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.

Isle of Anglesey

Flown over to Anglesey, or Ynys Mon in Welsh. Its just a short journey from Caernarfon, I could have glided over from the top of the castle. It's the sixth largest island around Great Britain and very nice it is too. First place I went was Beaumaris in the east of the island. A nice town with another of Edward I's castles. This one is a world heritage site. In the photograph you can see the Menai Strait and the Menai Suspension Bridge. The Menai Strait is narrow but has strong currents and whirlpools, so best use a bridge (or fly like me!. The suspension bridge is by Thomas Telford and was finished in 1826. A mile away is the Britannia Bridge. Originally by Robert Stephenson and completed in 1850, wait 1000 years for a bridge and two come along at once. It caught fire in 1970 and was rebuilt, opening in 1980.

Caernarfon Castle II

Another photo in Caernarfon Castle. On one of the towers here. The castle sits on the banks of the River Seiont and looks out over the Menai Strait towards Anglesey. It has polygonal towers rather than round ones. It never was finished. Of the two gates the Kings Gate was never finished and now has a glass barrier where you can look out at the town below.

Caernarfon Castle

Here I am at Caernarfon Castle. Lots of seagulls here so have decided to swoop down on a couple of unsuspecting ones. Caernarfon is in Gwynedd in north Wales. It's a large impressive castle. King Edward I started building the castle in 1283, I'm sure he had help otherwise he would still be building it. It is one of several castles he built (yes definitely he got some builders in) to establish English control over Wales (boo!!!). It was sacked in 1294 by Madog ap Llywelyn (hooray!! I could have helped with the fire). The English retook the town the following year (boo!) and started rebuilding.

Snowdonia

On my way to Caernarfon. Decided to stop here and have my photo taken with this lovely view. The lake behind me is Llynnau Mymbyr. It's about 3/4 of a mile long. A delta has built up and cut the lake in two, so it's two lakes. It isn't far from here to Mount Snowdon.