Sunday, July 6, 2008

United Kingdom, Part III (finally)

It was good to see the site of King Arthur's tomb (of Excalibur fame) at Glastonbury Abbey but because he supposedly never really existed it was a curious site. But like the Loch Ness monster, we never really know, do we?

We drove on to Wells glimpsing the cathedral as we headed to Bath where we viewed the excavated Roman baths in unusually good condition. The water was a little green (deadly algae), but the natural thermal spa was still flowing through original lead pipes bringing in the warm water. The Romans devised a system of channels and aqueducts that still work today. Truly amazing accomplishments.

We headed next for the Severn Bridge that brought us to Wales and eventually their capital of Cardiff. We toured Cardiff Castle, the site of which was a fort in about 50 A.D. The castle keep near the center of the complex dates from the Norman conquest (circa 1100) while the lodging itself was more recently renovated in the 1860-1900s by the Marquesses of Bute.

Tired after the day of travelling we head to our hotel, a beautiful site on the edge of Cardiff. We had an early dinner and retired for the night.

We arise for the Full English Breakfast where Diana and I still ponder the beans and some of the meats. I stick with eggs, bacon, and toast. After we drive through the beautiful Wye Valley we come to Tintern Abbey, the ruins of which stand in accent to the exquisite countryside. This abbey, another victim of Henry VIIs "dissolution", was built in the 13th century for the Cisterician or White Monks, followers of St. Benedict.

From there we travel through Herefordshire, the Welsh Marches, and stop in the Tudor town of Ludlow. We were again pulled back to medieval times seeing the old buildings and marketplace of the former administrative capital of Wales. Ludlow Castle stood guard on one end, and we stopped there for a spot of tea in their tea room, a disappointingly modern restaurant plopped into the ruins. We would have preferred to sit on ruined walls or stone seats than see the almost reverse anachronisticism.
When our time is up in Ludlow we are all promptly on the bus again, kudos from Phil, and head to our final stop for the day in Chester. Phil takes us on a romp through the marketplace to see the Roman walls, or what is left, and then we are free to roam the "Rows", a collective of Tudor era multi-level shops. Diana passes on the wall tour and finds a salon to have to hair done. I find a fudge shop.
Tomorrow we motor back to England to the Lake District and Windemere, Wordsworth country.

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