3/16/12

GOOD MORNING. awesome morning. superior am.  ran to the other side of the bay, yoga in the middle. rock hunting on the beach.  and another delicious breakfast.

leaving Wales....

waiting for the bus to leave Llanduno

First stop outside of Wales, across the border...boo.  But really quite interesting despite the switch.

IRON BRIDGE and Coalbrookdale

on the bridge!

..in order to expand the future, it is vital to know where we come from...

This is a World Heritage site marking the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.  This is the world's first iron brindge built in 1779AD in the town of Coalbrookdale.  This bridge is visited by foreign businessmen and locals alike.

Off to Much Wenlock for some proper tea:)

This little nugget of a town was perfect to get lost in.  Wandering the streets each nook was filled with interesting bits and pieces of daily life, my favorite. So pleased to have lunch at the Copper Kettle and soak it all in.  Just a few bits of the secrets I discovered...

this was by far, the most amazing lunch I'd had.  stilton cheese, cheddar and a ploughman's lunch. pickled onion and pickle, tea, bread, salad...mouth watering and such a quaint table.

OXFORD

Oxford/Hogwarts-home for a night.

Here's where Oxford students take their final exams after years of study at the university.  It's often said students take extra pencils in, put them up their nose, then slam their heads on the desks to commit suicide if they feel they aren't passing the exams.  The price of education, eh?

Ole Rose Cider-tastes like old apples and a grandma's blanket. Definitely not my favorite...but was enjoying it in the oldest tavern in Oxford, something along the lines of 1300AD.  Most notably short ceilings and awful brews.

The next two pics are from the Eagle and Child, a local pub where C.S. Lewis and Tolken often drank and discussed.  how interesting one a believer and another an atheist.  best beer i've had in ten days...final found myself a coffee stout:)

Brits are particular about their grass.  I'm particularly not. Evidence.

rainy morning means no run. just my luck i was placed in the water conservation dorm...i.e. only tubs, no showers.  can't remember the last time i took a bath?

Oh Oxford, brief and fleeting, yet just the taste of Hogwarts I needed. I'm still waiting on my invitation...

w.8

secrets wait but i know mine

for i keep them close and buried

thoughts and obsessions that define me

confining my heart in a prison left unlocked

free to explore the cold corners

warmed sprites waltz among the stones

time left on the corner

time left to trounce along a melody

beat

       by

                 beat

tapping

drumming

pounding

a placid lake poured out

my reflection altered

trickling rippling changing

on the surface, but there is something to be said

for. going. under.

3/15/12
Llandudno(city by the sea)

 The Grand Hotel in Llandudno on an early morning run.  Headed out for a big hike today in Snowdonia National Park, but the legs were getting antsy.  Plus I'm far more managable once I've gotten my exercise...and a cup of tea.  I'm extremely partial to the silence in the morning.  This hotel was so stately, it covered the quiet garden tucked on the cliff behind.  Another bonus of traveling on my own time...secret gardens.

Cruised by this pier just past the Grand Hotel.  Some great arm of entertainment stalled in the sea.  The average age of this town is most definiely 103.  Not sure how down they get on the boardwalk, but I'm sure its enjoyable.  Almost lost the battle with a huge seagull this a.m. Today's run was one of my favorites.  Long, quiet and cool.  And it feels good to feel fast.

Found these nifty stairs in a back alley this am...two granny's having breakfast and gossip at the bottom.  Or was it gossip? May have very well been contemplating the dire disarray of the world and how to fix our incessant idiotic ways...? tea solves all.

<BREAKFAST TIME AND IM STARVING>

Finally! Vegetarian Sausages, browns, grilled tomato, fresk pressed grapefruit juice, boiled eggs, brown toast, tea and coffee.  Perfect re/fuel for Snowdonia. 

On to Great Orme: Home of the world's largest known Bronze Age copper mine.

This place was great.  The gentleman who showed us around owned the site.  He was one of the original archeaologists to discover this site and he's been here since he was 18.  Raised his kids on this site, spends his day in and out of hte tunnels...so great.  My favorite part about this site was that is was  completely localized.  He has spent the entire second half of his life dedicated to this site. A true passion and it showed.  What a great way to spend life doing what you loved and finding how to share it with the world. 

Tiny little passageways.  Awesome rad green helmet.

SNOWDONIA NATIONAL PARK!!!

Crocs and Socks on top...word.

Notice tiny winding trail I followed...awesome.  The rest of the pictures describe themselves but here's captions in a nutshell... cold, damp, isolated. Steep.  Hanging out...literally...get it?!? Can't keep me out of the water. I like flowers, I love thorns. Creme Brulee and HoneyComb icecream was by far the best thing to hit my lips since brunch at Sabrina's with my girls.  Miss my girls.

Fin.

W.7

but you should be here.

you aren't so i'll keep it.

              keep safe and save this moment just

          for

       us

on the days when the sun can't shine and the silver lining fades

i'll have this moment tucked away

find it.

       i'll share

i'll move the memories to melt the evergrowing icecap

the chaos seeping in, the echos of nevers

and maybes

deep to reach, even deeper to shine because that's what we do

but not here, not today

today this is mine. but i'm saving it for you.

greens melt into another and blues fade to the mist

that hangs so heavy, hiding the beauty and creating its own

tumble tumble tumble before me

rock hard truths i can not ignore

                          where do i Go? who am i now? a barn owl's night

       wish you were here.

brisk freedom whips around me

tangles my hair, stay there                        live there

                 

                                            i'll keep this escape tucked near

close enough to whisper to my bones

disappear?

a moment i'll Keep.

           

           but you should Be here.