Bath

"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony, in a moment."
--Jane Austen



Bath has been described as Britain's version of Hollywood 200 years ago. Walking around the well preserved neoclassical architecture, it's easy to imagine what life would have been like here during the Georgian era. This week the city was celebrating the life of one of its most famous citizens, serving as host to the Jane Austen Festival. Austen is wildly popular amongst the women of England. In a recent survey, Fitzwilliam Darcy topped the list of fictional characters the women of the UK would most like to date, beating out Superman and James Bond. This week's venue is essentially the world's largest Est-Fest. Example. This Saturday's Schedule...

10am-1130am: A Very Private Public Breakfast. Sample the delights of an eighteenth century public breakfast just as Jane Austen did...There will be a talk on the recipes of the time and tableware used.
11am-1230pm: Jane Austen's Bath Walking Tour
1230pm-1pm: Costume photography. Turn yourself into Lizzie Bennet or Mr. Darcy! Take a photo in Georgian costume in an elegant Regency setting.
2pm-3pm: Powder and Prejudice. An illustrated talk on Regency beauty, in preparation for tonight's ball.
7:30pm-9:30pm: Grand Regency Ball and Supper. We request the pleasure of your company for an evening of music, dancing, cards, and a traditional Regency Supper at the magnificent Georgian Guildhall in Bath.

After walking into the Jane Austen center I started having flashbacks to my first day in senior French class back in high school. I was the only dude in sight. Just like Jay Cutler studying the videotape on New England's defence in preparation for Sunday's game, I regarded this as an opportunity to educate myself on the female psyche. After about an hour, I started to get a pretty good read on the situation--all I have to do is stare at their mouths and wrinkle my nose, and I turn out to be a big sweetheart. Lock it up!