Another December adventure took me to a place I had heard many delightful things about.
Bath is a place I have wanted to visit for a long time and what better time than at Christmas.
I am lucky enough to have family that live in Bristol, which is another place that I really love to visit and explore. Being a short and picturesque train journey to Bath made the travelling and parking easy and stress free.
The feeling of excitement to see somewhere new always makes feel like a child on Christmas day. That feeling even made me feel slightly better for the best part of the day, being blocked up with the flu, I wasn't in the best of shapes.
As soon as you get off the train, the beautiful Bath architecture greets you along side a pristine tall tree covered in shiny baubles.
Cornwall isn't a dirty place, but I couldn't help but notice how clean everything was, not just the floor but the buildings look fresh and clean, although they are really old having survived the war.
A short walk through the small boutique shopping centre lead us through the city centre and towards the Christmas Market, which is actually a couple of village squares packed with stalls and side streets boasting locals goods.
The most impressive factor of this market for me was the huge variety of produce and items on offer.
Often, at events like this, it feels like you are featuring in a Scooby Doo movie. Seeing the same produce being repeated over and over. Mulled wine, knitted hats, crepes, mulled wine, knitted hats and cookies...You get the gist.
Where as, in Bath, I'm sure I didn't see two of the same kind of stall. Offering all sorts from home ground spices and dips to sausages and fudge, then Christmas decorations and presents to food and drink from all around the world. There was always something different to see.
Outside the shopping you could see the beautiful bath as it is the rest of the year. Featuring a canal and stunning Abbey.
As darkness fell the market took on a whole new feel and atmosphere. The bustling busy streets of people on a mission the get their shopping finished, turned in to a much slower paced, mellow one. Locals enjoying the warming drinks on offer and singing Christmas Carols, enjoying mingling with strangers brought a few smiles to my face.
The streets emptied and Merry Go Round, once packed with giggling children, started to slow and light up the street. It was the last night of the yearly event and time for me to say goodbye to Bath for now.
I am already looking forward to returning again to experience this beautiful city without the decorations and festive feel.
