"Dipping" Into Bath

Bath, in SW England, was a Roman center starting in 64 AD (as a reference, that is about 30 years after Jesus). It rose up around several very hot mineral springs... still running.
In keeping with the monastery theme, we are staying at Three Abbey Green, a B&B located right in the old city. In the picture, our room (the Lord Nelson Room, if you please) has the three windows starting over the door and moving right. It is nicely appointed with antiques, including a wonderful big old four-poster bed.
So we are shifting gears from monastery to "normal" life. We have reflected on the last week gratefully. (All things considered, the Farnborough experience had more impact.) I miss the chickens, except at 5 a.m.
Bath offers a free two-hour walking tour, which was enlightening, and which gave us the overview of a remarkable and ancient city. After that, we headed for the restored Roman baths (pictured), much of which is still there and working (although not used for bathing). I find it moving to stand on the very places the ancients lived and worked, and this was no exception.
Bath is full of terrific things to do and see, and we hope to avail ourselves of as much as possible. In the time of the Pilgrims, it had become a rather anything-goes place, so it is unlikely they ventured here.
One happy note: We have encountered consistently helpful, interested and interesting people (fellow pilgrims, cabbies, train officials, monks, waitresses, etc.) We have yet to meet anyone who is curt or in the least unpleasant. I find that remarkable.
We picked up a few balloons (shades of purple) for Katie's birthday on Tuesday. For those of you lighting candles that day (9 a.m. AZ time), if you care to we would love to have you send along a message by posting a comment on the blog site... it is simple to do. (You will find the link right on the page.) It still seems painfully unreal to us that she is gone.
Tomorrow: A visit to Stonehenge.