Mind Your Head!

We slept in a bit this morning--well, Jo did. Then it was off to Bath Abbey around noon.


The Abbey dominates the center of Bath. This spot has been a place of worship for more than a thousand years. The Abbey you see here was begun in 1499. 

We signed on for a tour that took us up to the very top of the Abbey, climbing 212 cramped, curving steps. The doorways were right for someone about 4 feet 9 inches tall, and each had a sign above it warning the enterer to Mind your head! Our excellent if hyperactive guide, Jess, led us up the stairs--she makes four to six trips every day--with a stop at the bell tower for an explanation of how the bells work.


Jess explains how the bells are rung

At the top we had sweeping views of the city and the surrounding countryside.






And we felt proud of ourselves for making the climb.


Afterward we took a very short walk from the Abbey to the River Avon and the Pulteney Bridge, Bath's answer to the Ponte Vecchio in Florence.


There are shops along both sides of the interior. There wasn't much to see inside, so it was back to the Abbey for Evensong, which was lovely. The interior of the Abbey is dominated by a soaring nave topped by fanned vaulting.  The sounds of the choir--men and boys--reverberated wonderfully.



These brief services are magical and memorable. We'll most likely seek out others along our way in England.




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