One of the never-ending wonders of the trip was how compressed everything
is in terms of space.
We Americans are too used to our 'wide open spaces' where it can take
days to get from one area to another.
England's not like that at all, and yet it can be as different in a
space of miles as takes us hundreds to achieve. Wales is hardly more
than an hour away from Colehurst and Telford, yet another world.
One that stole my heart.
Portmeirion is perhaps most famous for hosting The Village from Patrick
McGoohan's seris The Prisoner, but it is a wonder in its
own right. Please visit the
Portmeirion Hotel site and
Virtual Portmeirion at
Portmeirion
-- proof that even a site of outstanding beauty need not be despoiled by
development.
and be amazed.
Portmeirion is near the coastal village of Porthmadog, which is the
site of these standing stones:
I passed these while driving up the coast to Beaumaris Castle, the last of the great fortifications built to subdue the Welsh. One of my ancestors was castellan there. It was the first of the major castles I visited, and truly an impressive sight!
That has to be the biggest horse chestnut I've ever seen. The
picture doesn't make it clear, but it was covered with thousands of blossoms.
Then we have the entry way to the castle:
From Portmeirion I drove south to Bontddu (Bon-thee) Hall. Either location provides an excellent base for touring Wales.
Bontddu Hall:
