Wales Across the Pond: Busy week: Zone Conference, Bath, Ward Party

Busy Week ! Nov. 10th-16th

Zone Conference

Tuesday was our Christmas Zone conference with the Cardiff, Merthyr, Bristol and Cheltenham Zones. The morning started out with a video of "Twas the week before Christmas" done by the Senior Missionaries & Mission Presidency. It was quite hilarious.

Each zone did a gift exchange game.

Scripture Chase Game

We had a wonderful meal of Turkey, Stuffing, Mashed potatoes and fixings. Brownies and ice cream for dessert.

Santa and His Elves showed up to pass out presents.

We had a great time!

After Zone Conference we drove 30 minutes on the other side of Bristol to Bath to spend the day. There is so much to see in Bath.

We stayed in the Hotel Indigo which was about 175yrs old. At the front desk they had displayed bells that used to be used before telephones.

Christmas Markets

The Christmas Market stalls are located all around the magnificent Bath Abbey.

We spent the evenings visiting all of the Christmas market stalls. I have found I'm not very interested in knick knacks anymore. They are just things to clutter. There were also a lot of Food Stalls. yum! I did find a few ornaments that I liked.

I found this two sided Welsh Dragon ornament in a Welsh store in Cardiff.

Early the next morning we set out to walk around the downtown area.

We first came upon the Parade Gardens. This areas is set next to the River Avon. People would use the garden to parade around to be seen by others in 1800's.

It's a beautiful park. I can imagine it being more stunning when all the trees and flowers are in bloom!

King Bladud is acknowledged as the founder of Bath 1000 yrs before the Roman occupation. A famous legend says that Bladud was the rightful king but could not inherit because he had leprosy. He was cast out as a swine herder and roamed the countryside with his pigs. Close to the place now known as Bath his pigs were cured of scurvy and other skin conditions after rolling around in the hot mud. King Bladud did the same and was cured too.

The first pay toilets I've seen.

Citizen in Bath erected this statue for King Edward the VII.

"Edward the Peacemaker"

They even had a pet cemetery.

Across from the park boats are parked along the river as lodging.

Up from the park is the Pulteney Bridge and Weir.

A Weir is like a small dam built to control the water level on the up side of the river. A weir lets water flow over the top of it.

Next stop was the Roman Baths

So much history here that goes back thousands of years.

We toasted to drinking the healing waters from the Roman Baths.

Looking out from the top of the Roman Spa to the Christmas Market Stalls around the outside of the Bath Abbey.

Bath Abbey

They don't allow pictures inside. We took a tour that told of the history of the Abbey. I am glad they are keeping some of these great buildings in repair.