Markets, Pubs and Wales

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

Today was laundry day so we remained at home until two loads of laundry made their way through the washing cycle. The weather was iffy and hanging clothes outside was a risk so we headed to a laundromat to dry things. It was in fact a very efficient way to finish the laundry and move on to other activities.

Today was market day in Glastonbury. The Town Hall had tables of foods and other goods and there was a short street lined with tents outside as well as a small fruit and veg section. It took about 15 minutes to peruse everything that was available. We often have to remind ourselves that we come from a community that is renowned for its largesse in farmer’s markets. We are truly spoiled.

After a quick bite at Burns the Bread, we moved on to Clarks Village in Street. Clarks Village is the transformation of the original Clarks Shoe Company site from a manufacturing site to a retail shopping complex. The site was beautifully designed and well manicured. Flower baskets and gardens lined the walkways and added colour to the overhanging roofs along the walkways. There are more than 100 stores in the complex, anchored by a very large Clarks Show outlet and a Marks and Spencer outlet. We wandered and browsed but really found nothing that we either needed or wanted. Except for a pair of shoes from Clarks for Jim.

We had been invited for Afternoon Cream Tea with Jim and Viola Nagel, friends of our exchange partners, at their home. Overall, it was a lovely event. There was much rich conversation, delicious and freshly made whole wheat scones, homemade strawberry jam and thick Devon cream. Jim Nagel coincidentally grew up in Kitchener, attended Preuter Public School and Eastwood High School. Although a few years older than Jim and I, we recall his name from our University of Waterloo days as the editor and the student paper, The Chevron. It was quite amazing after that passing of more than 50 years, how many people we knew in common. We actually shared a couple of quite close friends. It is an amazingly small world at times!

We spent a pleasant evening at home. The daylight extends until well past 9:30 and Jim and I regularly sit at the dining room table with our computers, working on this blog or our photo book or planning our next outings. It is wonderful to be able to look out over the pasture land that is behind the house and observe people and dogs walking along the river, cattle grazing on the grass, birds soaring through the air – especially the swallows that catch the air currents and appear to float.

Tonight we were not especially hungry for dinner because of the longlasting cream tea. We were satisfied with a light salad that mostly came from the garden … crisp, fresh, delicious!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Off to another market town today … this time in Wells. We started with a late breakfast at Wetherspoons Pub , a predictable hearty and inexpensive breakfast, consistently offered at all the Wetherspoons Pubs, so you really know what you are getting. Eggs, bacon, sausage, beans, hash browns, toast and coffee. Needless to so, you do not leave hungry.

In some ways, it is a good idea to go to a market when you are not very hungry. The colourful stalls of delectable foods are interesting and attractive, but the wallet remains closed for the most part. This market is a large outdoor market, a combination of a wide range of food as well as crafts and other products. In contrast to Glastonbury yesterday, this was the market to be at.  We took loads of photos of beautiful vegetable displays, eggs sold in half dozen boxes, freshly made scones, pasties, and other pastries, fresh fish and meats, cheeses of all kinds – cheddar and stilton are our favourites.

We came upon a stall that specialized in Scotch Eggs, a hardcooked egg covered in a thick layer of fresh pork, coated with a crispy topping and deep fried. Those of you who have known us since our chlldren were small will remember our much beloved nanny, Morag. She used to make scotch eggs for us and we loved them. We have not had one since. And so we indulged!! There were so many flavours to choose from. This vendor had perfected the art of scotch eggs and diversified the flavour using a wide range of herbs and spices. When we finally made a selection and bit into the egg, it took us back to the days that Morag was a part of our family. What a treat it was in so many ways!!

We wanted to visit the Bishop’s Palace but, alas, it was closed today and for much of the week due to the filming of a major motion picture, The Huntsman, due to be released in April 2016. We will be sure to go and see it as much of it was being set and filmed before our very eyes.

