Blogs from Gwynedd, Wales, United Kingdom, Europe - page 11

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Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Beddgelert March 22nd 2008

Geo: 53.0118, -4.0994A short drive from Tremadog (our hostel) we arrived in Beddgelert. From here the guy from the hostel said there was a nice, easy and picturesque walk. We started our walk along the river and then when we should have turned back, we decided to keep going. A few hours later we arrived back in town- drenched because of the down pours we got stuck in. All good fun. A bit of history about the town.... "In the 13th century Llewelyn Prince of North Wales had a palace here. One day he went hunting and left his dog Gelert behind. When he returned his dog greeted him, but it had blood around its mouth. The prince ran to his son's cot and saw that it was empty but covered in blood. He plunged his ... read more
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Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon January 21st 2008

Today we had our first field trip for the required class I'm taking, Introduction to Welsh Culture. First, we took a bus just 8 miles from Bangor to Caernarfon (pronounced cair-NAR-vun) Castle, the largest Norman castle in the world. It was still in really good shape, so we were able to go inside and walk through all the dark tunnels and dungeons and climb most of the towers. It was amazing and I took a ton of photos. Since we were so impressed with Caernarfon, we took a small detour to look at another castle on the way to our next stop. I don't remember the name of it... Our second stop was a tour of the slate mines in Blaenau Ffestiniog (no idea how to pronounce that!). Apparently mining slate was a big industry here ... read more
Caernarfon Castle
Eagle Tower
Eagle Tower

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon October 28th 2007

On Sunday we got an extra hour of sleep thanks to Daylight Savings time! We ate another carb-filled breakfast in hopes that we would be climbing Mount Snowdon or Yr Wyddfa as it is called in Welsh. If the clouds were going to be low and obscuring the view, or the path, there really was no point in climbing. In that case we were going to visit Penrhyn Castle. 7 of us really wanted to climb the mountain - the highest point in Wales. I was really interested because Yr Wyddfa plays into many of the King Arthur legends or at least serves as a backdrop for the stories. Storm wasn't sure if we were going to climb or not. It had rained almost all night and the clouds were low. When we got out there, ... read more
Yr Wyddfa
Chapel
Yr Wyddfa

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon September 15th 2007

Whoever it was that built Wales deserves a huge pat on the back; the natural beauty here is so astounding you are at a loss as to know what to point your camera at next.... Every country we have been to so far has its little quirks - for instance, the way the Italians completely disregard the road rules, yet manage to avoid the catastrophic accidents which you would think would be around every corner, considering the way they drive; the French cart little dogs everywhere (including restaurants) but are completely oblivious to the ensuing layer of dog excrement underfoot; and the Welsh...well they seem to have an unhealthy aversion to dentists... I'm not sure why, but very few people seem to have a full set of teeth, and the teeth they have are hanging ... read more
Porthmadog -Team photo
The day we went to Bangor...1
The day we went to Bangor...2

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon September 13th 2007

Helo again-- apologies that these are both being written on the same day--having way too much fun! Tuesday began the big welsh roadtrip to North Wales. Daf had it all figured out and we packed into his blue vauxhall and headed north. Starting early (8a.m.), I know Dad, it's hard to believe I rose that early, we drove to Machynlleth where we paused for beautiful photos of the estuary out to sea. Next we headed to Dolgellau and then over to Harlech to see the 12th century Norman castle that casts its shadow high on a mount above the town. Dad, there is the Royal St. David's golf course, named and created for you here. We walked around Harlech but didn't go into the castle. We then headed to the coast and when to Porthmadog and ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon September 9th 2007

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK - NORTH WALES Back from Brazil, staying over at friends' places: Celso and Alex. Ana was in London for the last bit of her holiday and was brave enough to be the very first pillion passanger in my new VFR; I forgot to take the padlock off and we both fell with the bike. Ana had to help me lift the bike so that my left foot could be freed from under the weight. Had I broke a bone? I thought so but changed my mind quickily when I got to the Whittington in Archway around 11pm and found the waiting room crowded - luckily the foot got better quickily... Three days after that I was off to SNOWDONIA with Helen and Ed: a weekend of trekking, scrambling and climbing which could well ... read more
Getting Ready for the Challenge
Snowdonia National Park
The Way Up

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon August 1st 2007

Hi Everyone, Just a quick entry - hopefully you will see some pictures too (if I've managed the technical bit). Well, we have been in Barmouth and Shell Island (the largest campsite in Europe!) for a few days testing "Konny". Everything seems to be working fine, two nights in Shell Island with no electric hook up (but right on the beach) and then a night in Barmouth with hook up - every electrical device cranked full on! The "Bathroom" is like an aeroplane toilet cubicle (but with shower), used it in middle of night, half asleep and thought I was on an EasyJet flight. Heading down to Newquay next week for some surf tuition (not me I'll be reading and drinking wine). Then over to France through Eurotunnel on the 21st August! We will be staying ... read more
view from the bedroom
van - check out that awning

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon July 4th 2007

Dear Family and Friends, Happy 4th of July! We will miss the fireworks this year, but I can assure you there would be no fire danger here were there to be any rockets red glare. I truly cannot remember ever seeing this much rain so consistently in my life. Today was actually the worst day we have had as the rain was more torrential, the wind blew, and I don't believe the temperature reached much more than 55. It's plain awful. I so feel for those families in our timeshare resort who had come for a week of sun and family fun in the outdoors. With nice weather, this would be a gorgeous place as there are hiking trails everywhere, an outdoor pool on the premises, children's activities galore - all geared for the out of ... read more

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon June 12th 2007

It has been quite an eventful 48 hours. Arrived in Phoenix on the evening of the 9th. I literally went from graduation to the airport. Once in Phoenix, we promptly went to bed. I wanted to sleep on the floor, but Logan insisted I sleep in his bed. I obliged. Woke up at 5 the next morning, and headed off to the airport. We had to catch a connecting flight in Philadelphia, and from there we had to take another gruelling 8 hour plane ride to Gatwick, London. The flight was terrible. I mean absolutely terrible. I would say 3/4 of the entire trip was turbulent (I don't think your heart would have taken this one dad). I tried to use the toilet in there, and it was honestly one of the hardest things I've ... read more
The Boys
Our First Pint
Pre-climb

Europe » United Kingdom » Wales » Gwynedd » Snowdon June 12th 2007

Everything I saw from June 7th and 8th is impossible to capture in words or even pictures. Everything was so beautiful and you really have to see it to take in everything. My pictures do not do it justice. After a very long train trip (which I slept most of the way through) I arrived in Holyhead. The train did stop in Bangor (about halfway between Holyhead and Shrewsbury) and apparently Prince Charles was there. I didn’t get to see him but I did see a lot of policemen! Holyhead is a very ugly industrial town, but it is where the ferry terminal to Dublin is located. I met a young German couple who were going to the same hostel I was and we shared a cab to the hostel (the hostel is a couple of ... read more
Snowdon Train
Snowdon Train 2
Snowdon Range




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