Sunday, Dublin-Ferry Crossing-Wales

Off to the marina to catch the ferry. We didn’t leave until 9:30 a.m. and still arrived early and had to wait for the ferry.

I like the big ferry for walking but the small catamaran is certainly faster.  I had lunch at the Burger King on board so I could look around at our next stop without foraging for food.  The tour guide said that it would be a “grazing” day – not a real lunch stop.  We landed at Holyhead in Wales (pronounced Hollyhead).

First stop Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwillllandysiliogogogoch, Wales – the town with the longest name in the world.  It means Church Mary Hollow White Hazel Near to the Swirling Whirlpool Church of Saint Tysilio Near the Red Cave.  The stop we made was a combination shop and restaurant.  I picked up some eccles cakes which are little two-crust pies full of black currants.  The saleslady said that when she was a little girl, they called them “fly graveyards”.  I thought the name appropriate. 

Photos from the coach - some a little blurry.

 

We stopped at Caernarfon Castle which is still mostly intact.  This is where the Prince of Wales is crowned, and I remember seeing the ceremonies on TV when Charles was crowned by his mum, Queen Elizabeth II. You can watch it HERE.  A short informative movie in the castle told about the castles of Wales, which were built one day’s ride apart.

  

The drive through Wales to our hotel was as beautiful as any scenery I’ve ever seen.  Slate mountains with patches of purple heather; deep green valleys with lakes, rivers, and streams; and fields of sheep and cattle.  We saw lots of rock climbers, hikers, hang gliders, and kayakers. How would you like to live here?

Peace and quiet? Uh, no. See the little green train at the bottom.

Couldn't make out the little red winged creature on the front of the boat

  

Our hotel is very tastefully decorated with an “old country charm” look.  Dinner was in a nicely decorated dining room with not very good food.  My starter was a fishcake with a little green salad on the side and some honey-mustard dressing.  I ate the salad.  Dinner was a buffet (carvery).  I had tasteless dry roast beef with Yorkshire pudding and gravy.  I enjoyed the vegetables, though, a medley of corn, turnips, carrots, and snow peas, plus fresh beets on the side.  For dessert I chose a bowl of fresh fruit.

Early to bed at 10:00 p.m.