We were able to visit the Wells cathedral instead. What a large and glorious building it is!   Stained glass windows, arches, pillars, graves, a magnificent pipe organ in the choir … all cleaned and refurbished. It was possible to read the dates on most graves, to read the names of those buried under our feet, some dating as far back as the 1300’s.  It must also be amazing to hear the sound of the organ reverberating throughout the building during worship or concerts.

An interesting feature of this cathedral are what are known as the scissor arches. After the cathedral had been built, it was noted the towers were beginning to sink. So enormous scissor-shaped arches were installed inside the cathedral below the towers to provide additional support. When you think about the immensity of that undertaking in a time when there were no power tools, no motorized equipment, no health and safety standards, just an man with an idea and a very large work force, it is remarkable what was accomplished. How did they get all those massive stones raised high in the cathedral and accurately put in place?

We left the cathedral and strolled the High Street in Wells, stopping for a refreshing cool drink and a chance to observe people as they scurried past. We did drop into a shop or two, looking for a replica of a beautiful lightweight blanket that feels invisible, beautifully woven and warm as toast which our hosts have in their home. No success on that count today.

We drove home along main highway until Jim saw a sign that peaked his interest. Off to the byways we went, passing through farmland with fields of corn, pasture and hay. Wild flowers were scattered along the ditches so many colours and shapes and sizes.  Many photos later, we must have the perfect photo!

Finally we found our way to the main road again and headed almost directly home except for a stop at Tesco, the supermarket, for a couple of grocery items and Tonic Water. We would not have otherwise been able to indulge in the ultimate of summer drinks, a gin and tonic! Whew! A near miss!

Thursday, July 16, 2015

Thursday began as a much quieter day. Jim is working on plan for the next several days, including a side trip to Wales with Iain. Iain arrives in London on Friday where he will spend the weekend. We will meet him on Monday at the train station in Bristol and spend a couple of days in south Wales before returning to Glastonbury.

The weather was cool and rainy in the morning. From our seats at the dining room table we are able to watch the weather literally sweep across the hills and bring the rain and wind to our doorstep. It is quite dramatic seeing the sheathe of rain envelop the landscape and eventually coat the window and embrace the house. Weather here is extremely changeable so what looks like a bleak day in the morning will often transform into a beautiful sunny day by the afternoon. Such was the circumstance today.

By the time we were ready to leave the house, the sun was out and it was a grand day to go to the centre of town. Our purpose today was to capture the character of Glastonbury as well as the characters of Glastonbury through the lense of the camera. We strolled the High Street looking for interesting shops and people and had no trouble finding either one. I have described the shops earlier in this blog. Let me just reiterate by saying this small town has a collection of some of the most eclectic shops I have ever seen. And the people to go with it ….. Women sport as many hair colours and styles as the eye can imagine. Clothing is often colourful and wispy, with unique lines, lengths and patterns. Hats and lavish makeup are commonplace along the street as well as tattoos and piercings. Facial hair on men is common, especially braided beards. And long hair to go with it.

We paused for a coffee at Market Square, followed by more strolling. I was delighted to find a lovely place to get a manicure and I booked one for tomorrow. While Jim went off to run a couple of errands, I was about to read a book at a shady table at an outdoor café. Such pleasure.

Finally we stopped for a late lunch at a café that serves only pancakes and crepes. We were reticent at first but most cafes close by 2:30 so we knew we have trouble finding another one that was open. My crepe was buckwheat filled with sun dried tomatoes, sauted spinach, black olives and goat’s cheese. It was absolutely melt-in-the-mouth delicious!! Jim’s was buckwheat filled with mushrooms and sauted spinach and also delicious. We were so glad that we landed at this café through total accident. We will return (if we have time).

We came back home for a brief period before heading out for dinner with Jim and Viola Nagel (our cream tea hosts). We met at a pub called Who’d Have Thought It, an ancient building on a pedestrian thoroughfare. From the many delicious offerings on the menu, I chose posh fish pie and Jim settled on the Somerset sausage plate. Both meals were beautifully presented and wonderfully delicious. Good the very last morsel. Wine and beer accompanied the meal along with lively conversation about many topics. It is great fun to be able to ask locals questions about their community. There is so much to learn about what makes a community work and, generally as a tourist, one barely scratches the surface. We finished off the meal by sharing a sticky toffee pudding, again a very good choice. We have really struck it rich with food choices today. Mmm good!

