FUN-video – The UK & Whisky Festival – Movie Trailer
June 19, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-video – The UK & Whisky Festival – Movie Trailer
At 16 days, this was the shortest international trip we have taken since Chris retired in 2009. And it was great to travel with only a carry on bag. Enjoy!
FUN-travel: Deganwy, Wales to Paisley, Scotland
June 7, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Deganwy, Wales to Paisley, Scotland
- Had flight out of Cardiff…
…in totally opposite direction…
…of where we’re headed…
…would have taken longer 3 hours longer.
…one train change near Manchester to…
…really, really, REALLY NICE Virgin Train…
…first class is the only way to go!
… then one more change to Paisley…
…town closest to Glasgow Airport…
- Fleecy flocks of sheep…
…soon to be sheared…
…dot the landscape…
…of rolling grass covered hills.
- Zig-zagging stone walls…
…criss-cross the hills & dales…
…of the farms & fields…
…and the occasional narrow stone foot bridge…
…cross little winding streams.
Fun-facts – The symbol of Wales is a dragon and it’s believed the Welsh kings of Aberffraw first adopted the dragon in the early fifth century in order to symbolize their power and authority after the Romans withdrew from Britain.
- Good News…
…Ashtree House Hotel…
…only 500 yards from station.
- Bad News…
…rain with strong winds
… a cab takes longer due to…
….all those cute narrow one way streets!
- Happy Hour …
…The Bull Inn…
…oldest pub in Paisley…
…and lovely chap at the bar…
…Ian buys us a beer.
FUN-fact – Stuart the bartender has been to San Diego & San Francisco.and we can actually understand his accent.
More FF – They use sheep’s wool as a “green” insulation when remodeling historic homes.
FUN-travel: North West Wales Day Tour
June 4, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: North West Wales Day Tour
…driver for the day!
9:30 – Mari & Bertie (her miniature poodle) arrive
- 1st stop – working woolen mill
…then a single track back road to…
- 2nd stop – the Ugly House….
- 3rd stop – Llanberis Pass for slate museum to…
…drive onto Island of Anglesey…with lovely views of mainland…
- 4th stop –town with the longest name in the world
- 5th stop – Beaumaris …the castle & lunch…
- 6th stop – Caernarfon Castle…
- 7th stop – Beddgelert Village…more “just too cute!”
5:30 arrive back at hotel…
…after covering roughly 140 miles.
FUN-facts – Beaumaris Castle is “the most technically perfect castle in Britain.” Caernarfon Castle is part of the coastal world heritage site. Neither castle was ever finished due to recession & lack of money.
More FF – we found Mari in Rick Steve’s book. She was a delightful tour guide and driver. You can contact her here marihr@talktalk.net
FUN-travel: Deganwy/Conwy, Wales
June 3, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Deganwy/Conwy, Wales
- Today’s Treat…
…train to Blaenau Ffestiniog…slate capital of the world…socked in with pea soup fog…
…back on for Betws-y-Coed…home to Britain’s first artist colony…
…secluded alpine area near Mt. Snowdon…more “oh so cute & quaint” …
…a river runs through it…and next to the golf course.
- Back to Deganway…
…40 min stroll to Conwy Castle…
- Castle & town walls planned as a single entity
…begun in 1283…done in 1287…astonishingly fast…
- Pop into the Albion Pub for a Snowdon Craft Lager…
…then onto Watson’s Bistro for dinner…
…YUMMY!
FUN-fact – Conwy Castle cost 15,000 pounds (45 million in today’s money) and is one of finest surviving medieval fortifications in Britain.
FUN-travel: Bath, England to Deganwy, Wales
May 31, 2017 by Susan Clarke · Comments Off on FUN-travel: Bath, England to Deganwy, Wales
- Rain all day…
…perfect for our train ride…
… which took almost 5 hours.