages and the thousands of castles, many in ruins. We visited the three National Parks of Brecon Beacon, Snowdonia and Pembrokshire. We will miss the friendly Welsh people, although we heard very little Welsh being spoken, every sign post or board was written in both English and Welsh – a testament to their proud heritage.

It was a short journey east to the city of Bath, which oozes Georgian opulence and is home to so many sites of historic importance that the entire city has been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. We parked the bus at the Bird Bath, the hotel where we are staying and as it was too early to check in, we wandered into the city centre, a 10 minute gentle stroll.

We crossed over the Pulteney bridge and headed to the Roman Baths. The queues for entry were long so we decided to explore the beautiful town and other sites. We walked up to the Royal Crescent and Circus, did some shopping and stopped for a drink or two. It was reported to be one of the hottest days ever in parts of Europe and it was unbearably hot, so staying hydrated was important.

In the afternoon we returned to the Hotel to get some respite from the heat. The hotel rooms in the UK all have heating systems but are not geared for the heat, no air cons and no fans.

The Bird Bath is a unique boutique hotel with a definite bird theme, down to the bird nest breakfast room and bird garden. Great and thoughtful touches are all around, like a sweetie table For Gray.