With the Nagels, we walked a short distance to the George and Pilgrim pub for cider. The G & P, as it is called by the locals, is the oldest inn in Glastonbury. Its records date back to the 1400’s. For the most part, it has retained its history and original building style, creating an amazing ambience and building structure. Tiny, yet exquisite stain glass windows welcome guests at the front of the building, a gigantic fireplace which could feature a real roaring fire is part of the lounge area.  Original timbers and undulating floors underfoot are also reflective of the age of the building. Over the many centuries, paupers and kings have all slept here, including King Henry VIII who, as the story goes, watched from his window in the inn, as the magnificent Glastonbury Abbey was destroyed at his command. No one who lives here thinks much of Henry VIII.

As the evening ended for us, at the final bell in the pub, we bid farewell to the Nagels. We hope that our paths will cross again in some way, whether in K-W or in the UK. They were wonderful people to meet and delightful companions. A great way to complete our day!

Friday, July 17, 2015

Another trip to the countryside … Following a leisurely start to the day, we headed out of town to a pub called Sheppey Inn in Lower Godney. Once we left the main highway, the roads became narrower and narrower until we began to wonder whether anyone would actually come this far on these roads just for lunch. We passed through the village of Godney (blink and you miss it) and the hamlet of Upper Godney (another half blink) and then travelled for what seemed like a long way on winding roads until we reached Lower Godney. A surprise awaited us. Lower Godney was quite a good sized village with several homes all hugging the edge of the road, a couple of businesses, a school, several B&B’s and, of course, Sheppey Inn.

Most buildings in Lower Godney were in very good condition with clean stone structures, brightly painted doorways, colorful flowers hanging in pots and hedges that were trimmed. Sheppey Inn is actually an old dairy barn converted to a new use. It was in very good shape and inviting from the appearance of the exterior. The only entrance was through a small grey door. Not knowing what we might find on the other side, it felt a bit like Alice going through the looking glass.

Inside we found a wonderful bar, fashioned totally from reused materials. We also found several dining areas, each one occupying a room that would have been used during the dairy process. At the back of the building was a large outdoor patio and a large room that might have once been used to store feed and straw. It had been transformed into a rather modern dining area, yet in keeping with the remainder of the inn. We chose to eat in that room because of the many windows that allowed the lovely light of the day pour in.

Drinks, as usual, are ordered at the bar (an ale shandy and a Camden stout) and carried to the table. The menu was extensive and innovative. Jim ordered a fish stew with both shellfish and salmon in it accompanied by a thick sweet potato broth. I ordered a child’s portion of the soup of the day (pea, mint and broad bean) and a monkfish burger. The bowl of soup was huge and delicious. The monkfish burger was a bit unusual – monkfish, thick bacon, a mustard dressing and arugula and a bun. Not just any bun though. This was a squid ink bun. During preparation, squid ink is added to the bun batter, turning it totally black. The presentation of the burger along side fresh plum chutney was exquisite. The squid had no flavour so it was like a regular sesame seed bun but it certainly added a unique flair to the meal.

After lunch, we headed across country on some new roads and came upon the Railway Inn near the villages of Meare and Ashcott. Sadly, it was closed so we could not go in for a beverage. We have been told that if we enjoyed Wilkins Cider Farm, we will also like The Railway Inn. We will go back another day.

Back in Glastonbury, the first stages of the Magic Festival had begun. Several magicians gathered in Market Square to perform their shows. It was a pass the hat event. In order to see the more professional magicians, it was necessary to purchase a ticket that allowed entry into the Market Building which is where the Magic Festival is taking place on Saturday and Sunday. Time will tell whether we choose to go or not.

