Day 2: wales.

6 am. Rise and shine. Pete wants us to beat the traffic leading into mid-wales. Mission accomplished! The mist descended upon our car, but could not hide the gorgeous green meadows and rolling fields that stretched upward to become the mountains behind the clouds.

Stone walls, only a few feet high, crawled across the greens, creating shapes and borders that housed grazing sheep. The sheep were spread evenly as though they had been choreographed for our viewing. this drive was complete with the presence of a rainbow rising into the mist. We think it was for Alex's dear Uncle.

 Dolgeddau is our first stop in North Wales. Gray stone buildings stacked side by side, winding down the road.

One of the first things we notice about Wales, is the favoritism of consonants in their language. We loved all of the signs.



This stone village was warm and mysterious.  


We went into the small tea cafe and listened to the dying welsh language spoken at the nearby table, as we drank
hot cocoa and ate
welsh cakes and tea cakes.                                    

I found simple joy in seeing the Welsh version
of a butcher shop. Metzger = Butcher (German).
I wonder at the story of the Welsh butcher who
leans with purpose against his door, in the gray stones against the gray sky.



We would have been happy to
talk to and listen to these Welsh
wonders, but
Pete and Alex
assured us, there is too much to see....

On our way to our next intinerary destination,
we discovered a characteristic of the Welsh: honesty. Check out this sign.





 Off we go to The village of harlech...


where we explored the 15th century Harlech castle.
 It was built by king Edward during his conquest of wales. It is miraculous. It is in majestic ruins.

We climbed to the top of prison and chapel towers,

sat in throne chairs in the great hall,









 



 ran across the top borders of the fortress (clearly ignoring the sign), and felt the rushing cold wind whip through the open courtyard as we ran across the green grass.

We had the whole castle to ourselves. Ah the magic of exploring europe in the winter.

Next stop: Blaenau Ffestiniog.
This town is known for its importance in the slate industry.










Shanti
and I wondered where all the people were in this seemingly abandoned town. No worries, I caught a local welsh and his son watching us out the window. I waved after he pretended not to be there, and then he waved back. Ah, sweet moment. It's all about the baby steps... It is strange being the ones from the foreign land.



Port Marion: let me try to paint you a picture: an italian village with grecian accents built in the 60s embracing all of the glorious welsh rocks and cliffs. Brilliant. Or perhaps a mermaid married a knight of the round table. 











 I felt as though at any moment the statues or buildings even would start moving or speaking to us.



 Sir Clough Williams-Ellis designed and built it with the hope to build and enhance a natural setting rather than destroy it to build. Mission accomplished.
                                                     

 Again, only a few people milling around... 


It was mystical in every step.      Juxtaposition in its most brilliant hour.

 We even hike into the trees to find large slimy trees and random candy land gazebos. 














My only regret is that I didn't have someone to fall in love with as we chased each other into any and all of the cotton candy nooks and stone crannies. :) although in the sun, those same nooks and crannies would be splendid for reading a good book.

Meanwhile, Pete is teaching us how to speak welsh. It is a gorgeous and rugged tongue. Rugged must be a synonym for wales. :)

The day is waning, and still plenty to see. 

Don't worry, this is a SMALL castle on the way out of Port Marion.

Travel time = zzz....







The next time shanti and I wake up, Pete is proclaiming the majesty of yet another castle!  CAERNARFON CASTLE.








How will we ever wake up to alarms again...

 when we are now used to being woken up by Brits in castles. Glorious. (shanti said this morning: "it's so easy waking up in england!")


 The Caerfarnon Castle is from the 11th century and is now surrounded by shops and cafeteria that only add to and complement its rugged splendor.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogery-chwyrndrobwllllantysilio-gogogoch. 

Next we went to a famous town, that would not be so sweet if known by any other name. For the only thing in this town on the welsh island of Anglesey is its name. It is the longest name in Europe: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndro-bwllllantysiliogogogoch. Yes. It means: "st. Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the church of st. Tysilio with a red cave."

Then we got to spend a little time with Alex's uncle's nephew and his sweet wife. What a delightful couple. They gave us hot Vimto juice and welsh biscuits. The juice is like a very sweet fruit tea. Dear Shanti slept through this moment and one More castle. BEAUMARIS CASTLE. Alex, Pete and I tried to storm the castle in the dark. It was in vain, although we enjoyed the Moat.




We continued on to Pete's mate's house. Wes & Kirstie were so kind and generous. Kirstie provided a hot meal, and then drove us in to Liverpool to see the docks.




Liver-pool.

We enjoyed ourselves.



 Then we found
something special.


A statue, a tribute to the thousands of people who chose to come to the states, to follow a prophet, as they had found the source and foundation for their faith, in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The legacy of these people who believed what had been confirmed in their hearts and minds is inspiring to both Shanti and myself. They embarked on an unknown journey, with conviction that many do not find even when their journey is known. Their conviction was founded in the one source that cannot fail, come wind, hell, or highwater... Jesus Christ, and our Heavenly Father. Amen. BON VOYAGE, in faith, trusting.

WHAT A DAY. That is an understatement.