Wales Part 2
Apr. 10th, 2014 11:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
fbhjrWales Part 2
We got to Wales about 7:30 local time. No problems at all with getting through customs and immigration. If anything the passport guy seemed happy to see us.
We just had to get our car at the place that wasn't supposed to open until 8:30.
But, the young man who worked there was very helpful. He opened up early, got us our car, told us where to find a bank machine for some cash and got us on our way early.
The car is actually much bigger than I expected.
But, I wanted an automatic. I'm not great with a manual, have had very little practice in the last few decades and didn't want to try and manage that while doing it with my left hand as well.
This was the only automatic they had.
I pre-bought a tank of fuel. The young man didn't think we'd use all of it until I explained all the places we plan to go.
"OK, you'll use it," he said.
So, we set off. Driving on the left isn't that big of an issue for me. One of the advantages of dyslexia as I can switch back and forth without too much problem.
Of course the fact that the Google printed directions I had given![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
cosmicirony didn't seem to line up with the markings on the road were more of a problem.
The Google directions gave street names. The streets were not marked, or marked in such a way as to not give us help with the directions.
But, I had printed maps too.
So, withcosmicirony navigating we managed to do OK. There were lots of turning around when we said things like "If we're supposed to be going north east, the sun should not be behind us."
But, once we found a bus to follow it all worked out.
We were soon in Cardiff.
We skipped the castle built in the late 1800's to show off. (Up on the hill to the right.) And, continued to Caerphilly Castle
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/caerphilly-castle/?lang=en
And, of course, by "continued to" I mean got lost.
It actually wasn't too bad as it appears to be a popular place and there were a lot of signs for it.
But, the signs do not direct you to the supermarket across the street where I had planned on parking.
So, we ended up in a public parking place.
Sadly, the parking only too coins. As we had just gone to a bank machine to get cash, we only had bills.
I walked around for a while looking for a place we could get change, but couldn't find one.
So, we drove off to the supermarket anyhow.
It really is one of those places that looks just like a castle should.
We got there pretty much just as it opened. So, even with the getting lost and stuff we were more or less on schedule. We didn't have the breakfast that was on the schedule, but hey, a castle!
I'm sure if it were back in the US the whole place would be condemned as there are places it is literally falling apart. That's one of the things I like about places like this over here in Europe. They warn you, but don't stop you.
It is hard for me to describe how really beautiful I thought the whole place was. Not just the castle, but the town, the hills around it, the whole package deal.
Sadly, photos do not do it justice.
The castle is famous for having a tower that is more leaning that that famous one in Piza. It has apparently been leaning this way for more than a century now.
They really let you climb around a lot of the place.
We said this was the kind of fireplace thatcissa had talked about last weekend for cooking large things over a fire.
Of course to get to it, you have to face the stairs. Yeah. Not an easy climb.
They are quite steep, old and uneven.
My hand for scale at how fast they go up.
Of course some are just too bad for anyone to use.
There was an actual tour group going around. We stayed for a bit, but roamed around on our own more.
We did not use the toilets.
For reasons not clear to me, water foul seem to like to perch on the walls...
There were some sculptures scattered around inside and out as well. Some of them cool, some of them a bit weird.
This one was my favorite:
It was a whole lot of fun.
Then we headed back into Cardiff for the Doctor Who exhbit. This involved us getting lost. A lot. Walking a very long way. And, getting to see the exhibit, which I've wanted to see for years.
But, that's another story. It is almost midnight here now and I've got to try and get some sleep.
We got to Wales about 7:30 local time. No problems at all with getting through customs and immigration. If anything the passport guy seemed happy to see us.
We just had to get our car at the place that wasn't supposed to open until 8:30.
But, the young man who worked there was very helpful. He opened up early, got us our car, told us where to find a bank machine for some cash and got us on our way early.
The car is actually much bigger than I expected.
But, I wanted an automatic. I'm not great with a manual, have had very little practice in the last few decades and didn't want to try and manage that while doing it with my left hand as well.
This was the only automatic they had.
I pre-bought a tank of fuel. The young man didn't think we'd use all of it until I explained all the places we plan to go.
"OK, you'll use it," he said.
So, we set off. Driving on the left isn't that big of an issue for me. One of the advantages of dyslexia as I can switch back and forth without too much problem.
