Georgian Bath

I'd forgotten how very much I love the UK.  I guess it would be more accurate to say, I forgot how much I love being here.  I say it's my favorite place, but when vacation time rolls around, I feel like I need to see and explore new places rather than return to places I've already been.  Someone asked me in Italy how the UK could hold my heart and what I could love so much about it, especially since I was spending months in Italy...you know the place where everyone seems to dream of buying a house to live the Italian life.  I can honestly say that in all my time in Italy, I never once thought "I could stay here forever."  Italy was about the adventure, the access to art and the challenge of immersing in another culture.  It was wonderful, beautiful and definitely challenging but I never wanted it to be anything but a temporary adventure.  

The UK, on the other hand....what is it about that one special place that just moves us?  I could say that I love the literature, the history, the cool rainy days, stone cottages with flowers growing up the side, big pots of tea, verdant countryside filled with sheep, stone ruins, mists rising from the Scottish lochs in the morning, bagpipes, single malt scotch, kilts  and the wide expanse of the Highlands with nary another person in site...even still, it doesn't seem to do justice to what I love so much about this place.  Yes, Italy is beautiful, but the UK is my lobster. 

I have a bazillion photos but little time to upload, review and blog.  Blogging will be less frequent as I head up to the Highlands tomorrow.  I've (finally) taken to Instagram instead--instant gratification, no photo editing and it lets your parents know you're still alive.  You can't beat that right? 

Just a few of the highlights from Bath....

Who doesn't love Pulteney Bridge?

I kind of remember Bath Abbey and the courtyard being bigger than it is.  

I'm finally reading a new book on the Norman Conquest that I purchased a few months ago....love this history.  Bath has seen a few abbeys on this site since the original Anglo-Saxon one. 

I took a photo of this exact ledgerstone last time.  There are hundreds upon hundreds of markers in this abbey so it took a bit of effort to find it.  I apparently still think it's fantastic.