Revisiting the Queen of Resorts

 

Last week runs a bit into this week really for having a number of things all one but on Wednesday I was out for the day in Llandudno, North Wales.

We were a bit late in arriving thanks to really silly idea of the drive to go due south via the motorway around the outskirts of Nantwich on the day of the Nantwich show for good measure that delayed us over a half an hour.  

A short discussion between a group of us came to the conclusion we'd better off getting food and then visiting any places of interest.

Thus the first change was in getting a meal where the usual haunt of Tribells was given a miss as reports on Trip Advisor suggested the quality had dropped off in the last year so we went to a cafe /restaurant on Mostyn Street near the former M&S shop for cod, chips and Mushy peas.

Given I had breakfast at half seven in the morning it really was a must and it did not disappoint being in thin non greasy batter with plenty of superior pure fish rather than the reconstituted sort served quite warm with a huge pot of tea.

Several shops were visited such the Gift Centre, Boots and the cat rescue shop although like a number towns in the UK there had been changes such as M&S moving to Mostyn Champneys retail park which I used to like to visit for the school wear section and HMV closing its store due to issues between it and the landlord over rent.

I did get to see the promenade walking a good length of it  and pier with the gift shop no longer with us but with the boat trip excursions around the coastline still running, busy as ever.

We took the better route through Tarvin, Winsford and Sandbach back thank goodness in the light rain of the late afternoon only to find one of our friends thought they'd lost their house keys.

Thankfully they were found after  quarter of an hour.

St David's Day

 Yesterday was Saint David's Day, or the Feast of Saint David, is the feast day of Saint David, the patron saint of Wales, and falls on 1 March, the date of Saint David's death in 589 AD

Being in a boarding school with a high proportion of Welsh staff, we always marked St David's rather like schools actually in Wales did studying the origins and through things like singing and crafts.

Here these Infant and Juniors mark it with the girls in traditional Welsh dress, the boys are naturally wearing WRU Rugby tops as Rugby was always bigger than soccer in Wales, almost a religion!

What I'd give to wear Welsh dress.

It is marked by Scouts in Wales.

Choo Choo's Pt.2

Another place we visited a few times in the 1970's was the Vale of the Rheidol which is a steam train line running from the Welsh university town of Aberystwyth to the Devils Bridge some 12 miles downline.

I'm sure the engine we went on was called Owen Glendwr who I think was something of a hero to the Welsh fighting English occupation of their Country.

 The countryside in that part of Wales is very mountainous and really beautiful.

Conway

Conway is one of my favourite places to spend time relaxing. It is situated on the North Wales coast, United Kingdom and has a Castle which was built on the orders of King Edward I of England during one of his periodic attempts to take control of the entire British Isles.

The picture is taken from Conway harbour from which short coastal excursions are operated during the summer months and also you can observe locals repairing their own boats before sailing.

Nearby is the smallest house in Wales which a lady in traditional Welsh dress will explain the history of and maybe let you take a picture of her and the house to show your friends and family.

Also to be found in Conway town centre is Aberconway House which is owned by The National Trust.

I find the calm helps me to remember what I love about going to visit places and the seaside activities I loved as a child.

Late Summer Hols 2006

I went away this week and by way of souvenir, here is a picture of where I stayed.

 As you can tell it was very sunny indeed with all the flower in full bloom in the guesthouse gardens which is something I enjoyed waking up and rushing downstairs to sit out in in the morning. 

I normally have my green camera bag with me with the Minolta X500 and XD7 with me plus a few lenses. These days I have digital cd-roms made of the films for blogging when sending my films back for processing.

I went on the Welsh Highland Railway  with spectacular views of Snowdon.

I'd always pack some short sleeved  t shirts and games skirts to put over my trunks as well as hardier clothing for walking and something more formal for evening dinner with fellow guests.

I also take a couple of skirts with me too

Summer Hols 2006

Today I'm writing about my visit to the Snowdonia national park, in Wales recently as I had been experiencing a lot of stress and it was having a serious effect on my mental well-being.

I was greeted by exceptional hot, sunny weather affording superb views of Mount Snowdon and the isolated moorlands surrounding it.

The lambs were all out in the fields young and old some having a chew of the grass, others sheltering in the shade of nearby hedges, walls and trees.

A few had the bright idea of exploring the human domain of the narrow roads and we needed to slow down to allow them to cross back into the fields.

I liked the solitude up there but I’m not sure the idea of being literally miles way from the nearest market town would really do for me which I guess is a reflection of my urban upbringing.

Betws–y-coed is a place I like to stop off at as here are good range of shops and spectacular waterfalls. There are a lot woodlands in the area and I took a lot photos – on my ageing Minolta XD7 of the trees, sometimes lying underneath the branches to get the viewpoint I wished to capture.

Llandudno: It remains a largely unspoilt Victorian seaside resort with excellent shopping facilities. The Theatre is really good and many amateur choral performances are hold during the summer season in local churches. On Tuesday there was a Brass Band concert taking place, appropriately enough, on the Bandstand along the promenade. The players were really good – I’m no great fan of Brass Bands but the musicianship couldn’t be faulted.
Bangor: 

I visit here a lot, being a University town with bookshops and some good Pubs that serve meals. 

There is an excellent record shop on the High Street, Cob Records, whose staff really know about music. 

The main store is in Porthmadog – this is a ‘satellite’ store – it has a first rate second hand vinyl department that is well worth rummaging through and stock new vinyl releases too.

I took the bus to Conway - there is a very frequent service - travelling on the river, strolling around the town and enjoying the castle

Things that didn’t go as they should: I days filming got wasted as a Fuji film become tight and tore whilst rewinding it out of the camera – we came close Basil Fawty worthy meltdown!