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Julie & James' Vacation 2005 - Wales/Ireland
Page 3! |
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(James' writing is in yellow and Julie's is in white) |
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10/31/05, cont.
We�re currently in the car listening to the Cure and just saw our first castle of the day in Flint. Finished late 1200�s and now in ruins. It�s right by the water (river leading to the ocean) and truly amazing. We finished up w/ coffee and a chocolate digestive biscuit (yum!) and are heading to castle #2 for the day. I can�t imagine a better way to spend my time, and this is truly perfect. |
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Flint castle, now in ruins |
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10/31/05
Lying in bed.
Today was Castle Day #1. Marie drove us around the coastal area of Northern Wales to see castles.
11/1/05
Still in bed, though this time is after sleep and shower. Julie was tired last night and wanted to me turn the light off. So I did. Yes it was Castle Day #1 yesterday. The castles we saw were: Flint, Rhuddlan & Conwy. Julie mentioned Flint a bit, but I�ll expand. All 3 of these castles were built by King Edward I (Eng.) and were 3 of many placed around the edge of Wales in order for him to conquer Wales. So, that�s one of the reasons why ones like Flint Castle are in ruined states with thousands of bricks removed. It�s safe to say that many Welsh didn�t have problems taking the bricks from the castles and using them for their homes. Flint Castle was completed in 1284 and is right on the river Dee. Very much in ruins, but still cool to see. After the coffee and biscuits we drove along the north coast & turned south to see Rhuddlan Castle. |
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Marie heading to Flint Castle |
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Looking over the river Dee...the land on the right is the Wirral peninsula (towns of Hoylake and Birkenhead among others, with Liverpool on the other side of the peninsula) |
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a sculpture near the entrance of Flint Caslte |
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Marie and James at the castle entrance |
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outer turret of Flint Castle, with a small part of the remaining wall |
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James & Julie inside Flint |
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Before the castle [Rhuddlan] we walked along the beach at Prestatyn since the weather had cleared up (for a few hours). |
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the beach at Prestatyn |
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some more Welsh and an interesting warning... |
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another interesting warning on the beach |
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Julie and Marie at Prestatyn |
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Rhuddlan Castle was also semi-ruined, though not near as bad as Flint. Of course it was closed for the season, so we could only go up to the outside and see it from a distance. Well, it looked like a cool place! Historical Stuff � in 1284 King Edward I issued the Statute of Rhuddlan at this castle. This statute united the Principality of Wales w/ the Kingdom of England. |
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James, daring not to cross the forbidden wall |
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Rhuddlan Castle |
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James, posing |
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Rhuddlan, with pictorial accents courtesy of the sun |
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far side of Rhuddlan |
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great view of Rhuddlan from the road |
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After Rhuddlan we stopped at a town called Rhos-on-Sea on the Colwyn Bay. Marie had made us some sandwiches and stuff and we ate on a bench by the beach. I�m not sure if we�ve said it before, but Wales is a beautiful place. I�m glad that so far we�ve spent most of our time in Wales. |
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the beach overlooking Colwyn Bay |
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James, looking out over the bay |
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TO PAGE 4 -> |
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