Pembrokeshire Coastal Path - A day in St Davids

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Sunday, 30 July 2023 and a day of rest in St Davids.

St David is the patron saint of Wales. Wikipedia has some information on this fifth or sixth century religious leader of Wales.

The link below relates to his mother

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Non

The story of his birth is above but his mother, St Non, was thought to have been raped and gave birth in a severe thunderstorm. Her hands gripped a rock so intensely that it cracked while she was giving birth.

Some of the thoughts about St David are here.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_David

Yesterday we visited the Cathedral so most of the photos are from this viewing.

I enjoyed this poem posted in the cathedral

"The Accidental Pilgrim

I don't know why you've arrived,
whether just because we're there,
or out of faith's determination,
like the myriads who came before to earn celestial favour.

But no, it can't have been always that;
a frigid spiritual transaction,
the miles, the blistered steps, from horizon to horizon to pay for paradise.

There had to be a frissioning of souls
in tired haste the last mile to Glyn Rhosyn,
surprised by the sudden sight of journey's end almost at journey's end.

At least the last mile was down hill.
And here you are diverted by curiosity from the Coastal Path,
seeking some solace on a vacation rainy day
or on a taster tour from your ship
granted an hour to inherit centuries.
Or coming with heart already aflame to claim the shrine's promise.

No matter. here you will find croeso and a whiff of heaven, not for sale, not to be auctioned for your deserving deeds,
but free as, in truth, it ever was.

Welcome, pilgrim, by intent
or just looking' chance."

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Photos

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St Non's chapel with Jo at the entrance

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St Non stained glass in her chapel

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Interior of the small chapel. Adjacent is a larger building for retreats

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Stained glass of St David also in St Non's chapel

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On the path from carpark to chapel

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The stone in the far corner from the foundation of the original chapel. Believe to be the birthplace of St David and shows the crack's from the birthing grip of St Non

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Entrance gate to the cathedral

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View of cathedral from outside the gate

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View of cathedral of St David from the road to the entrance

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The sanctuary interior

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Three old fashioned bee hives but no bees.

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The Tory felon art hotel in St Davids
Not the spelling in photo and phonetic spelling by me.

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Twr Y Felon hotel. From an old windmill. The grist stones are outside our room window.