The quaint village of Conwy, Wales. An easy train ride from Holyhead to Conwy in about one hour. We are here for two weeks, staying in a very old Welsh B&B home of our host Alan Hughes. A lovely man who was a ski instructor to Welsh Skiing Olympians back in the day. You would never know that he is 78 years old? He joins us at breakfast with his cup of tea each morning and together we cure the woes of the world. Our room is the window right in the middle.
And this is our view from that wee window....the Conwy Castle and the Walls that surround this village. The walls can be walked, the length is about 1.3 kilometres. The views are priceless.
At almost 900 years old, is the foreboding Conwy Castle built by King Edward I to keep the Welsh under control. Built between 1283 and 1289 it was a very quick build for such a massive construction at the time. One of the best preserved Castle and Walls in all of UK and Europe. It cost 15,000 sterling pounds at the time, converted that today it would be about 45 million sterling pounds.
The walls surrounding the town were constructed when the castle was nearly completed.
The walls consist of 21 towers and three gatehouses. This particular tower looks a wee bit distressed but we walked over it anyways? Are we nuts?
The statue of Prince "Llywelyn the Great" in Lancester Square in Conwy. He is considered to be the greatest and most constructive Welsh statesman of the middle ages. He died in 1240. Unfortunate, because during his reign there was a hope and real possibility of an independent Wales.
One of the least preserved gatehouses.
But you can still climb up it to get to the walls. Don't be scared....just don't look down.
Do what Deb does, look up and smile.
The doors are wee. Even Deb might have to duck?
Incredible that any of it has survived? Between wars and conflicts, weather and just age?
During King Henry VIII reign, over 200 years after the castle was built, it was used as a prison. He did order repairs to restore the castle which had begun to fall into ruins. But only to a point.
King Edward I wanted to establish a new English colony on this strategic Welsh site. He encouraged the English citizens to move here enticing them with land and homes, taking them from the Welsh. Hmmmm....not very popular.
Hanging around in Conwy.
Over 150,000 people visit the Castle each year.
Britain's smallest house is this cute red home in Conwy. Supposedly the last occupant to live in this home was a fisherman named Robert Jones who happened to be 6' 3" tall. Some rooms were too small for him to even stand up straight in? He lived here until 1900.
There is only enough room for a stove, a water tap, a bedside cabinet and a bed.
To end a great day, a delicious lamb dinner with all the veggies. Thought I died and went to Heaven.
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