Sept 4-5 Caernarfon Wales

We’ve found the Welsh language to be a bit of a wonder.  If Pat Sajak came out of retirement in Wales, the presumed letters for every Wheel of Fortune final puzzle would be F, W, L, D  and Y, with a requirement of at least two of each.

Well, we’re about to spend our second night on the northern Welsh coast in the Victoria Inn in Caernarfon.  We arrived to a note on the door saying, “Sorry, had to pop out for a bit.  Just give me a ring on my cell.”  Our host was unaware that she was dealing with technologically compromised seniors from a foreign land.  It took us a while to sort out the country code to enter, but we triumphed and managed to make contact.  A few minutes later a woman pushing an infant in a stroller chugged up and apologized profusely for not greeting us, but explained that she was babysitting.  She also explained that the child suffered from lung problems and could not go inside the B & B because there were dogs on the property.  Thus, I was asked to entertain the child on the sidewalk whilst the others were shown inside.  At the earliest convenience, I foisted this responsibility on Debbie.

The reason I ‘m sharing this story is because of the sense of deja vu that it instilled in us.  I know that Jane, if you’re reading this, you’ll know what I’m referring to.  Twelve years ago, while travelling in Ireland, we arrived at our B&B in Killarney only to have a baby handed to us to look after by the innkeeper’s husband while he went to find her.  It seemed he was unfamiliar with both the inn and parenting.
Anyway, we had a laugh at this repeat performance.
Our reward for a long day’s travel was a bottle of wine for each room, but we were weary enough to defer the consumption of same for another day.

Our mission, after a night’s sleep, was to assail another castle.  Caernarfon has a notable one.  It is quite massive, and was the most expensive castle to be erected in the United Kingdom.  It is also the venue where the Prince of Wales has historically been bestowed with his title. This is also the first castle we’ve encountered that has an elevator.  That must have been an annoying revelation to any marauders that took the time to besiege the castle up those narrow, corkscrewy towers.

Once we’d spent a few hours exploring Carnaerfon Castle, we rewarded ourselves with some downtime for the rest of the day.  It’s been a pretty full schedule.  Tomorrow should find us at Stratford-upon-Avon.

Church street, our home away from home

Victoria house

Baby-minding in Caernarfon

John-John and Chris

There are dragons spying on you everywhere to go in Wales

Caernarfon’s economy is based on slate which is found everywhere, including the placemats!

Don & Bev storm the castle!

Although the King Edward I gets credit for building Caernarfon Castle, the Welsh have never lost sight of the fact that people built this castle and they honour them with art representing the hands of the labourers and the materials they crafted into the castle.  Here are but a select few…

This is the hand dedicated to master carpenter 

This is the hand of the stone mason

This is the hand of the apprentice blacksmith

Looking out to the platform erected for the investiture of  Prince Charles as the Prince of Wales by Queen Elizabeth in 1969

The view from the north tower. You bet we climbed it!

Sunset over Caernarfon

It may be beautiful here but it is also crazy cold today. 

We had to stop for hot chocolate and a mocha to thaw out!

A lovely meal and a Guinness “0”

Yes, we had to get our big car this little arch to our 

B&B just up the street.