North Wales

Thursday, 19 June 2014

Today I went home. We began by driving to Caernarfon castle. Even though the A55 has changed quite a bit since the last time I was there, I was amazed by how familiar the road was. It was fun to drive along the coast. We had a picnic lunch outside the castle, then spent an hour or two exploring inside. Kent and Elizabeth climbed to the top of the highest turret and I was reminded once again that my fear of heights and dark, spiral staircases are an awful combination.

We explored a few Welsh craft shops and tested some homemade ice-cream (two thumbs up) in Caernarfon before driving over the Britannia Bridge to Anglesey. We made the obligatory pilgrimage to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, and even took a photograph in front of the Pringles shop. Then we drove into Menai Bridge and I took Anna and Elizabeth to David Hughes School, where I spent 8 years of my life! We continued on to Llandegfan. The hills were just as steep as I remembered. The Primary school looks much older and trees now surround the fence. The vegetation has also flourished in the wilderness in front of my old home. The new owners have made several changes to the house, but it's still recognizable.

We took the back road to Beaumaris, and Elizabeth was complaining about nausea by the time we arrived. No one could quite believe that I rode that route on a bike to work at a Welsh Craft Shop--especially as the shop where I worked is now a clothing store. We walked along the beach, gathering a few shells before passing the lifeboat house and going down the pier. I chose to drive back over the Menai Bridge and didn't even flinch as we squeezed through the arches. :)

Caernarfon Castle



Llanfair PG



David Hughes School



14 Caer Gelach



Beaumaris