Dianc i'r Wlad

While visiting Cardiff, we decided to escape to the country, or dianc i’r wlad.   

Our day long guided tour included many very narrow roads and off-the-beaten path sites.   Here are a few sites we visited in beautiful South Wales.  

St. Lythans Burial Chambers:  The region we visited is called the Vale of Glamorgan.  We stopped along the side of a narrow lane, walked through a hedgerow and ambled into a cow pasture.  At the top of a small hill, we spotted a burial site that predates Stonehenge.  The stones that comprise the chamber are large and heavy.  Surprisingly, they were somehow transported a long distance to this spot.  The how and why remain a mystery.  Check it out.  

The Bristol Channel:  Our tour included a drive along the coast of South Wales.  Across the wide and treacherous Bristol Channel, we could see England.  We heard stories of pirates and “breakers”, gangs who lured ships onto the rocks and stole cargo, leaving no witnesses.  We walked along the rugged coast and marveled at its beauty and amazing rock formations.

Plough and Barrow:  Our escape to the country included lunch at a pub in a small village.  The warm fire and wood smoke made for a cozy rest and the curried chicken was tasty and very spicy.  

Ewenny Priory:  All over South Wales, the ruins of former monasteries and priories can be found.  Most were ruined during the Dissolution of the Monasteries in the mid-1500’s.  One is Ewenny Priory.  Some of the buildings and surrounding walls were destroyed but the church was not.  The church has a long history, predating the Norman Invasion.  Below is a brief photographic tour of the church.  

Below is a photo of a Norman addition to the church.  When the painter J.M.W. Turner toured Wales, he painted many scenes, including the one below.  His painting also appears below.  

Transept of Ewenny Priory by J.M.W. Turner (1797)

 

Ogmore Castle:  Along with ruined monasteries, there are ruined castles in South Wales.  One is Ogmore Castle that was destroyed during the English Civil War in the mid-1600’s.  When we visited the ruins, the sky was gray and the air chilly, which made the experience seem more genuine.

Llanilltud:  in a small village, we discovered what can be considered the cradle of Christianity for Wales, Ireland and Scotland.  The site was once a religious college that taught priests who then traveled the country spreading the faith.  Most of the early buildings are gone, but the church and graveyard remain.  

Two features of the church were especially interesting.  The stone monuments pictured below are ancient.  

The other interesting feature are the walls of the church.  They were once painted with a variety of decoration, including religious images and symbols.  During the English Reformation, that decoration was deemed inappropriate and the walls were whitewashed.  Fortunately, the whitewash preserved the images which have now been uncovered through painstaking conservation.  Check it out.  

Thanks for joining another escape to the country.

Croeso i Gaerdydd

Our travels have brought us to Cardiff in Wales.  We have never visited Wales before but are happy to explore and learn more.  

Upon crossing the border into Wales, the first thing we noticed are all the signs are in Welsh and English, like the one below. 

Naturally, we strolled around the city to get oriented and to get a feel for the place.  We saw Cardiff Castle and the National Museum of Wales (pictures below).

On a whim, we decided to visit the museum and we are so happy we did.  The museum’s art collection is impressive.  Here is a photographic tour of some highlights from the collection.  We hope you enjoy it as much as we did.  

The painting below is well known in Wales.  It represents steadfast resistance to the elimination of Welsh language and culture. 

As we made our way through the museum, we turned a corner and were amazed by a collection of modern art par excellence. 

Two paintings of Venice by Claude Monet illustrated the versatility of his unique painting style, as did two his Water Lilies.  

Greg was especially happy to see a work by one of his favorite artists.  

We are very happy to be in Wales.  Thanks for joining us. 

More Strolling in Bristol

Bristol is known for many things, one of which is street art.  So, we took a guided tour which focused, in part, on street art.  Below is a sampling of what we saw.  

  

  

 

One of the street artists active in Bristol is well-known and is a Bristol native.  Below are two Banksy’s.  The first is known as The Well-Hung Lover and is located on a building near the center of the city.  

Another Bansky has been preserved in a Bristol museum.  

During our tour, we also spotted some unique and lovely architecture, including some Art Nouveau and Italian Renaissance.  

Below is the former watering hole of Blackbeard, an infamous Bristol native.  

We even spotted a unicorn atop city hall. 

Thanks for viewing Bristol street art and architecture with us.