Tonight we are off to a movie called A Royal Night based on a true life incident that has been dramatically fictionalized about Queen Elizabeth and Princess Margaret as they grew up. The premise is that they went out on the town on VE Night to celebrate the end of the war and escaped from their chaperones. It is a very funny movie, helpful to know it was a spoof before we saw it.

Saturday, July 18, 2015.

This has been a very quiet yet productive day at home. My project for the day was to work on our photos and create our photo book for this trip. I know myself well enough to realize that if I do not create the photo book during our adventure, I certainly will not get around to creating it at home. I must say that I am very happy with the results so far. Now all I have to do is keep up the pace for the next week until we go home.

Jim has continued to work on our plan for the coming week, our last days in the UK. Time does have a way of flashing past. We heard from son, Iain, today that he has arrived in London and will spend the weekend there. We will meet him on Monday evening in Bristol and head to Wales for a couple of days. Then back to Glastonbury to take Iain on a whirlwind tour of the best things we have done and see during the time we have been here. The list is long so those two days will be busy. Then, off to Stonehenge and on to Gatwick where we will meet Paul and Maggie (our house exchange partners) for lunch on Saturday. And we fly home on Sunday! Whew!!!

At the moment we are getting ready to go back out into the countryside in to have a drink and maybe dinner at the Railway Inn which was closed yesterday. We’ll see what happens today.

Well, the Railway Inn was open. And there were actually a few people there, all locals, if we can judge by the way the conversation ceased as soon as tourists walked through the door. It was a clean, quiet place with a well supplied bar, including glasses for each brewery and cidery that were represented behind the counter.  Jim ordered a local beer and I ordered a half a shandy.  It did not take us long to determine that the only food available were the wrapped buns on the counter at the end of the bar. Not today, thanks.

A few words were spoken as we sipped our drinks and then we left. Although it was a cute little place in the midst of the countryside, there was nothing about The Railway Inn that would entice us to return.

Just up the road was a large natural area that was a bird sanctuary. Walking and biking trails took visitors to forested areas, grasslands, bird blinds and wetlands. Patches of wild flowers including poppies frolicked in the breeze. It was too late in the day for us to venture into the area. To bad we had not known about this place earlier in our time in Glastonbury.

Back in town, we went to the Bocabar for dinner. It is ranked as one of the top two restaurants in Glastonbury and reservations are highly recommended. It was early Saturday evening and we were not surprised to find that they were totally booked out. Happily, though, they said we could have a table if we agreed to be finished before 8 pm. That was fine with us and we sat down to what was indeed a sumptuous meal.  A delicious pork belly dish for Jim and I enjoyed a crepe filled with salmon, topped with an Asian sauce and served with a light salsa and a rocket salad. Both dishes supported the fact that this was one of Glastonbury’s top restaurants.

Next on our agenda was a play that was being presented in the Assembly Rooms downtown. It was a local production called Good Morning, Glastonbury, a spoof on some of the unusual characteristics and behaviours found in this town.  The Assembly Rooms turned out to be a rustic room in a very old building set aside for community activities and events. To say that this play was low budget is the understatement. And to say that the actors were amateurs is without question. The production was a comedy as much for the silliness of the plot and for the lack of talent on stage as for the occasional funny line. We left at intermission.

The next episode of Borgen was waiting for us at home and that was a much more appealing option than Act Two of Good Morning, Glastonbury!

Sunday July 19, 2015

We set off early to Wells this morning. The Bishop’s Palace had reopened after the filming extravaganza this week and we wanted to see it. The day was bright and sunny and we were energized by the weather.

The Bishop’s Palace proved to be a delightful place – beautiful gardens, lovely mansion, well manicured green space – under the gorgeous blue sky it was idyllic. Families were picnicking, couples were strolling, the outdoor tables at the café were filled with people enjoying the beautiful day.

We walked past the front of the Well Cathedral which is very beautiful to Vicar’s Close,  oldest residential street in Europe. The original homes were built in the 1300’s and are all still there. The chimneys added in the 1400’s. These houses were originally occupied by vicars who came to Wells to sing in the cathedral, up to 8 services per day. The vicars began their musical ministry in 1100’s. The dining room is in the space above the archway leading into the street. What a quaint and well maintained street!

