Wales Redux - Aug 19

Building with longest city name on it

After a 3 hour ferry ride, we got off at the Island of angelsey.  On the island, we drove through Llanfairpwllgwyngyllg-ogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. This is the longest one-word named city in the world.  The name means "St Mary's Church in a hollow of white hazel near a rapid whirlpool and the Church of Saint Tysilio near the red cave". (Not much better, is it). The locals call it Llanfairpwll (pronounced thlan vire puth).  The town was named this as a tourist attraction - it worked!

Snowdonia Mountains, Wales

We drove past a 300 year old suspension bridge, then through the Snowdonia mountains - highest in Wales.  The view was beautiful. Because it rained most of the day, i was not able to get any good pictures. (Although I did sneak to the other side of the bus for a quick pic, which wasn’t  nearly up to seeing it in person, but will do.) We also passed the "ugliest house". It seems that after a couple marries, they immediately go and build a house. If they can finish it before the night, they get to keep the land. So it's out together rather hurriedly. I didn't think it was ugly are all. (Of course, I didn't see the inside.).

Before we left Wales, we stopped at a couple of small towns which were pretty.

Hotel in Welsh city

Welsh city

OK, so one of the things that drives me crazy in the British isles is that they wall or hedge off there properties. I don't mind when it's a short wall - it looks cute. And from high up, the land looks cool - like a patchwork quilt with the stone fences or shrubs dividing sections. I get wanting to keep animals separate (iie. Cows vs sheep) or contain them on your property.

But the annoying thing is that as you drive down roads, the view tends to be pretty boring since the roads are largely lined with these talling shrubbery.  It's like, "there a bush. Oh, there's another bush,, oh there…was a castle, before the bush got in the way.".

We ended the evening with a barge ride in the Llangollen Canal.  It's really a portion of an early 19th century canal. It goes through both Wales and England. We passed several "house barges" - some permanent homes, other vacation homes.

Llangollen Canal

Llangollen Canal