Of course the fact that the Google printed directions I had given
cosmicirony didn't seem to line up with the markings on the road were more of a problem.The Google directions gave street names. The streets were not marked, or marked in such a way as to not give us help with the directions.
But, I had printed maps too.
So, with
cosmicirony navigating we managed to do OK. There were lots of turning around when we said things like "If we're supposed to be going north east, the sun should not be behind us."But, once we found a bus to follow it all worked out.
We were soon in Cardiff.
We skipped the castle built in the late 1800's to show off. (Up on the hill to the right.) And, continued to Caerphilly Castle
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/caerphilly-castle/?lang=en
And, of course, by "continued to" I mean got lost.
It actually wasn't too bad as it appears to be a popular place and there were a lot of signs for it.
But, the signs do not direct you to the supermarket across the street where I had planned on parking.
So, we ended up in a public parking place.
Sadly, the parking only too coins. As we had just gone to a bank machine to get cash, we only had bills.
I walked around for a while looking for a place we could get change, but couldn't find one.
So, we drove off to the supermarket anyhow.
It really is one of those places that looks just like a castle should.
We got there pretty much just as it opened. So, even with the getting lost and stuff we were more or less on schedule. We didn't have the breakfast that was on the schedule, but hey, a castle!
I'm sure if it were back in the US the whole place would be condemned as there are places it is literally falling apart. That's one of the things I like about places like this over here in Europe. They warn you, but don't stop you.
It is hard for me to describe how really beautiful I thought the whole place was. Not just the castle, but the town, the hills around it, the whole package deal.
Sadly, photos do not do it justice.
The castle is famous for having a tower that is more leaning that that famous one in Piza. It has apparently been leaning this way for more than a century now.
They really let you climb around a lot of the place.
We said this was the kind of fireplace that
cissa had talked about last weekend for cooking large things over a fire.Of course to get to it, you have to face the stairs. Yeah. Not an easy climb.
They are quite steep, old and uneven.
My hand for scale at how fast they go up.
Of course some are just too bad for anyone to use.
There was an actual tour group going around. We stayed for a bit, but roamed around on our own more.
We did not use the toilets.
For reasons not clear to me, water foul seem to like to perch on the walls...
There were some sculptures scattered around inside and out as well. Some of them cool, some of them a bit weird.
This one was my favorite:
It was a whole lot of fun.
Then we headed back into Cardiff for the Doctor Who exhbit. This involved us getting lost. A lot. Walking a very long way. And, getting to see the exhibit, which I've wanted to see for years.
But, that's another story. It is almost midnight here now and I've got to try and get some sleep.
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no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 12:19 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 12:25 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 01:44 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 06:06 am (UTC)I adore old castles like that!! Wherever we go and i can find one you'll find me in it.
You printed Google-routes.
Doesn't your GPS stretch all the way down there?? I can imagine that it isn't and that it's only set for the US.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 06:26 am (UTC)As I said, I have a lot of trouble telling left from right due to my dyslexia. I can manage with the roads, but didn't want to try shifting with my left hand instead of my right.
I'm sure I could manage it with practice. But, I don't want to make all the other cars in the country hate me while I practice.
It's easier to get one where I only have to worry about staying on the left side of the road and not knowing anything about where I'm going.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 06:30 am (UTC)Yep it does sound better to have printed routes with you than.
You're right. it's a wise move you made.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 06:34 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 06:39 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-13 06:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 11:08 am (UTC)amazing pics. especially the tower, and tower stairs.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 12:00 pm (UTC)My sister and I managed to get lost quite a bit when we were driving around the UK. Their signage wasn't the greatest. At least we didn't have to worry about driving on the wrong side of the road because it's the correct side for us!
Great photos.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 02:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-11 02:00 pm (UTC)heh, the town & castle resemble the ones I saw in north Wales. I never thought the stairs at the castles I saw were steep, though!
no subject
Date: 2014-04-12 02:11 am (UTC)I'm glad you arrived safe and sound and had no problems getting through customs. Some countries are so easy going and easy to get into - others, not so much.
no subject
Date: 2014-04-13 06:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-16 04:13 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-14 09:08 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-04-16 07:58 am (UTC)What an incredible trip, Frank!!!!!!!!!!!
Just, wow.
(hugs)
no subject
Date: 2014-04-21 08:08 pm (UTC)K and i once made a paper model of that castle from a Dover book. It was fun. I think a cat sat on it, though. I loved seeing pics of the real one!