Funny thing...Wes texted Gunnar & said we were going to 'Wells'. Gunnar laffed & laffed because his dad spelled it 'Wells'. He wrote back to his dad and said "Dad, I believe you meant we were going to 'Whales'!!" Once I got a hold of the messages, I collapsed into a heap of uncontrollable fits, whooping and hollering, of unconcealed hilarity! Once I was able to catch my breath, I pointed out to both 'men' that we were actually going to 'WALES'! *guffawing until my ribs hurt!!* They both sneered at me and walked off saying 'Well!'....lololol *Ahem!* Okay, our trip to Wales!
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SNOWDONIA, Northern Wales |
We decided to drive our Passat--gets around 55 mpg and Wales is relatively close! My first thought was to go to Cardiff...after all, that is where TORCHWOOD was filmed and I love that show! :D But, some friends of ours own a cottage in Northern Wales, in the Snowdonian Mtns. so we decided to stay there.
The road up the mountain to the cottage was beautiful but treacherous! It was a 2-way that barely allowed 1 car to pass...any deviation and you'd were eaten alive by the unforgiving stone walls that escorted you up the mountain! But, I have to say, those stone fences were one of my faves!
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| road to the cottage |
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| sunset through a stone fence |
We explored the mountain trails and enjoyed the sheep, the sunset and the stone fences...which of course volunteered to be our 'stage' for the afternoon! lol
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| Our stone 'stage' |
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| me & my babycakes...and the sheep! lol |
Hmmmm....I'm thinking, I'm thinking and *SHAZZAM!!!!* I have a genealogical tie to Caernarfon Castle in Caernarfon, Wales!! How perfect!!! Our friends’ cottage was in close proximity to Caernarfon, so not only would we get to explore a new place, but see a bit of our own heritage!!! How exciting!!!! Off we went!! :D
Our first day found us marching upon Caernarfon Castle, in Caernarfon, Wales, to stake our claim – www.visitcaernarfon.com ! WOW! The castle, marina and town were picturesque and I was as giddy as a kid going to the fair! The castle was huge, to say the least, with lots of rooms and gorgeous foto opportunities. It was indeed a ‘guardian’…a symbol of protection for the town. The harbor was peaceful …dotted with many colorful boats aimlessly bobbing on the water.
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| us at Caernarfon Castle |
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| Caernarfon marina |
The friendly little town had its own vibrance and we were thrilled to discover its secrets! When our tummy’s rumbled, we found sustenance at the Black Boy Inn to be more than passing fare—DEE-LISH!
On the above web site, you can find directions and most any other info that you need to spend an incredible day in Caernarfon!
Okay…Caernarfon was fabulous, but Beaumaris was FANTABULISTICAL!!!! Beaumaris boasted a castle too, but on this day, we decided we were more entranced by the bay. So much so, that we took a cruise on the Menai Strait out to see the Puffins on Puffin Island & the young seals that played around it.
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| Menai Strait, Beaumaris Marina |
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| Puffin Island |
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| Seal play |
After our cruise, we rambled through the town making friends on every store front! We even made friends with a famous Afghan Hound, Ann, and her owner, Cathy. I must confess it was an instant love connection between all of us and the dog! She was just tooooo loveable!
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| Ann, the famous Afghan Hound, Chace, Gunnar & Olyvia |
The town was most surprising and we especially found the church too good to pass up for a foto…the church and the castle!
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| Beaumaris Parish Church |
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| Beaumaris Castle |
On our way in to Llanberis, we spotted Dolbadarn Castle (it’s sitting in the background in the middle of the picture)…
Once to the slate mines, we got on the train and conquered the mountain!!
After our train ride, we were getting ready to leave and spotted a narrow opening in the mountain wall around us! We decided to meander over to it and lo and behold, we found an oasis in the middle of the mountain! It was absolutely stunning…an utter ‘rainforest’ in the middle of what appeared to be a crater sitting smack in the middle of the mountain! What a surprise!!!!
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| on the 'slate' train |
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| hidden Oasis in the mtn. |
There are a few other attractions around the areas as well…Penrhyn Castle and Bryn Celli Ddu Burial Chamber.
*If you’d like to see more fotos of our trip to Wales, you can find them in my FB foto albums!
Hwyl am rwan! { Bye for now! }