We enjoyed a traditional Sunday roast dinner at Wetherspoons in Wells. It was a very full and attractive plate of roast beef, Yorkshire pudding, potato, vegetables and delectable gravy. Needless to say, we did not need to eat again today.

It was a beautiful day for a drive on country roads. It was lovely traversing the sun swept countryside en route to Bath. Once there, we went directly to my favourite store – Mr. B’s Emporium of Reading Delights. It was such fun to browse the shelves, read the reviews written by staff and make selections for many people, including myself. Sadly, we stayed a bit too long. Sally Lunn’s had closed before we could get there. No world famous buns or cream tea for us today. Fortunately we have indulged before as well as taken in other Bath highlights and … we know we will return

It was a lovely drive back home where we spent a quiet evening doing laundry, catching up on the diary, and watching another couple of episodes of Borgen, a Norwegian series somewhat similar to West Wing. We must finish this DVD before we leave. It has to be returned to the library.

Monday, July 20, 2015

We enjoyed our full English breakfast at the Gastrobar, a highly recommended café in Glastonbury. While we ate, our freshly washed clothes were tumbling in the dryers at the nearby laundromat. Once they were dry and we had finished our coffees, we made a quick trip back to the house to deliver laundry before heading for Bristol.

It was a rather soggy day. There was no doubt we would need sweaters and umbrellas as the day went on. We drove on the freeway to Bristol, a nice change and much faster than the country roads we experienced in recent days.

The first thing we did was take the full tour on the Hop on Hop Off Bus. Due to the rain we were not able to ride upstairs with the open-topped roof.  Mostly we sat inside, often only people on bus, and had our own personalized tour. We travelled through and heard stories about the city centre, the suspension bridge, churches, theatres, old dockworkers homes, elegant, well preserved and high end homes and a provate school along the way.

We then took a boat tour of the old harbor area. A new shipping harbor has been constructed a few miles closer to sea. The old area now houses sailing yachts, retired ships transformed into nightclubs or high end restaurants, permanent houseboats, water taxis, ships of historical importance open to public and many other vessels. It has once again become a bustling harbor and a focal point of a city in transformation.

And still it rained ….  We sought refuge in a dockside restaurant with drinks and reading material. We finally felt compelled to order a light late lunch as a way of justifying occupying the seats for so long. Finally the rain relented somewhat and we returned to our car. We created out own personal driving tour of city. We drove over suspension bridge, explored high end residential neighbourhoods, and tried to find new shipping docks to no avail. We could see them in the distance but we could find no road that led us there.

It was time to make our way to Bristol Parkway train station to meet Iain’s train. Iain has been in London for a few days and is now joining us for a short road trip into Wales. We headed across the bridge that spans the Bristol Channel and took us to Wales. Our first stop was for dinner at the Bell Hanger in Chepstow, a Wetherspoon’s pub. Then It was but a short drive to our hotel along motorway. It was lovely to be out of the car and into our room, all the while catching up with Iain and his London adventures.

Tuesday, July 21, 2015

We started our day looking for Chepstow Castle. We were in the small town of Chepstow so how hard can it be to find a castle. Well …. Let me tell you. The town is built on a very steep slope so there is no visibility beyond the row of buildings on the side of the street. Signs are limited. We finally learned that the ‘I’ sign for information also led to the castle. And, the street are all one way and eventually lead to a one lane access point through the ancient gate to the city. Lovely as the gate was, the fifth time we passed through it was far less thrilling than the first.  I am not going to share the conversation in the car at that point!

