Back home from Llandudno. We had a lovely time over there in gorgeous, sunny weather.
In the Welsh language, the prefix "Llan" means church. High above the town on The Great Orme - the rocky headland that overlooks it - there is a very old church that is dedicated to Saint Tudno. Thus the name "Llandudno" means "Church of Saint Tudno".
We visited that church on Sunday morning and wandered around its graveyard - high above The Irish Sea. It was there that I spotted this hawthorn tree, bent by the prevailing south west wind...
The top picture shows two women walking along the promenade by the town's North Bay. Behind them you can see the Victorian pier and The Grand Hotel. What really caught my eye was their three-wheeled "rollators" - for they were bedecked with small cuddly toys. These weren't for sale. Perhaps the women had won them playing bingo. Anyway, it was something that they clearly had in common and it seemed a cheery thing to do.
People-watching on the prom - there were many sights to see. Here an Asian family up from Coventry for the day. There a yellow-helmeted child on a small bicycle with stabilisers. A fat man waddles along with tattoos on his calves. A young mother berates a small boy for throwing stones. In one of the seafront shelters we meet Harry aged 95. He lives in a two-bedroom apartment that looks out over the bay. He has a happy face and a happy disposition even though his wife of sixty years died three years ago.
Welcome home. I'm glad y'all had a nice holiday. The photo of the tree in the graveyard is wonderful!
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be sheltering the dead.
DeleteThat is indeed a proper looking castle!
ReplyDeleteI was last there when I was a little boy. And yes - a proper castle!
DeleteGreat photos; I especially love the cemetery. There's just something I find calming and peaceful about burial grounds.
ReplyDeleteWell the people there certainly don't talk much!
DeleteAnd everybody else is just dying to get in.
DeleteWill Jay
There's always something interesting to learn on a trip.
ReplyDeleteYes. We made quite a few memories.
DeleteConwy Castle is beautiful, I'd love to wander around inside. I'm envious of the two bedroom apartment that looks over the bay. Sounds like heaven to me. Your little hoilday sounds like the perfect getaway.
ReplyDeleteIt was just the job while our daughter and her family are in The Land of Oz.
DeleteWelcome back, and thank you for sharing some impressions from your mini break.
ReplyDeleteConwy Castle looks like a castle out of a storybook for children.
Saint Tudno? I wonder what his story was. (I have never been Catholic and so I don't really know much about their saints.)
The two elderly ladies look very comfortable with each other, probably going back many years of friendship. Good for them to still be out and about for walks along the promenade to catch fresh air, sunshine and probably do some people-watching just like they were being watched by you.
Those two elderly ladies... One day that will be you and MS (Mystery Sister).
DeleteLovely set of photos. Perhaps the two women were taking the dolls out for a Sunday stroll maybe?
ReplyDeleteDo you have your own family of cuddly toys Thelma?
DeleteBlue, blue sky. Looks grand.
ReplyDeleteOf course we were way south of The Isle of Man.
DeleteI am glad you had a lovely restful break and weren't you lucky with the weather
ReplyDeleteThe weather was perfect and I noticed how everybody we met seemed cheerier because of it.
DeleteIt is a very interesting place to visit, lots of places around as well, we took a trip up Snowdon from there.
ReplyDeleteSo much to see and do and great places to eat too. Llandudno seemed so prosperous and cared for.
DeletePeople watching, fine scenery and great weather. Sounds a great trip.
ReplyDeleteIt was very good Dave.
DeleteWhile we didn't visit the castle, we did walk along the wall for a bit. The Conwy promenade was very nice, and featured England's smallest house.
ReplyDeleteThe senior ladies might have many young grandchildren.
Yes. We saw that smallest house but did not go in as I was too big to get through the door.
DeleteWe have a street cleaner here whose wheeled dust cart is massively covered with toys. He's become a well-loved 'character'.
ReplyDeleteYou could tie a few cuddly toys to your walking stick. May I suggest a rat, a weasel and a cuddly snake.
DeleteWe've stayed near there many times. There are some great walks in the area, quite strenuous.
ReplyDeleteThere is lots to see and do in Llandudno and the surrounding area.
DeleteLove the photo of that tree in the graveyard. I visited Conwy castle as well as Llandudno way back in 1974. Did you go up on the tramway in Llandudno?
ReplyDeleteYes. We did ride the tramway to the summit area. Clearly, that experience stuck in your mind Monica. 51 years ago...Wow!
DeleteYP, I have photos to remember it by. You can see them in a post on my blog that I published while you were away (4 April).
DeleteIt sounds like Llandudno was a wonderful retreat, filled with rich history and charming sights. The visit to the church dedicated to Saint Tudno and the surrounding graveyard with its view of the Irish Sea must have been a peaceful experience. The people-watching on the promenade, with the amusing touch of the women’s rollators decorated with cuddly toys, adds such a warm and personal element to the visit. I also love the mention of Harry, whose positive spirit shines through despite his loss. Conwy Castle sounds equally impressive—a must-see for anyone in the area.
ReplyDeleteI shared a new post; you are invited to read.
Thank you for calling by and leaving such a nice comment Melody.
DeleteP.S. I think Melody is really nice female name and you are lucky to have it.
Looks like the perfect way to spend a few days away. The wonderful weather was surely a bonus.
ReplyDeleteThe weather forecasters were pretty confident that we'd have sunshine and no rain or even clouds.
DeleteI was in Wales in 2005 and I loved it so much. Such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteI am glad you got to go there Michael.
DeleteIn March of 2020, we stayed in a really nice hotel, a couple of blocks from Conwy castle. It was delightful. The taxi took us across that bridge to the train station nearby, to take a train into London, to meet friends for dinner.
ReplyDeleteWhat - and then back that night David?
DeleteVery, very photogenic area, I would say. The tree in the cemetery photo is definitely very striking. I've seen so many trees growing like that on the coast. And that castle! Yes, it is everything a castle should be. A fairy tale castle.
ReplyDeleteI just looked up why elderly people may have stuffed animals on their walkers (as we call them here) and it turns out that stuffed animals can bring a sense of nurturing and enjoyment to older people, especially those with dementia. They are comforting and familiar in a world that grows less so for them as time passes.
At least that's one explanation.
Thank you for that Mary. Maybe I should start collecting my own little family of cuddly toys. I could tie them to the front of my wheelbarrow.
DeleteLooks like you had good weather. Lovely photos - lots to see there it seems!
ReplyDeleteThank you Ellen. We had a lovely break and we knew the weather would be great.
DeleteI've never been there, but I remember when I saw Bodiam Castle, it was so cool. An actual castle, complete with garderobe!
ReplyDeleteLovely photos and thank you for sharing them.
Conwy Castle is so complete when many other castles of that era are in ruins.
DeleteThat is pretty much what we Americans picture when we think of a castle. Well, that and Cinderella's castle at Disney World.
ReplyDeleteThe photo of the women is interesting. I wonder what's up with those stuffie collections? Maybe they find them discarded and add them to their trolleys.
You certainly had good weather for Wales!
I love that castle.
ReplyDeletei quite liked conwy when we stayed there..... the local brewery does a nice beer.... been a while since we were there though..... is it llandudno that has a wetherspoons in an old cinema?
ReplyDelete