Friday's castle was an abbey. And caves.
Well, this feels a bit like back to me... *g*
This morning was a misty-moisty morning at the castle...
But it was off to Tintern Abbey anyway, for a wee wander by myself, and then a guided tour because one was starting quite handily. It turned out to be brilliant - led by a French chap who knew all the best interesting things to tell us!
He told us a little bit about the Cistercian monks (who broke away from the Benedictines), and that Tintern was the second Cistercian abbey to be founded, because the first had been so successful (they were trying to get away from the worldliness that the Benedictines had fallen into). Then we found out about things like the holes in the walls being used to support scaffolding one level at a time, to save on wood, and all sorts... *g*
Had a wander around Tintern, where it was drizzling pretty solidly at last, and then headed for Clearwell Caves, which would at least be an indoor (sort of!) attraction. And quite cool they were too - ancient mine workings...
...with a sideline in prehistoric cave-pool-dwellers... *g*,
Above ground, everything was bright green with moss and shabby-chic iron working vehicles and the like. *g*
It was still early, so I headed to Monmouth - but things were closed, so I wandered, found a bookshop, found an ice-cream cafe... *g*
...and then headed back to the YHA via a drive around - back into England, then to Wales again, then...
...and all sorts of interesting roads, such as this single-track bridge. I'm a bit peeved to see that the oncoming van encroached on my photo though - it appeared after I thought I'd taken it!
And now I'm ensconsed in the Chapel again, on the same comfy couch. For ages it was just me, although the YHA had got busier in general (including in my dorm - there were five of us when I last knew), but gradually people came in... but it's nice and cosy and cheerful. One family (of grandparents and wee kiddie, I think) even brought in an Easter bunny and a bunch of daffodils! Which confuses me a little, to be honest, cos I'm still on Good Friday, and I bought Hot Cross Buns on purpose - although they're for breakfast tomorrow, so really I did miss the right day...
Anyway - tomorrow's rain too, so I shall see how I feel about the rainy day options on offer and decide on plans then. One possibility is a museum that seems to be about Nelson, in which case I suspect there will be more gelato, which is a holiday thing that makes me happy... *g*
Also happy-making is that I'm re-reading Ellis Ward's Killing Notes, and it feels so good to be with our lads again! Maybe there'll be more of that too. *g*
How're you doing?
This morning was a misty-moisty morning at the castle...
But it was off to Tintern Abbey anyway, for a wee wander by myself, and then a guided tour because one was starting quite handily. It turned out to be brilliant - led by a French chap who knew all the best interesting things to tell us!
He told us a little bit about the Cistercian monks (who broke away from the Benedictines), and that Tintern was the second Cistercian abbey to be founded, because the first had been so successful (they were trying to get away from the worldliness that the Benedictines had fallen into). Then we found out about things like the holes in the walls being used to support scaffolding one level at a time, to save on wood, and all sorts... *g*
Had a wander around Tintern, where it was drizzling pretty solidly at last, and then headed for Clearwell Caves, which would at least be an indoor (sort of!) attraction. And quite cool they were too - ancient mine workings...
...with a sideline in prehistoric cave-pool-dwellers... *g*,
Above ground, everything was bright green with moss and shabby-chic iron working vehicles and the like. *g*
It was still early, so I headed to Monmouth - but things were closed, so I wandered, found a bookshop, found an ice-cream cafe... *g*
...and then headed back to the YHA via a drive around - back into England, then to Wales again, then...
...and all sorts of interesting roads, such as this single-track bridge. I'm a bit peeved to see that the oncoming van encroached on my photo though - it appeared after I thought I'd taken it!
And now I'm ensconsed in the Chapel again, on the same comfy couch. For ages it was just me, although the YHA had got busier in general (including in my dorm - there were five of us when I last knew), but gradually people came in... but it's nice and cosy and cheerful. One family (of grandparents and wee kiddie, I think) even brought in an Easter bunny and a bunch of daffodils! Which confuses me a little, to be honest, cos I'm still on Good Friday, and I bought Hot Cross Buns on purpose - although they're for breakfast tomorrow, so really I did miss the right day...
Anyway - tomorrow's rain too, so I shall see how I feel about the rainy day options on offer and decide on plans then. One possibility is a museum that seems to be about Nelson, in which case I suspect there will be more gelato, which is a holiday thing that makes me happy... *g*
Also happy-making is that I'm re-reading Ellis Ward's Killing Notes, and it feels so good to be with our lads again! Maybe there'll be more of that too. *g*
How're you doing?