Wales

We left Nettlebed this morning in a pouring rain. This was a bit disconcerting as we were in a new car and had a shaky idea of where we were going. Fortunately, the GPS system worked out really well. By the time we got to Oxford, the rain eased up and in a short while, stopped entirely. The weather was cool and overcast, perfect driving weather. The route was almost entirely on motorways (freeways), taking the M40 and M6. Even the A55 was a freeway type road.

We stopped for lunch about 30 miles short of our destination of Colvyn Bay. Returning to the A55 was not straightforward, so we had a nice drive through some Welsh countryside.

Finding Conwy Castle was not a problem. You drive into town and look up. There it is! It's huge. The castle itself is at one edge of the walled city. While it has been neglected over the centuries, it is surprisingly intact, and very impressive.

In the thirteenth century, Llewellyn was fighting with Edward I of England for control of Wales. Edward built a series of these castles right on the coast. They were so impregnable that they could be staffed with as few as thirty men-at-arms, as long as they could be re-provisioned by sea. If attacked, these men could hold out while sending a ship to Edward, who would come charging in with his minions, kicking butt and taking names. Eventually Wales fell to Edward. After a time, these castles became obsolete and were abandoned; many deteriorating until being restored in the twentieth century.


We then went to our hotel, the Bryn Holcombe. It's a very nice B&B a few blocks from the harbor shore. We walked down along the promenade for dinner and had a very pleasant evening. Conwy and Colwyn Bay have a lot to offer and to see. Unfortunately, we didn't allot enough time here; another day would have been great.