3 hours of quiet reflection taken up with wishing I could live in a place like Ireland. A place where the people are happy, trustful and all have a story to tell. A place where I felt at home, oddly, given the fact I'm of Scottish descent. I find myself yearning for the same peace in my heart when I arrive home.
From Holyhead, Anglesey Isle, thru Lush Welsh landscapes, although in the train we saw such fleeting beauty as we barrelled along towards Newport. Alighting at Newport, we found we had just 4 minutes to locate the platform, scramble with our luggage and board the train. Asking Welsh people for directions was useless, they either had no clue or couldn't understand what I was saying.. Excuse me, do you know the way to platform 4, being difficult to comprehend in an Aussie accent apparently. A businessman came to my rescue and with one minute to spare, we tumbled out of an old lift in time to board the First National to Country England.
Accommodation tonight was in Bristol, and in a Rooftop Rocket, a supercool caravan on the roof of an upmarket guest house in Central Bristol. The smallest place I've ever slept but fantastic views over the city. The noise from the nearby bar was easily shut out by closing the window. On our early morning walk we discovered it was the local Aussie Bar.. Should have guessed.
Bristol is a fast growing harbour city, gateway to Wales, and a University town. There was some great restaurants and bars along the harbour and a cool market area in the central district. Only one night here before moving on to Chippenham.
Although being in Chippenham before, it made for a great central location to do some sightseeing in the area. Stonehenge, wood henge, Avebury, Marlborough, Salisbury and the beautiful Cathedral, Bath, Castle Combe. It's still a pretty place, but one that's lost it's appeal for me now, the romance and mystique about the area replaced with other emotion.
Stonehenge has become incredibly commercialised. No longer does the road run by the stones, no more parking and crossing under the road to visit. There's a huge visitors centre miles down the road now, with buses and shuttles to take you to the Henge, a rope barrier surrounding it. It was a beautiful clear day, and my photos are clearer than last time, but that's about all I can say.. I was disappointed at the commercialism.
We spent a number of hours in Marlborough, a very old market town, and apparently is the burial ground of the Great Wizard Merlin according to the Latin inscription from the towns 14th century coat of arms.
Devizes and the locks of the River Kennet and Avon. We were lucky enough to watch the long boats navigating their way through 49 locks, created to deal with the steep slope if the river at that point, so joining the river from Bristol toLondon.
Cup of tea whilst watching the boats coast past silently.. A lovely restful afternoon.
Accommodation was another BnB through AirBnB. Private, comfortable, close by the railway station and centre if town and best of all had a washing machine..
Off on our final stop, London, after three nights in the country. And for once, I'm not sad to be leaving this part of the country.
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