Eventually, we found that castle! At the very bottom of the hill! Not where I would generally expect to find a castle!!! But there it was and it was well worth the struggle to get there. Chepstow Castle was built on the bank of a river and into the side of a hill. In order to explore the castle, it was necessary to continuously walk uphill. Each room or section was on a level higher than the one below. Only very fit people would have been able to live here …. Or you would get fit quickly! The exterior castle walls and the walls of each interior space were very much intact. There were still sections of the structure that were stable enough to climb narrow staircases and actually get inside. The original doors of the castle, dating from the approximately 1200, were on display in one of the interior, sheltered spaces. It is always a marvel to me when I encounter something that is so very, very old. It humbles me when I think that in Canada we consider anything over 100 years to be very, very old. Perspective …. That is what history is about.

After a very pleasant wander through the castle, we left Chepstow behind and travelled toward Tintern Abbey along a beautiful Welsh highway. Once we got on the correct road, the drive to the Abbey was gentle and short. And the Abbey was impressive.

Built along the side of a river, deep in a valley, the walls of the Abbey stood majestically in the sunlight. What an amazing structure it must have been. Most of the walls were intact along with many of the columns. The windows and roof were gone, allowing the sunshine to pour through. It was glorious to wander in and out of the shadows and imagine the routine of the monks each day … where they worshipped, where they ate, where they prayed, where they slept. What a hard life, yet a deeply spiritual life they must have had … and all within this amazing structure in an absolutely beautiful and wild landscape.  The nearby cafes and gift shops were relatively discrete and did not take away from the beauty of the experience.

Next we travelled to Monmouth along another winding, shaded roadway Just outside Monmouth, we found the road to Kymin, a National Trust property at the very top of a high, high hill (perhaps considered a mountain in Wales). We made a sharp right turn and began our drive up the narrow, one-lane road. It was a worry to consider what we might do if we were to meet a vehicle coming down the same road. Happily, part way up, we caught up with another vehicle that was also making its way to the top. We followed as closely as we could, enjoying the fact that it was running interference for us and would work out the details if we met a car coming down. Happily, we made it all the way to the top without issue and gratefully parked in the large parking lot at the site.  (We also managed to leave Kymin at the same time as another vehicle and deliberately followed it to the bottom. What a relief it was to have someone ahead of us and also to make it all the way down without encountering anyone coming up!)

Kymin is the property at the very top of the hill. It provides vistas in every direction. The day was clear so the visibility was amazing!! In one direction, a series of hills, a patchwork of fields of crops, cattle, hap, woodlot. Such a variety of colour and texture in the landscape. In the other direction were the town of Monmouth and the Wye River valley far below us. Beyond the town was another array of agricultural land and in the distance a beautiful set of rolling hills. What a beautiful setting!

At the very top of Kymin is the Round House, so named because the house was actually built as a round house. This building was constructed in the early 1800’s by the Monmouth Picnickers Club and was used for their weekly meetings including a sumptuous meal, prepared in the kitchens in the Round House.  In its hay day, there was a bowling green, stables, picnic grounds and a large playing field on the site. Now the house is primarily used for weddings and other special events and the surrounding grounds are open to the public for picnics, walks and general relaxation.

We carried on travelling through South Wales, this time headed for the World Heritage Area of Blaenavon. Blaenavon was the site where iron (1787 – 1904) and coal (1810 – 1980) were first discovered in Wales.  These were the first significant mining operations in the world for iron and coal and influenced mining and manufacturing in other major areas such as Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. It was a thriving industry here for many, many years, attracting workers from all over Great Britain as well as Europe. The production of iron ceased in 1904 while coal continued to be harvested until 1980. The World Heritage Museum in Blaenavon provides a wonderful display of the timeline and history of the area. The original mining buildings have also been restored and are open to visitors.

We travelled through some surprising landscapes in this area. Under gray skies, we crossed bleak moors covered with struggling grasses which supplied the food for the roaming herds of sheep and cattle.  We were afforded amazing views while the wind howled across the landscape. Grids crossed the road to separate herds of animals from wandering into other farms

From the moors, we travelled east along the Heads of the Valleys Road, an area where all the rivers converge from Brecon Beacons National Park to the north. The rolling countryside and the Welsh mountains provided beautiful landscapes along the rise and fall of the roadway. Sadly, we encountered very heavy traffic on the road and lots of construction, reminiscent of home.

