Wales Grand Tour - Day 4

We had a look at the farmer's Soay lambs before we head out, they were tiny!

We went to the Mumbles in the morning before the crowd descents, it was Sunny and windy!  The tide was low, so it wasn't very exciting.

Then we went back into Swansea, aka Abertawe, as it turns out, Swansea was a Viking name for the place.  We first went to the National Waterfront Museum, there was also a small market going on.  Inside the museum, they had a few area showing the Lesbians and Gays Support the Miners.  The museum was showing the history in the area, which was very carbon heavy...

We went to see the Oriel Science, which is a showcase for the university.  It was very interesting, I played with a little robot, and saw the ultrasonic levitation.

After lunch, we walked past Swansea Castle to read that one information panel.  

Finally we visited Swansea Museum, which has a complete different feel to the Waterfront Museum. 

We squeezed in another Cadw at Neath Abbey.  Another supposedly rich abbey, but nothing quite as grand as Tintern.

We finished the day by the sea again, we went to Porthcawl again.  We wanted to try out this fusion seafood place, but they were closed early.  We just watched the waves for a bit.  I had never seen sea foam up close before, foam was flying over the sea wall onto my car Danby!  It was time to call it a day.

Wales Grand Tour - Day 3

We were on a move again.  We first went to Caerphilly, before Caerphilly Castle, we saw a market, so we popped in to have a look.  Everything was looking like standard until we smelt something very nice at the bottom of the hall, they were making fresh Welsh cakes!

Caerphilly Castle was very big, and because the main tower was under renovation, Cadw compensated us with a guidebook.  The receptionist has assorted pride nails colour, including aro and ace!  There was a dragon family living in the castle, apparently it was a few years in the making.

Then we went to Castell Coch, also recommended by Matt.  It was a Victorian creation on an old castle foundation.

We continued onto Royal Mint, so it happens, they also had a market on.  After a quick lunch, we learnt about the history and got to touch many foreign coins that Royal Mint produces.  I have learnt the phrase "standing on shoulder of giants", but I never knew it was attributed to Issac Newton, which he only reiterated from older sources.  We got a brilliant uncirculated Commonwealth Games 50p as a souvenir, I much rather they have given us the Pride one instead.

By the time we finished at the Mint, it was getting late, I couldn't squeeze in Ogmore Castle.  We went to check in at the B&B.  We decided to take our pack dinner to eat by the sea at Porthcawl.

Wales Grand Tour - Day 2

We first went to Raglan Castle.  They were trailing a virtual reality at the castle, so we walked around on their tablet, played bowls with Charles I.

Chepstow Castle was surprisingly big, so is the Chepstow Museum.  We has a little walk on Old Wye Bridge, across the Wye back to England and back.

Tintern Abbey was nice.  We stopped at Abbey Mill to have some scones and watched the water mill spun.  We walked on old railway bridge to England and back.

Wales Grand Tour - Day 1

Lunch packed,  car packed,  fueled up.   First stop Tewkesbury,  nice old Abbey,  nice town.

Monmouth should really be called Monnowmouth.  We walked around, the Monmouth Castle was just a little ruin, the regimental (engineers?) museum also has a few bits relating to the town.  We stopped for an iced coffee.

I made a mistake of thinking Bigweir Bridge on the map was remotely interesting.  So we drove back and forth the English-Welsh border for no reason, what a boring bridge.

The cottage has skylight, that doesn't have shutter!

Wales Grand Tour - Day 0

Final preparation for our grand tour of Wales,  a long packing list (how could it be so long?),   last minute milk shopping.  Most importantly, Cadw cards.

So it happened I walked into Aldi marking down,  but I wasn't most impressed by their offerings. 

Seaweed is Algae

I am right!  Seaweed is algae!!

Algae: Slime life

Planet Money When Subaru Comes Out

This explains why Gail got a Subaru.       https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2018/09/05/644984060/episode-729-when-subaru-came-out?t=1656709415567