A Mile In Our Shoes: Across The Pond

July 4, 2012

Here are some more photos from in and around Crickhowell.

Topiary (fancy hedge cutting) is a big thing here in the UK. This one is pretty cool. The wall is as tall as a person, so these hedges are really big. You go under them when walking through the front gate. Pretty creative.

We came across this really cool tool guy. He takes in donated old hand tools, fixes them up and then ships them to Third World Countries for others to use to help improve their lives. Another really cool thing. Here is the sign outside his shop. Cymru is the Welsh word for Wales.

The local candy shop where Rowan has been going since she was a child. It has been run by the same family for three generations.

They sell all sorts of candies out of jars. Here, Rowan is getting a sack full of Jelly Babies, one of her favorites since she was a little one.

Our first meal at our cottage in Llangattock. Roast chicken (and this one came from a farmer's field around the corner. Tastes completely different from those production farm birds), boiled new potatoes, fresh peas from the pod, field carrots and gravy. YUM!!!

The next day, Rowan's good friend Maggie (one of her friends from Cardiff University) came up to spend the day with us in Crickhowell. She is a hoot with a capital H!

Gooseberries from Uncle Bob's backyard

I have to share with you a bit about Wales and the language here. All of the signs for everything are printed in Welsh and English. The Welsh people are trying to keep their ancient language alive, so for quite some time, they have been teaching it as a first language again here in the schools. The language is just CRAZY. First off, vowels are very scarce. You have to wonder how the heck to say most words in this language. I will be offering tidbits on how the language works throughout my posts while we are here. As you will see, Rowan's dad and uncle are helping me with this.

The main street down to the River Usk.

I can't believe we even found an Occupy poster here in this tiny town up in the middle of the Black Mountains in Wales. The movement is taking the world by storm!

A grave yard that is again older than my own country.

The River Usk

Table Mountain, just above Crickhowell. We have hiked up there on previous trips to Wales.

Uncle Bob's house looking up from down on the Usk.

I just love the artistry that is applied to everything here. The gate latch is a beautiful example of Celtic design in iron work.

Here is Dad climbing over a fence stile on our walk across the fields (these are found going over fences and stone walls everywhere). Here in the UK, most fields in the countryside are open as public foot paths. It has been this way for centuries as this is how folks would get from village to village in the countryside. It's really cool because you can meet all sorts of sheep, horses, pigs, people, etc. out on your walk.

The Brecon Beacons. Photos taken during our walk.

This is what remains of Crickhowell Castle. It stands in the little park in the middle of Crickhowell. The castle was built in 1272 by Sir Grimbald Paunce-fote. Soon after 1402 Owain Glyndwr (the last native Welsh man to hold the title Prince of Wales) attacked the castle and left it in ruins.

The round bit is called the Keep. This is where the fortified residences were in a castle. These spaces were used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the castle fall to an adversary. Obviously, this castle did :o)

This is what the whole thing looked like when it was still in one piece.

Another beautiful shot of Table Mountain over the rooftops of Crickhowell

Happy 4th of July to us Americans, even here in Crick!

Dinner at The Bear Pub. LAMB SHANKS!!!!! When coming to Wales, one must eat lamb. Wales and New Zealand hold the crown when it comes to lamb. This is by far one of my favorite cuts of the beast. Here with mash and gravy, carrots and peas. YUM!!!!!