We arrived at our hotel (Days Inn) about 6 and gratefully left the car behind for a short time. We used Trip Advisor to find a suitable place for dinner. We were not disappointed. We enjoyed our meal at The Star Inn in Treoes (just outside Cardiff). The food was excellent and the service was memorable. Three young women were tripping over each other to serve the Canadian table. It was cute to see them negotiate who would describe the specials, who would take our order, who would deliver the food, who would check in to make sure we were happy, who would replenish the drinks. Maybe it was the presence of a handsome, young Canadian man since Jim and I have never independently attracted such attentive service. Thanks, Iain!

As usual, en route to the restaurant, the GPS guided us along a most interesting tour of countryside. We travelled along stretches (miles) of narrow high hedged roadways, once again happy that we did not meet any oncoming vehicles. We got totally lost at one point and had to stop and ask at a house how to get to the Star Inn (so much for GPS reliability!). On our return trip, Jim was happy to take us back along the same rods.  Iain and I both objected to going back to hotel along the same roads as dark was descending. Indeed, we found a route back to the hotel without the help of the GPS and without travelling along narrow hedge-lined roads. It was much faster and less nerve-tracking to say the least. I think that there is a setting on the GPS that encourages the most circuitous route possible!

Wednesday, July 22, 2015

We had a frustrating start to this day. After many, many wrong turns and confusion on the roundabouts, we did eventually make it it to Cardiff!

Breakfast (now lunch) at another Wetherspoons Pub. This pub chain provides modestly priced, consistently good food and the pubs are generally easily to find. You order your drinks and food at the bar and carry it yourself to your table. It is still entertaining to me to be easting my breakfast surrounded by people, men and women, who have dropped in for a pint of ale or lager. They sip it like a cup of coffee and then make their way about their daily business. Prohibition in Canada has certainly influenced the way we look at alcohol consumption!

We planned our day. iain wanted to go to the Cardiff Castle and Jim and I wanted to ride on the Cardiff Hop On Hop Off bus. Absolutely complementary activities. So off we went in our different directions.

The bus tour was great. Nice weather allowed us to ride up top, excellent for good viewing as well as easy photographs. We passed through many parts of Cardiff – city centre, government area, university, docklands, business area and back to the castle.  An interesting feature of Cardiff is that it was only developed as a significant city in the 1800’s so, like at home, there is nothing there that would be considered really old. And as the city modernizes and areas are redeveloped, there is far less concern about pulling ‘old’ buildings down to make way for the new ones. It creates an interesting mix of older, traditional buildings and modern buildings with interesting designs.  When land was donated for the construction of government buildings, university buildings and some museums, there was also a restriction put in place that they must be built with Portland stone, limestone from Dorset. This provides a similarity in colour although the facades of these buildings are quite varied in style due to the ease of carving and shaping the stone.

We met Iain in a nearby pub and then spent some time in a Welsh gift shop. Iain had thoroughly enjoyed his tour of the castle and found the history very interesting.

Back into the car and we were on our way to back to England and Somerset. The weather lightened as we traveled along and soon after crossing the impressive bridge over the Bristol Channel, the sky cleared and the sun poured through. It was lovely.

We had time to take Iain to a few interesting places as we made our way to Glastonbury. First stop was Cheddar Gorge, a steep and precipitous gorge that is different from any other landscape in Somerset. (We still did not buy any cheese in Cheddar.) From there we drove on narrow country roads to Wilkins Cider Farm where we indulged in the mandatory mug of cider, examined the barn, and gasped at the spiderwebs that hung from every surface. Another interesting destination in Somerset.

Our final stop before home was at Knights Fish and Chips. We had eaten dinner at Knights the day we arrived and wanted to share the experience with Iain. The food was delicious and the history of the building quite awesome. And then we were homeward bound where we spent a very pleasant evening reading, writing, napping and enjoying the views from the windows on this perfect summer evening.