2014 - OCEAN PRINCESS - BATH & THE END OF THE TRIP

Tue 8 Jul 2014
View 2014 PRINCESS - DOVER TO PORTSMOUTH on hasbeen's travel map.

SO - BACK TO WAITING OUTSIDE THE ROMAN BATHS TO SEE IF MY COUSINS WILL TURN UP.

I EXPECT SO, BUT AS I DO NOT KNOW WHAT TIME WE ARRANGED TO MEET, I HAVE ANOTHER THREE HOURS HERE.

HOPE I DON'T END UP LIKE THIS FELLOW ...

NOT THAT IT'S AT ALL BAD. I SIT ON A BENCH WATCHING THE TOURISTS. LISTENING TO THE BUSKERS, CHATTING TO WHOEVER SITS NEXT TO ME.

THERE IS A GROUP OF PEOPLE WITH INSTRUMENTS GATHERED, OBVIOUSLY THE BUSKERS, TRYING TO SORT SOMETHING OUT. I ASK ONE WHAT IS GOING ON & HE TELLS ME THEY ARE APPORTIONING TIMES & PLACE FOR EACH ACT. THIS STOPS MORE THAN ONE ACT BEING AT THE SAME PLACE TOGETHER. THEY EACH GET ABOUT 45 MINUTES AT EACH PLACE.

VERY CIVILIZED

I GOT TO SEE A LOT OF BUSKERS DURING THE COURSE OF MY TWO DAY WAIT HERE & DROP A COIN IN EACH OF THEIR HATS. SOME ARE REALLY VERY GOOD.

ONE LADY SITS DOWN & IT TURNS OUT SHE IS WAITING FOR A FRIEND FROM PERU WHO IS TOURING INSIDE THE BATHS. SHE GETS A BIT CONCERNED HE HAS GOT LOST WHEN HE DOES NOT SHOW FOR A WHILE BUT EVENTUALLY HE TURNS UP.

ANOTHER LADY FROM NORTHAMPTON IS ALSO WATING FOR FRIENDS TOURING THE BATHS. THEY ARE FROM CANADA.

A COUPLE OF GIRLS IN A SCHOOL GROUP FROM CROATIA ARE NOT GOING TO SEE THE BATHS AS THE TEACHER SAYS IT IS TOO DEAR. ALL THIS WAY & NOT GOING INSIDE - TOO BAD.

TEACHERS NEVER LOOKED LIKE THIS IN MY DAY.

THERE IS A SCHOOL GRADUATION SERVICE GOING ON IN THE ABBEY .... HUNDREDS OF SCHOOL KIDS ON THEIR LAST DAYS AT SCHOOL.

LITTLE GIRLS PEAL OFF THEIR BLAZERS & SCRIBBLE NOTES ON THEIR PURE WHITE BLOUSES - "SEE YOU NEXT YEAR", "MISS YOU ALREADY"

LITTLE BOYS DRESSED LIKE JUST WILLIAM. SCHOOL CAP & BLAZER, NHS SPECTACLES, SHORT TROUSERS, KNEE SOCKS - ONE UP ONE DOWN, SHINING THEIR SHOES ON THEIR SOCKS