A trip to Hexham

Through Chads we organized a day-trip out to Hexham. 

Market and Abbey

market

the abbey was from the 7th century

Blurry, but a rare example of steps monk used  between their dorms and vespers

That Saturday had an emphasis on art

They even had the 'Dance Macabre' or Dance of Death

Frith stool

1st century tomb

the 7th century crypt

a view of the abbey from the crypt

the best baptismal font I have ever seen

Organ

After we had exhausted the market and the cathedral, amid the downpour of rain, we went to eat lunch at a place called the Green Room.  It was fabulous. I can't believe I don't have any photos. Very good food!

From there we headed to the Gaol

And then home! Sanna looks like she's in an open carriage.

A trip to London

On the longest day of the year, I caught the 5.38 am train down to London to see my Aunt Jayne and my cousin Emily.  It was so surreal and wonderful to see them.  They were on a girl scout tour trip around Europe and their schedule looked fabulous.  They had one morning in London and I met them up before they were to take the Euro Star to Paris. You have one morning in London so what do you do?

Go to the science museum of course!

We went on the 3-D Red Arrows simulator ride.

We then went to King's Cross for some AMAZING mexican.

We wandered around St. Pancras' shops

St Pancras International

We then had just under an hour a mad thought, I dragged them to the British Library, gave them a quick tour of the rare book collection, showing them Beowulf (now on display!), some Jane Austen Manuscripts, some medieval music, and of course, my illuminated manuscripts.  We met up with the rest of the girl scouts. I was promptly told that I had an 'accent' now that I had lived here and looked exactly like my Aunt Jayne. 

Seeing them off at St Pancras!

 I went with them as far as I could, and said goodbye as they entered security.  It was so wonderful to see my family in the UK! I'm starved or not seeing family enough and I loved just looking over my shoulder and thinking, I'm named after her! We look alike! My hair will probably not turn brown, but look just like hers.  We of course talked weddings and boys and what they'd seen.  Hearing all about what they'd done and see made me want to go gallivanting across Europe again. The old desire to go had been awoken.

After I said goodbye, I wandered over to King's Cross and took my train home.

Harlech Castle

On Sunday we woke, packed out things, and drove through Snowdonia.  I can't remember seeing such forest before in Britain. Neither England nor Scotland seemed to have as many woodlands as Wales did.  We drove to meet my cousin Julie and her husband Hwyel in Harlech Castle. 

we drove through slate country.

Harlech is one of Edward III's castles

On top of the highest tower

my only photo of Hywel!

Hywel said, I've found Fran. Basking like a cat.

I love that it's in ruins. Much more fun to explore.

We could climb onto the walls.

On the walls there were birds.  Guess who was shat on?

what a view

Me and Julie

Here is where the moat used to be. A real moat!

Julie was so sweet. She chose Harlech because at one point in time she found a restaurant that had served her sweet tea there! Unfortunately the restaurant had now closed, but the possibility that sweet tea could exist in Great Britain was just lovely!

Harlech was a great castle. Castles in ruin are loads more fun than the ones people live in. You can play hide and seek, tour the tops of towers, sentry the walls, and feel the wind and the sun.  It felt more real somehow and more medieval.

We ate lunch at a great little diner (lamb burgers!) and said goodbye.  As they left, Julie and Hywel told me the lovely news that they were planning to come to my wedding.  I was so overcome that people should travel such a distance. I couldn't quite believe it.  We drove back to Durham, fixed a pasta bake, and watched Jurassic Park. What a great day.

Around Conwy

After lunch, Sanna and I wanted to wander about town and have a nosy in the shops.  Fran took off to the beaches and enjoyed the sun Fran style.  [I'll put SG on the photos Sanna took.]

the beach and sun

a right bumbler [sg]

part of the town wall [sg]

a lovely restaurant, the shakespeare, that we meant to come back to [sg]

Conwy Castle

to the harbor [sg]

we met fran, saw the smallest house, then walked back to our hostel

these amazing town walls [sg]

the town walls [sg]

view of ivy towers [sg]

sweet gate houses

I be tired. let's go home. [sg]

[In addition to that, here's a little video Sanna accidentally took. I know I'm scowling, but I just love it.]

Conwy: Anna's tea room

By the time we finished climbing the mountain, we were absolutely famished.  So we headed to the town centre and began the prowl for lunch.

Conwy town center

this is my prowling for lunch

we settled on Anna's and couldn't have chosen better if we tried!

It was set on the second floor of a camping shop

It was the sort of lovely place the sold its own jams and coffees

And of of course had its old-world elegance, complete with lace and doilies

striking a pose

the ever photo-genic Sanna

waiting for our food

The food was delicious.  They even had a whole selection of proper coffee and in my experience of tea rooms, that is a valuable find.  I didn't take pictures of the food, mostly because I detest pictures of food and besides, we were so hungry, it hadn't stayed on our plate half a minute before we hoovered it up.  But it was lovely, and if you go to Conwy, I recommend this one!