Wales part 6

[fbhjr]

Still posting from 38,000 feet above the Atlanic. Still seems quite strange. We're about half way across the ocean now and just had lunch.
But, this is about last Friday:

One of the things I should point out is that many of these historical sites in Wales are free to get into. The baths, amphitheater, ruins, museum and iron works were all free. The castles did charge some, but it was usually 5 pounds or so, which isn't too much.

After the Roman town, we set off through narrow, winding roads for our next destination, Chepstow Castle.
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/chepstow-castle/?lang=en


It probably doesn't look like a huge castle in that photo. But, what isn't clear in that photo is it is really a series of 3 interlocked castles that sit long a cliff on the river that divides Wales and England. The first of the three was built the year after the Norman invasion (1067) and was added onto for several centuries.
It is a very cool castle.
This is a view from the top section down along the whole part with the cliff.


This was also the closest I had been to England at this point. (Two days later I'd go there.) It is the other side of the river. And, HUGE tides. The second biggest in the world.


It takes a while to explore this one as there are many, many nooks and crannies to look into, climb up and go through.














There was one little side balcony off the cliff. From there you could see some of the cliff was being held together by bolts. I guess that's a good safety thing. But, still...


cosmicirony and I both agreed it was a very nice castle and well worth the trip.


Next we went off to lunch at a pub not too far from the castle.


The first pub we tried had no food as their cook had not shown up for work that day. So, we went across the street to another than promised good pies.
I had the steak and kidney pie. It was very good.

Although very good, it did take longer than I had scheduled. So, we ate then sped off to our next stop.


The Blaenavon iron works were supposed to be only about 20 miles away. And, the signs on the M4 seem to indicate it's pretty close.
But, it took us more than an hour on some "scenic" roads to get there.
Part of that was that our directions too us 10 miles south to then go back north. Part of it was my getting confused in the town of Chepstow and heading us out of town the wrong way. Most of it was it was a longer drive than we had been led to believe.

But, it was scenic...



The photo on the iron work site doesn't really do the scale justice.
http://cadw.wales.gov.uk/daysout/blaenavonironworks/?lang=en
Those blast furnaces are built into a hill.
They are bigger than the building I live in. By far.

It was another free site, my favorite kind.







We had wanted to get to the class site by 5PM, so didn't stay too long and were soon on the road again.


After all, despite all we had seen so far, the class was why we were there.

Comments

[meathiel]

The castle looks HUGE!!!

I want to go to Wales now ... ;-)

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

When you get to the car park it doesn't look all that big. What you can't tell is that end is the narrow end and it is 5 times longer than it is wide.

Wales is a very cool place. We did not go to anywhere near all of the castles. There are a huge number there.

[meathiel]

I've been to Wales years and years (and more years) ago. But I've only seen Caernarfon and Beaumaris (on Anglesey).

[zitronenhai.livejournal.com]

Wow! That castle is amazing! The steak and kidney pie looks pretty tasty, too!

[palusbuteo.livejournal.com]

YAY!!

[endlessblush.livejournal.com]

Beautiful photographs ... it's so lovely to be able to see your holiday photos straight away.

[morgan-lafaye.livejournal.com]

The castle and foundry are just so cool.

[postingwhore.livejournal.com]

One of the things I should point out is that many of these historical sites in Wales are free to get into. The baths, amphitheater, ruins, museum and iron works were all free. The castles did charge some, but it was usually 5 pounds or so, which isn't too much.
I'm so used to this aspect of the UK that I really hate paying (a lot) for things now!

No photos of the tides?

And I've got three 404 errors - http://www.phoenixswords.com/fbhjr/wales2014/W-0162.jpg, http://www.phoenixswords.com/fbhjr/wales2014/W-0163.jpg, and http://www.phoenixswords.com/fbhjr/wales2014/W-0167.jpg

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

One of them I had a typo in the file name (162) it is fixed.
The other two didn't upload at all and I have to figure out what they should have been and upload them. That will take longer.


The photos are very sensitive to names. A w instead of a W will make it not work. Sometimes on the iPad screen I miss that difference.
Sorry about that.

[fbhjr.livejournal.com]

On the tides: We were only there 2 hours. The change can be seen in that time frame if you look closely, but we never saw it high. I had hoped that when we drove back there Monday it would be high, but it was again low.
So, no. Sorry.

[chaquir.livejournal.com]

It looks great there!

I never had kidney-pie but i'm not a fan of kidneys so I doubt I'll ever try it. :p

[charliemc.livejournal.com]

Just amazing! Wish I could see this.

So glad for your photo share, Frank!!!

(hugs)

[hindustar.livejournal.com]

Beautiful!!

[cissa.livejournal.com]

Such great photos! Thank you!