Wales

Today we drove many hours thru mostly rain from Cheltenham in the Cotswolds to Caerarfon in Wales. This area is holiday walking country for the Brits, with lots of sheep, streams, fields, and rolling steep hills. Honestly it reminded me of West Virginia as you drive from DC to Berkeley Springs  I did a little shopping at the 2 stops, one of which was at the train station with the world's longest name. Just when I thought I'd start beating on he windows if I had to stay on the bus much longer, the sun emerged and we rolled into the little town of Caernarfon.  Some of us will recognize that name from when we watched the Queen formally name 19 year old Prince Charles as Prince of Wales at the local castle, which dates from around 1050.  What the TV didn't show is that the castle is surrounded by car parks! It sits right on the river to guard the approach from the Irish Sea, and streets and parking lots ring the castle. Kind of funny but undeniably convenient for visitors. I found some cute little stores but not until the 5 pm closing unfortunately. 

Tonight we a and 4 others from our tour had dinner with a local host family. They were a couple with a 12 year old son, the wife is Welsh and the husband comes from Liverpool. She made a lovely traditional dinner of beef stew with mashed potatoes and peas accompanied by homemade wine (from a kit) that tasted quite nice, not at all grapey. Dessert with roly-poly pudding with custard sauce, minus the raisins and Tom Kitten ( if you don't  know what I mean, reread your Beatrix Potter). It was delicious!  We also toured her neighbors' garden that was more like a tiny park with walkways and sculptures, all hand planted and tended by the 72 year old owner. 

Style note: Everyone here wears Barbour or fake Barbour waxed cotton jackets, and now I understand why - you can count on getting wet and wind blown. Our bus driver has a calf length Barbour that looks very dashing, like something Mr. Darcy would wear riding.  

Here's a few pictures from today. 

Traditional full English breakfast from the hotel buffet. 

Wild Welsh garden

Our dinner group

Dutch pancake house near the castle 

Pastel houses, just like in the Being Human TV show, across from the castle

The castle, shot to minimize the car park effect

Town with worlds longest name