Pumpin' Up the Party

After being in Bath for two and a half months, I finally made it to the namesake of this blog - the Pump Room. I had always figured that I would make it to the Pump Room either one of the first weeks I was here - because it is one of the things to see in Bath - or one of the last weeks - because I would keep telling myself that there was still more time to go and would keep putting it off. But today when I went downstairs for breakfast, my housemate Courtney said we should go. And considering I'm swamped in paper work right now, I was ready for any homework break, especially one as perfect as this.
I feel like I should give a bit of the history of the Pump Room, just so you know why it was so exciting. Back in the day (it opened in 1795, to be exact), when Bath was a super fashionable resort town, was the social heart of Bath. It was a place to 'see and be seen'. It's quite a swanky place. And to make it even more exciting, they go to the Pump Room in Persuasian and Northanger Abbey! So as we headed to the Pump Room, visions of Jane Austen and Regency costume danced in my head.
Sadly, I wasn't wearing an empire gown when I got to the Pump Room, but even so, it totally fulfilled all of my expectations. For one thing, there was the Pump Room Trio (consisting of a piano, violin, and cello) playing the entire time we were there. And then there was a giant chandelier in the middle of the room. The walls were artfully decorated with paintings and had giant beautiful windows. Really, it's just gorgeous inside.
The four of us sat down for some (slightly overpriced, but it was okay because we were at the Pump Room). After we placed our order - mine was English Breakfast tea and scones, naturally - my friend Claire and I ventured over to the fountain at the side of the room. Bath is (obviously) named for its famous healing baths and in the Pump Room, you can pay 50p for a glass of the spring mineral water. It was warm and with a slight metallic taste, but not as bad as I had expected. And who knows - maybe its magical healing powers will make me super healthy or even invincible. Or, not.
Our tea came and was delicious. There really is nothing better than going out for a cream tea. I wish we had cream teas in America, just because they are so fantastic. Plus, you feel so classy - especially when you're sitting in the Pump Room. We gossiped (because after all, that's what you do in the Pump Room), talked about 'Classical Kids', and had fun soaking up the atmosphere.
Of course, before we left, my friends made me take a turn around the room. At least, as far as I could walk without running into anything. Even without the Regency dress, this afternoon was like a look back into the world of Jane Austen.