Hey, not so fast, it's so green out there! Can't we stop for a snack?
This is the Wye River. We were headed to Hay-on-Wye, a small town on the river. The Wye River Valley is considered "an area of outstanding beauty", and it really is.
Here we are at Hay-on-Wye! Hey everyone! I'm hungry, now where is all the hay?
This is our hotel, the Swan. We came to Hay-on-Wye for a book festival for Tony's book. He had a big book signing. Did you know Hay-on-Wye is also known as the Town of Books...
This is our room, it used to be the coach house and stables! I felt right at home and so did the Girls...
This mound is actually an ancient moat area from an old castle that was right here in Hay-0n-Wye a thousand years ago! I can see this from our hotel room window!
We had a day off, so we headed out to see the sights! Most of the country roads have old hedges growing. They use hedges like we use fencing...
Sally and I particularly wanted to see the wild ponies that run free in this part of the country!Believe it, or not, these are actual Welsh Ponies! Sally was so excited and wanted to catch a few to take home, I convinced her it was better to see them in their natural habitat...
This is a family band with a stallion (the black pony in the center) and some mares with newborn foals! They were so cute!
What a beautiful place for these wild ponies to live!
This truly is a gorgeous area, it looks like a postcard.
After the ponies, it was off to see more sites. This is Tinturn Abbey, which was built in 1131! Alfred, Lord Tennyson wrote his poem, Tears, Idle Tears, in honor of this place. Tears, idle tears,
I know not what they mean,
Tears from the depth of some divine despair
Rise in the heart,
and gather to the eyes,
In looking on the happy autumn-fields,
And thinking of the days that are no more.
The next place was my favorite! Chepstow Castle, constructed in 1067! This place is huge!
Chepstow is the southern most castle on the English/Welsh border. William the Conqueror built part of the castle, he's the same guy who built the White Tower in the Tower of London. Those of you who read my blog know that I have already been there...
Now, this is what a castle should look like!
Here is the bathroom, the seats have holes in them that drop down to the river way, way down there! I was afraid I was going to fall in but Jill kept a strong grip on me...
The castle is way up on a cliff overlooking the Wye River.
I love the old windows...
This was a tower that originally had three stories.
I used caution going up the winding stairs, after all wouldn't want to get hurt!
Here is a chamber with a fireplace and painted plaster still on the walls.
This old door has holes for muskets and pistols to shoot through during the English Revolution. This castle was attacked many times over the centuries.
It has many parts to it with plenty of open ground in courtyards.
This was once the area where the King stayed. The windows up at the very top were the King's Chambers and bedroom.
More beautiful windows overlooking the cliff and the river...
Just like in Lord Tennyson's poem, I too think of the days that are no more... 
1 comment:
Wow! What a fabulous place to stay!!
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