Circle completes itself

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I have been in the United Kingdom for nearly two weeks. The year completes a circle as I returned to Ray's house in Lincolnshire for a whistle-stop visit. There, I found clothes and maps of Eastern European cities and toiletries and other things deemed too heavy to bring back to Nova Scotia last December. I tucked some of them into my bulging luggage, then left the rest for another visit....someday when I pack a lighter bag. This has been an incredible year, in terms of travel and new experiences and connecting with family members. A fraction of my experiences have been captured in this travelblog. The photographs are the best part. I will pour over them during the winter months when back at work and my gypsy rovings are fading memories.
But not now! I am in Wales, in territory new to me. August is the last month of the deferred year, and I'm spending it in the United Kiingdom, visiting cousins, meeting other cousins for the first time, and going to corners that I've never been. I'm here in Pwllheli with friends. I've taken photos of places around the pennisula. Lovely countryside with long beaches and old castles and quaint villages are to be found.
August is a busy time in Wales. Lots of tourists in caravans, boats and cars journey to the beach communities. Narrow country lanes are even more trickier to navigate; parking is a nightmare. Despite the challenges, north Wales is a beautiful place to visit.
It is great to be the tourist once again. There is history and culture to discover here. My friends speak Welsh, and when we were driving along the lanes it occurred to me that Welsh sounds like the Elfish language in the movies 'Lord of the Rings'. I wonder if Tolkiens was influenced by this language when he wrote those books?

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Photos

Castle
Castle in Conwy, close to the main road.

Smallest House
The smallest house in the United Kingdom is on the waterfront in Conwy, Wales. The lady is dressed in traditional constume.

Train up Snowdon
See the steam train cruising up the side of Snowdon mountain?

Under the mountain
The road beneath Snowdon

Renewed Village
Nant Gwrtheyrn was once a thriving village for workers in a granite quarrie. By 1959 it was a ghost town. Today it is renewed as a centre for learning Welsh.

Retreat
Modern cafe at Nant Gwrtheyrn also serves as kitchen for visiters attending various conferences. On this day I think there was a retreat for religious studies.

Welsh Cakes
The Welsh cakes are like fried scones, and the Bara Brith is like a fruit cake; both are delicious in the cafe at Nant Gwrtheyrn.

Countryside
Heather is a purple carpet on the slopes.

Towards village
The photo is taken in the village of Morfa Nefyn, looking back towards the coast and Nant Gwrtheyrn.

Church by the Sea
Church near beach at Aberdaron.

Tourist
Through the window of church

Y Gegin Fawr
700 years ago pilgrims stopped for a meal here when on their way to Bardsey Island. Now it is a lovely tea room.

Tea Room
A popular cafe, they ran out of food when we got there. No problem because we stopped for tea.

Whistling Sands
Shuffle your feet in this sand and it will whistle. I heard it.

Coastal path
Tourists strole the paths near Whistling Sands.

On Top
We drove up Uwch Mynydd but the fog had rolled in and we couldn't see the nearby islands.

Heather
Gorse and heather carpet Uwch Myndd.

Abersoch Beach
Abersoch is a popular resort town.