da plaine, da plaine

bath trip. part deux.

to recap, joe & i were able to steal away for a weekend getaway to bath, about 12 miles from bristol.

sadly, we waited until the very last moment to make our travel arrangements, so our hotel choices were really limited. as in no where to stay. not even the dreaded within walking distance holiday inn had a room for us. i mean, who comes to bath and stays in a holiday inn? i don't even go to holiday inns back home. but in this instance, the holiday inn would have been sufficient.

industrious joe got online and was able to find a room for us at a hotel about 6 miles outside of bath, called the plaine. while we could have just gone back home to tyndalls, finding this open room meant that after our relaxing visit to thermae, we would not have to go home to little people.

on the twisty drive to the plaine, joe kept saying "i hope you like it. i just hope you like it." i just said i hoped it wasn't a bed and breakfast, being that we are not bed and breakfast people. for those of you who are ben stiller film buffs, i challenge you to name that film.

of course, it starts to pour buckets & it's taking forever to get there. at this point, i am just hoping that an actual hotel actually exists out here and that we have not booked a hay bale in some local barn.

we arrive at the the plaine. and guess what? it's a bed and breakfast! and from the look of things, we look to be the only guests that weekend. from just the look on his face, i can tell joe is just dreading tomorrow's breakfast and having to make small talk with complete strangers or even worse, the b & b owners. i would even go as far to bet that joe thought about leaving before the break of dawn to avoid said breakfast.

the plaine turns out to be quaint and small, owned by a husband & wife and thankfully not some old cranky woman with a cockney accent. it has electricity, it's own bath with a shower & a flushing toilet from this century. plus we're only sleeping here before we shove off to london to visit a museum or 2 and handbag shop for moi.

the bed leaves something to be desired as it is short & maybe was pilfered from napoleon's garage sale plus it's a little low to the ground for my taste. there is a fireplace in the room but it's been turned into a reading alcove. a small tv has been provided but there are like only 4 free channels in england and they always seem to be showing a documentary about fishing or something.

our breakfast order was taken when we checked in and we have been told to arrive in the dining room between 8:30 and 9am for our breakfasts. we are the first (or we had thought the only) guests to arrive. the husband is reading the sunday paper in the kitchen area but immediately greets us and sets about cooking up our brekkies.

breakfast is a simple affair: eggs any style, beans, sausages, tomatoes, and toast. very basic but very delish & perfectly filling with orange juice, fresh tea & coffee.

the plaine turns out to have had a full house last night as all tables are full with weekenders. the wife makes the rounds at breakfast, making small talk with each of the couples, maybe 6 or 7 in all.

but we are off like a prom dress promptly after finishing up brekkie and heading to london!