After another full breakfast, this time Welsh, we left Seacroft on Holyhead for Aberystwyth, Wales. Just down the road we found a beautiful beach that we had missed on the way in.
It's a Saturday and the sailing races are on.
Not too far along the road the rain starts.
And the traffic is very heavy. Turns out that this is the summer bank holiday weekend. Bank holidays are declared by each UK country individually and there are two holidays weekends per country. By the way, the schools in the UK only have 6 weeks of summer vacation. They have summer holiday from the end of July til the first week of September, two weeks at Christmas and two weeks at Easter. That's it. Seems like our primary and secondary students have nearly double the time off.....counting two weeks at Christmas, one week at Easter, 12 weeks summer, almost a week at Thanksgiving, Martin Luther King, Presidents Day, Labor Day, Memorial Day....
So far, Wales looks like where we have been for the past two months....beautiful.
We are surprised at the condition of the infrastructure in Wales. The roads are smooth and relatively wide. They are pleasant to drive....a whole new experience from the past two months.
Lots of trees and pasture.
After driving for a while, we are ready for a toilet and coffee break. We come across the Welsh village of Dolgellau (means meadows of groves).
The coffee and snack part of the stop were fine.
The trip to the toilet was a little more of an adventure.
The main door from the coffee shop.
The alleyway to the facility.
Getting closer.
Not exactly indoor plumbing.
But functional.
Later down the street, we spotted this nun tending her flower garden. Kathy really wanted to ask her if she lived alone....is this a convent....what is going on, but she left her alone with her flowers.
Lots of nice flowers in Dolgellau.
A stream flowing through town.
Now this town feels like Scotland and England with the grey stone everywhere....
Free range bulk eggs fresh from the chicken. Repeat, the eggs here are not refrigerated.
Nor are these local cheeses.
Witty here, too.
Back on the road and into the rain and fog.
Stopped by roadside to take this lovely view....discovered that it was private property and you are not allowed to park or take the picture without checking with the owner....didn't stop to take a picture of the sign...nor to check with the owner!
Nearly all towns, villages and cities have a clock tower
Now THIS is a serious retaining wall. We guessed it to be 15-20 feet high and went for two miles or more. As just mentioned, the infrastructure in Wales is exceptional.
McKenzie, this made us think of you and your rope chair!
Random, along the side of the road, on a curve
Our fist sight of the sea since we left Holyhead
Our destination for, sadly, only one night...pronounced "abber...ist...with"
Pleased to see the RNLI again...this time as lifeguards rather than a lifeboat off shore.
Color, color everywhere....light, bright, sunny, airy and packed with people Aberystwyth is a captivating town. It is a big one, but small enough to have charm and so very inviting.
Checking out the motorcycle gathering, wondering if they will rumble later.
Below is the Welsh symbol....and won't bore you or me with the reason why. It is two pages long and still didn't quite understand it. Something about the one time that the red dragon beat this English white one...
Here's to you, Marian, and the TC gang from home!!!
We stopped in here for refreshment
We met Catherine, who just finished her PhD in Geography at USC in Columbia. She has been living with her boyfriend in Inman for past two years. They became engaged 6 days ago, the night before she left for Aberystwyth. She will be here 2 years while he is studying at Harvard. The conversation started when Kathy commented on her Florida State jacket.
We all HEARD the stag party. According to Catherine, the custom is for the groom to be dressed in the most crazy fashion. One of the guys is appointed the designated driver and he collects all the passports, drivers licenses, etc....According to her, that is a very honored position, not one to be granted lightly since one's life is at stake!
A few more scenes around this part of town.
Our home for one night....
Back out on the street
Catherine had suggested this place for dinner. We already have reservations at our place, but decided to check this one out anyway.
Back at Gwesty Cymru, our place (don't know how to pronounce this one, but DO know that Gwesty means hotel), looking down the stairwell from our room....
Advertising the restaurant's honors is a very big thing in the UK
Beetroot salad with pine nuts and goat cheese balls.
More lamb, good, but not the best.
Impressed with the floor lighting in our bathroom. Quite certain that is to prevent someone falling off that ledge in the night and suing them!
Watched the time come in and the kids jumping off the platform in front of our place! Made us shiver.....
Good night, Aberystwyth. We like you!
