Off to the UK ...

Day 8, Saturday 18 August

Leaving Dublin

Up early and packing before breakfast to catch a taxi to Dublin port to catch the 8:45 ferry across to Holyhead in Wales. Check-in was like an airport and after getting rid of our luggage it was onto a bus to go over to the ferry. The ferry was one of the high-speed Sea-Cat wave cutting catamarans built in Tasmania. It was a smooth 2 hour crossing and the ferry was very comfortable. Collected the cases, slipped quietly through customs and immigration, collected our hire car and took to the roads of Wales.

A taste of Wales

What a treat Wales was. Bernie thought it would be a good idea to test our new found navigational skills by going inland through the Snowdonia region. Now the first challenge I encountered as navigator was the Welsh language. For any of you who have not encountered Welsh before, names of places look more like letters of the alphabet jumbled up. I challenge anyone to navigate through places like:
Llanfihangelyn Nhowyn
Penmaenmawr
Betws-y-Coed
Porthmadog
Nant Gwrtheyrn


The scenery was stunning from Holyhead through the many appallingly named towns. Lots of steep rocky mountains and mountain streams in a very rugged and beautiful part of the UK.

Llangollen

Llangollen is a gem a little treasure tucked in the far northern tip of Wales. There are mountains, white water rivers including the spectacular River Dee canals with horse-drawn boats, The Llangollen Steam Railway with steam trains that chug along the Dee Valley.

Llangollen is a very popular spot for the English who want a ‘Wales’ experience; or for those who are looking for a rest from their rambling in the hills surrounding the town. I am reminded of Switzerland.

Llangollen gives the impression of being hugged by lush green forests that are most probably snow laden during winter. It is a truly amazing town, encapsulating the best North Wales has to offer in a small area. We caught Llangollen on a wonderful sunny Saturday. It was humming with sightseers and walkers of all ages.

Sampling the Llangollen ice-cream

The Steam Train

They have a steam train that still runs regular passenger trips down the mountains. As we approached the station plumes of smoke were filling the air, and the unmistakable noises of an engine chapping at the bit to be on its way. Several photos of a train from north to south were taken for Ethan our train

afficionado grand son.

Getting ready for departure of the steam train.

Chester

Once out of Wales it was but a short hop to England and on to Chester.The Crowne Plaza does not live up to its name, but it has a bed and that's all we need after exploring one of the most gorgeous towns yet.

Chester was in festive mode - the Chester Horse races were being run and all the native Chestorians were out in their finest to celebrate the occasion. The cup was run by the time we ventured into the heart of the city and people poured from the race track into the city giving the city a wonderful festive vibe. The day was a gem, sunshine and warm weather added to the festive feel. Even the police who were everywhere had smiles on their faces.

When it comes to beautiful cities, Chester is one of the loveliest. As soon as you arrive in Chester you will appreciate the city's unique atmosphere and sense of history. Founded by the Romans over 2000 years ago, much of the Roman influence remains and Chester's city walls are the most complete in Britain.

Chester is a walled town, the main wall being built of a red sandstone.  As the sandstone has weathered over the years its roughened surface has been worn to smooth edges, making all the sandstone walls and bridges very distinctive.

The Mews

One of Chester's great attractions is the Mews, a series of two-level galleried arcades along the four streets that fan out in each direction from the central Cross. The architecture is a quirky mix of Victorian and Tudor (original and mock) buildings that house a collection of pubs and shops. Of course the pubs were all doing a roaring trade as the successful and not so successful race goers rehashed the day over a glass or two of ale.
It is thought that as the Roman walls slowly crumbled, medieval traders built their shops against the resulting rubble banks, while later arrivals built theirs on top; thus giving the rows their distinctive character.

Part of the Mews

Eastgate Clock

The Eastgate clock, is said to be the most famous clock in England after London's Big Ben, built for Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee in 1897. Fabulously ornate it sits over an arch of the bridge in one of the main streets in Chester.

The Eastgate clock stands on the old Roman wall above the main street of Chester.


The Walls

Walking the historic walls that originally defended Chester (built on Roman fortifications, then added to over subsequent centuries) gives you an opportunity to see the unique character of the city in a different way. Brilliant way to see the city and the river from above. We were lucky that it was relatively quiet on the walls as the throng were busy celebrating the Chester Cup in the pubs below. We only did a portion of the 2 mile circuit and loved what we saw.

Part of the old walls beside the Dee River bridge

At the south eastern corner of the walls are the wishing steps, added in 1785; local legend claims that if you can run up and down these uneven steps while holding your breath your wish will come true. I didn’t know about the breath holding so I doubt my wish will be valid.
To the southern end of the wall just onside the wall is the Old Dee Bridge; Dee being the name of the river that flows along this end of Chester.
The banks of the Dee river is the place to slow the pace down and take in the river scenery. This is the place to stroll along and take in the very English scenes of old ice-cream kiosks, people boating on the river, beautiful white swans circling with their tail feathers all fluffed up to be noticed and appreciated.

The Dee River and one of the walking bridges over it.


St John the Baptist Church

Built on the site of an older Saxon church in 1075, it's been a peaceful ruin since 1581. It includes the remains of a Norman choir and medieval chapels.

A section of the ruins of the old church.

Roman Ampitheatre

Chester's most complete set of Roman ruins sits on the outside of the Walls. This discovery reminded me a bit of Rome where you find different layers of history around every corner. The ruins of the ampitheatre were discovered in 1929 when a boiler room was being built underneath Dee House and a large curved wall appeared. Once an arena that seated 7000 spectators (making it the country's largest), this Roman ampitheatre has undergone a series of mildly successful excavations at the hands of enthusiastic locals. It gives you a taste of what might have been, but is underwhelming in that it is not made a feature of Chester rather a somewhat forgotten, poor cousin to all the other wonders of Chester.

Not much to look at now but once this was a 7000 seat ampitheatre.



We had dinner at The Red Lion Hotel (funny but every town seems to have a Red Lion Hotel) – good food, great atmosphere.