A place where my mind had wondered in passenger seats resembling a safer, freeing alternative should the city life become too insufferable. The streets were rustic and old, yet boldly announced their timelessness. It wouldn't take much to soak in this classy air of town. It was of course built upon the relicts of poets and writers. I'd never considered myself a poet, but it felt like it was an inevitable fate for any creative person here.

 

The 1800s buildings, cobble stones and grandiose landscapes made one want to tuck into a novel, with a tea and blanket, looking out a window incrementally watching the raindrop make it's way down and out of sight.

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We spent two quiet days in Bath, my sister and I. 

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Frolicking around town, visiting monumental sites,  sipping on tea was lovely and pleasant. It was English. It represented what the English countryside ought to represent; slow days, deliberate tea and scone moments, and taking a promenade along the river. And we were there for it. 

 

Upon taking a turn on the bus-about through the hills of Bath I was truely in awe of the beauty. Surprisingly, I felt an unexpected familiarity, almost a sense of intimacy, with some towns back in Victoria. I remember gazing over a hill, taking in the scattered cottage homes and rolling green hills speckled with autumn leaves. It was a sight to behold, so immersive that I realised Jane Austen's novels were not a mere romanticised fantasy.

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Truth be told this place visually couldn't have better reflected what I had anticipated and dreamt about. And with a flourishing artistic scene, I couldn't help but feel that perhaps this town did feel more alive through our screens. I am aware of  lack of immersion that comes from being a fleeting traveller, and some towns have an energy palpable enough to draw you in. However, with timelessness comes a secure sense of self, which was evident from the moment of arrival. It has grace, elegance and standard.

 

I spent hours walking these streets comprehending their historical significance, and imagining life from the Roman age, until our present day. This proved rewarding, but difficult. I did not so easily tap into a creativity I had expected, and therefore I hope to return with a different lens, one more introspective, expressive and cozy. 

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