my dear old Swansea…
Well, yeah, that was pretty terrible. I am getting behind here, due to jam-packed travel and sometimes spotty internet. So — today, a look at Swansea before I take a paddle across the Irish Sea.
I was expecting a small seaside town, I have to say, but instead found a lovely little city on the most gorgeous stretch of beach I’ve seen in a long time. I spent my first day hiking as much of it as I could, and even though I traipsed along more than 6 miles of sand, I still didn’t manage to cover it from one end to the other.
This was the view from in front of my guest house…
I arrived at the tail end of almost two weeks of fine weather, so in spite of 30 sunscreen, I still managed to get a sunburned face — in Wales! While I couldn’t fault the view from my room, I have to admit to being a little startled one morning, being on the other side of this…
Yeah, that’s my window, there. And it’s no peeping Tom, but the very kind propriator of the guest house, just doing a little upkeep. I guess I should have figured all that scaffolding outside my window was there for a reason!
I decided I would not be conquered by Swansea Bay, and so rented a bike the next day, to follow the cycle path around the beach. I made it all the way to Mumbles, where the lighthouse was also, interestingly, encased in scaffolding. Apparently Dylan Thomas could see that lighthouse from his bedroom window!
In Mumbles I found Oystermouth Castle, a lovely old place that’s been recently restored.
I wandered through the castle for ages, picking out my favourite features.
Wildflowers in unexpected places…
Spiralling stone steps…
and my favourite find, a garderobe! [Otherwise known as a Castle ‘privy’.] Apparently this castle was rife with them [perhaps ripe, as well!] having at least nine separate locations, all of which opened straight outside the castle walls.
I love history.
In all, the trip to Wales provided a fast-flowing font for my imagination. I enjoyed every moment, and am already weaving some of what I’ve learned into my work. The rain began to fall as I left, and Wales wept me a beautiful goodbye as I stepped into the north-bound train.
More soon…
~kc
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