Wandering Wet In Wales

With a seven page paper and a play to read looming over me I took off for Wales this weekend to see sheep, stairs, and more sheep.  I also saw many Welsh flags flying about. 

However, before we entered Wales, or Cymru, we stopped at Chester to eat lunch, wander some medieval walls, and take a picture of the second most photographed clock in Britain.

 Another church that I analyzed using what I learned in class.

The Chester Clock

Chester has PRIDE.

 Mad as a hatter, that one.

Did someone say hats?

After that, it was straight onto Llandudno where the rain could not keep me inside for long.  A small seaside town, Llandudno made me think of a smaller version of Ocean City or Daytona Beach.  Although we were told that Llandudno had a wonderful nightlife, all I saw were cafés that shut their doors by five and late-night carryout chippies (fish and chip stands). 

Carved into the grass is the name of the town.

The next morning we took off for Caernarfon Castle, a castle from 13^th and 14^th centuries when Edward I wanted to reaffirm his sovereignty over Wales.  With each staircase being the tight spiralling wet stones (it was storming when we left Llandudno) of the previous castle that I had explored (Blarney) my legs got quite the workout.  In the two hours we had I climbed all but one of the towers, and I could have climbed the last one except I looked at it and the next tower on my path and went “they are the exact same height.”

My favorite picture of the castle.

After Caernarfon Castle, we made our way to the town of Llanberis for some lunch and exercise.  Although I wouldn’t call Pete’s Eats the best café in the world, the food was decent in large proportions for only a little money.  After lunch, I walked to Dolbadarn Castle, a stronghold of the medieval Welsh Princes.  To farther my quest in getting wet, the weather decided to throw a freak hailstorm down as I made my way to the Castle.  Although in ruins, this castle was striking, even if it is tucked out of the way.  After a sightseeing coach ride around Snowdonia National Park (and it started snowing), we returned to Llandudno, where even Subway closes at seven. 

Best cafe in the world, apparently.

One of the lakes in the area.

 Good thing there was a boardwalk.

 Approaching the castle from the back, you can see that it is falling apart.

 You can see where there might have been walls.

 The stone steps outside the gate became a waterfall because of the rain that was not absorbed into the ground,

Three sheep lost in the parking lot.

After a lazy Sunday morning, we got back on the bus and started making our way back to the manor, but not without a bit more sightseeing.  We stopped at Swallow Falls for some group and individual photos with the waterfall in the background before heading into Betws-y-Coed (Prayer House in the Wood).  There we shopped for a few parting gifts from Wales and grabbed lunch before making our way back to Harlaxton to begin another week of class.

I really wanted to take a few of the napkins from the cafe in Betws-y-Coed but I resisted.  Instead, I took a picture of one.

JClark.

P.S. I spent the last two days on the paper and the play, getting them both finished on time, which is why this is written and posted on Wednesday and not sooner.