Saturday to Sunday, my program was sponsoring an overnight trip for a Jane Austen book club they had. Earlier that week, I got an email saying that there were a few extra spots open for non-club members and since I had nothing planned this weekend, I decided to take it.
We left Saturday morning on a Coach and traveled to Wincester. There we had free time to explore the town and then got a tour of Wincester Cathedral, where Jane Austen is buried. The cathedral was beautiful and is one of the largest medieval cathedrals in Europe. Wincester used to be a very important city in England when the Norms came over around the 11th century. There are (or were) 4 castles from those kings in the town as well as some kings were crowned in the cathedral.
After that, we took a 15 minute coach ride to Chawton, just outside of Hampshire, and toured Jane Austen's house. It was very small and very plain. The highlight was seeing her original writing table that they had on display.
Then, we drove to Bath. On the way, we passed Stonehenge. It is not what I expected at all. I might take a trip down to see it in person one of these days, but if I don't make it, I at least drove by it.
We got to Bath right as all the shops and attractions were closing so I just walked around the city for a while that night, before going to sleep at the YMCA. (YMCA's are nothing like the ones at home. This was a great hostel)
Bath is an ancient Roman city and is where the Roman baths were located (hence the name). There is a mineral spring there that the Roman's believed was sacred. There are ruins of the ancient bath houses below the city which I got to go see.
Sunday morning, we went on a walking tour of Bath. Since it was a Jane Austen weekend, the tour was of course Jane Austen related. Jane lived for a while in the city as well as two of her novels, Northanger Abbey and Persuasion, take place in Bath. It was a good tour and I saw a lot. Afterwards, I visited the Baths.
More flowers!The weekend was fun, but I can't say the same for the people who went on it.
didn't like the people? Aw you miss me!? Haha only kidding - that sounds so awesome and the pictures of all the flowers are gorgeous!! It has finally started to warm up here, its like 52 today? and Sunny!!!!! Very cool - oh and also I keep reading articles on drudge about how rude Obama is to the UK so maybe just maybe obama-mania will die down there sometime!?!?!?!?
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