Bruges

Here I am in Bruges. The train from Brussels was nice, a double decker and I sat upstairs to get a nice view. It rained very heavily when I got here, the road behind me is flooded! or it may be a canal, it was difficult to tell at times. What I've seen so far is very pretty. Lots of horses, chocolate and water. The buildings are nice as well, different to the UK. I'm here for quite a while so should be able to see lots of it.

Eurostar

I'm off to Bruge in Belgium. Never been before and I am looking forward to it. Sitting on the train at St. Pancras station ready for the off. Have to change trains at Brussels South (or Zuid or Midi all very confusing). We're through the tunnel and into northern France now. It isn't s nice as Wales, I haven't seen a single mountain yet. It's nice sitting in a comfortable train, sipping wine watching the countryside whiz past. Though I'm not sure the French would approve of the Australian wine.

Blaenavon

I'm in Blaenavon in south east Wales. The town grew up around a large ironworks, which open in 1789, and is now a world heritage site for its industrial landscape. I'm standing on top of the water balance tower. This used a water displacement lift to carry the iron up to a railway. The railway carried the iron across the mountains to a canal where it was transported to Newport for export around the world. The iron works includes cottages and a company shop. The cottages were used by the BBC for a reality show 'Coal House'. Three families were moved into cottages made up to be 1927 coal mining family homes. Blaenavon was also the site of a Time Team dig. They were looking for a railway viaduct which used horse drawn carriages to carry coal from the mines and was built in 1790. They found a bit of it right at the end of the last day. Nearby is the Big Pit coal mine. It is now the national coal museum and you can go down the mine. It's very interesting.

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Still on Anglesey standing in front of Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch station. It's the longest place name in the UK. Traditionally tourists would come here, buy a platform ticket and have their photograph taken in front of the station. Today everyone was standing in front of the gift shop and having their photo taken, not sure why. The village is close to the Britannia Bridge. Originally called Llanfair Pwllgwyngyll, which means St Mary Church by the pool near the White Hazels. With the arrival of the railway somebody came up with this long name as a tourist attraction. The long name means - St Mary's Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the church of St. Tysilio llantysilio with a red cave.It worked as a tourist attraction as people still travel here. The name was used in Barbarella as a password. There is another reason to visit though. The Marquess of Anglesey's column is nearby, from the top you can see Snowdonia.