Journey up uneventful with interesting conversations. Man next to me had been travelling 27 hours – LA to Vancouver where he couldn’t get a flight to NY as planned because most E coast airports closed because of huge storms. Managed to get to Halifax, where the storm wasn’t, and then on to Manchester. Then snippets of a conversation between a man and woman who appeared to be casual acquaintances only. ‘ yes Im on xxx the one for paranoid schizophrenia, reduced once but sent me… ‘oh im on yyyy zzzmm also tried to reduce but….’ Their travelling companions/family continued showing no interest.
The town really looks good, really attractive. After Hull [which made the most of their much bombed and therefore not beautiful city], and Margate, which didn’t, this place looks prosperous. I wonder how and why, but is turning out to be a really good choice [while the weather lasts]. Even the food not bad. The restaurant menus look modern and trendy, and last night I had nice vegetable soup and Moules Mariniere.
My room looks out on the bay and the Great Orme. Lay on my bed last night watching beautiful sunset until 10ish, and this morning another clear blue day. The beach steep and pebbly with a little sand at low tide. I dipped one foot in the water and didn’t flinch. Children paddle but no sign of swimming.
Yesterday rain on the way, but when it cleared a clear blue sky and a wind. I decided I must be a pathetic southerner, as people strolled around in short sleeves and shorts. I joined [to me sensibly dressed] Muslim and orthodox Jewish families [several], me in sweater, Amandas v useful woollen neck scarf and another scarf and wished I had more. Still I decided to toughen up and having gone into the theatre simply to get warm and to buy an espresso, I ended up sitting in the sun until 7.0 where I another interesting encounter- A couple who live locally. He was in Nepal in the earthquake, giving a lecture. Things started shaking, the staff at the back said Earthquake, get out. He and the other 9 of his party survived, were looked after, were allowed 10 seconds in their hotel rooms to collect essentials. The doors were smashed down for them by staff. Taken to the airport, they were eventually given priority to get on an air India flight to Delhi, and back to London still covered in red dust. I deduced finally that he must have been working for some part of British secret services as they were ‘given’ diplomatic status. He was very good at describing his work in such a way that only later could I deduce this. 10,000npeople were killed, and their hotel and others destroyed. The couple then gave me a lift to a restaurant, having asked absolutely nothing about me, apart from saying I was brave to be adventuring on my own.
Another lovely day today so in spite of a restless night I decided this was the day to go in the Tramway up the Great Orme. Tried using my Freedom pass on the local bus, but NO I need a Welsh one, this one only gives me a reduction. So I am definitely in another country, but on the whole the natives are friendly and helpful once approached. The Tramway broken into two, one changes halfway up the hill. Wonderful views and fresh air. I must be hardening up as apart from a tee shirt under my blouse I did not put on the supplies I was carrying of two scarves, and a sweater. Looked down on sheepdogs herding hundreds of sheep to a shed, where they were perhaps dipped, and then herded out. Goats further down. Back to buy a VERY light backpack[plastic made in China] in a lovely leather smelling bag etc shop. Home again on a local bus with a driver who said he had lost money through Brexit, and I think went on to rant about Boris and how people were misled. I told him the Welsh had voted for it!
A sleep and now I am out to hear a male choir in a Methodist church. There are leaflets about others on Saturday and Sunday in other churches. This is Wales. Tomorrow weather changing and I will do the on off bus which goes to Conwy. Saturday rain forecast for the whole day so maybe I get on with reading. The wife of the couple running this gives massages of various kinds, so perhaps I will have one. Must talk to her about it. They advertise that you can come here for a Holistic Weekend!
LLANDUDNO 2-day 4Saturday
Male voice choir lovely and just what a Welsh male voice choir should sound like, but with buses only at 40 minute intervals and feeling v tired I left at interval. I could walk home but it felt too long. Most cafes and restaurants closed [9 pm] so I bought an Eccles cake at one just shutting.
Friday feeling very tired, so after rushing down to breakfast 5 minutes before nine I managed to drift in and out of sleep until I realised it was after 1.0 and I had better move as rain had stopped and sun trying to get out. Was going to get the on-off bus until I spotted that it stopped running before six so caught the ordinary bus to Conwy through lovely country, and cows and sheep.
Conwy an amazing sight with walls and castle on the edge of the water. Stunning. Advised by the entertaining tourist office man not to miss visiting several unique houses I decided that with the sun they must come later and I must tackle the walls first. He told me the best place to access them from was the platform at the station for xxx, I tried other ways thinking he was joking. But he wasn’t, so up I clambered, holding on all the time to make my way up to the highest point – not for those with vertigo, but lovely views, and excellent exercise for the legs.
Down to have coffee and a passion fruit cake at Isaac Simeon’s. A one-person operation baking and serving. No he is not Jewish, but his mother’s grandfather was. He is from Barcelona and there you take your mother’s family name. Wife from Columbia, he likes moving and has worked in several countries, but now with children his wife doesn’t want to move any more. He works a 12 hour day at least 6 days a week but loves it. Obviously doing well, with all his bread sold, and most of the cakes. Wander through the town down to the river and join all the crowds enjoying themselves. Lots of grandparents with grandchildren, or whole 3 generation families, and some Asian looking people both Chinesey and Indian looking, but probably all from Lancashire or Scotland. Not one black person. Learn that Conwy is a mussel centre but not in months with no R in them. Crabs, and lobsters. Mussels caught in sort of large rakes by individual fishermen, unlike in France where they are in large laid mussel beds. Lovely in the sun but I decide it is getting a bit cool so will go and find the 17.56 bus which never arrives., but the 18.23 does, followed by another.
Decide I will return tomorrow as rain is forecast and I can see the recommended Elizabethan and earlier house. Going to eat at the local bistro, but no I should have booked, so I do for tomorrow, but the only time available is 6.30. So down the road to the Italian which is also packed, but has a table for one left. V nice focaccia and fish and wine and home to crawl into bed.
So now today I’m up early, writing and after breakfast off to Conwy again, to get back for a massage – I’ve chosen reflexology as I’ve never had it. Then no doubt sleep as the rain starts, and out into it for my booked bistro meal.
Sat eve
V lucky with the weather. Still not got wet
Lovely morning in Conwy, cold at first. Went round Plas Mawr Elizabethan town house. Roomy and not grand and wonderful funny decorations beautifully restored. Volunteer guides everywhere ready to help. My ticket covered the castle but in the end I didn’t go, just had a coffee, pottered down to the quay and round the town, and once again waited for a bus which didn’t come. But got one with a different route into Llandudno along the river, so interesting. Picked up a pork pie and salad and lunched in my room before my reflexology session. Very relaxing and afterwards I crawled onto my bed and slept for 2? Hours. Out at 6.30 for lamb at the Bistro. – the only time I could get in. Good both restaurants have 125 wine portions. Then had a pud made by Isaac Sim1eon who used to work with the owner in earlier days. At the end of his 12 hour day he is also delivering his pastries to various towns. Mad!
A walk along the promenade with more orthodox Jews disappearing further down. I wonder where they all live. And now to bed to watch the light fade over the bay, and a film on Sylvia Plath, and no doubt to sleep.