Not much to write about today as I slept on and off most of the way from Cornwall to Wales. I did see a funny sign for an establishment before we left Cornwall—Penland Eating House & Garage. Interesting combination.
We passed by the Forest of Dean, mentioned in Harry Potter and near where J. K. Rowling grew up. At one point I woke up to see a line of sheep walking across an overhead bridge over the highway! There were weird clouds in the sky as we neared Wales—circular and looking very much like they could be hiding spaceships in them. Several times today I saw birds just hanging out over the highway in midair. Flapping their wings furiously but not moving an inch.
The winds that were here on Monday and Tuesday at 100mph are still here but not quite as strong. In Cornwall there were town names such as Tregadillett, and as we drove further north there was a Weston-under-Lizard, but now that we are in Wales, we have names such as Yr Wyddgrug, Ffynnongroyw, and Abergwyngregyn. And one town with the unfortunate name of Tal-y-bont.
We arrived in Beaumaris on Anglesey Island and checked into the Bulkeley Hotel (c. 1829) right near the castle then had lunch in the Bistro. This hotel has a lot of history. In 1829, Sir Richard Buckeley got a request from Buckingham Palace asking if he could accommodate a future queen of England on a state visit to Beaumaris. He said that he would be delighted to do so, when is she coming? The reply was that she would actually be coming to visit in 1832! He replied that he would be delighted to accommodate her and for that visit would build a house especially for the occasion, a beach villa in effect, so that is what he did, which is now known as the Buckeley Hotel. In doing so, he demolished all 450 houses on the Beaumaris green, which didn’t make him very popular with the local residents.
The planned visit of Princess Victoria was to be on August 8, 1832. But as she was coming across the Brittania Bridge, Lord Anglesey, who was angry that he hadn’t been included in any of the plans, approached the Queen on horseback and told a lie about there being smallpox in Beaumaris. He offered to let her stay at his humble abode, which she did and greeted all her guests there at Plas Newydd.
Four years later, as Queen Victoria, she learned of the lie and retraced her footsteps and stayed here in Room 104 over the revolving doors with a great view of the sea.
This hotel is reputed to have ghosts. One is called George and frequents the area around Room 211—we are in Room 215 right down the hall. He has been heard to call out a lady’s name with great sadness, perhaps an unrequited love. He is sad but amiable, it is said. There is another ghost of a young poor girl in the cellar, maybe a former servant here at the hotel. She appears on Saturday evenings and is heard laughing in a flirtatious manner.
We walked down the main street and saw a building with a sign that said it was one of the oldest buildings in Great Britain, built in about 1400.
Afterward we went to tour Beaumaris Castle. The History of Beaumaris Castle dates back to 1295 when its construction was commissioned by King Edward I. Beaumaris Castle was the last of the great Welsh castles to be built for King Edward I and was built to palatial standards with five separate royal suites. The name Beaumaris means 'Beautiful Marsh' and originates from the location of the castle site which is on marshy ground. The castle was a massive stronghold and able to withhold any sieges - it has fourteen successive barriers between the curtain wall and the inner bailey. Beaumaris Castle was used by the Royalists during the English Civil War in 1642. The building of the concentric castle was never completed as they ran out of funds and stopped construction in 1320. I loved walking on the ramparts and up and down the circular staircases to explore the round towers and look out at the Snowdonia Mountains and the fast approaching high tide on the shore. Dinner tonight was bought from the Spar grocer down the road as I just wanted a snack. Bread with jam and butter. Looking forward to seeing more of Wales tomorrow.
P.S. For about 2 hours this evening, the church bells in town went crazy, ringing constantly. It made me wonder if someone got married. There is a seagull with a nest in the chimney right across the street. But the weirdest thing happened at 9pm. Now it is still very sunny here at 9. We are staying in a corner room and I looked out the window looking onto Castle Street and the sun was shining brightly, the air was warm, the winds had died down, and it looked like a lovely evening. I walked into the bathroom with the other huge window and the wind is howling, it is raining, and cold and dark. What is this? Ray says it's because he is sitting closer to the bathroom. Could be.
I did walk down the hall to find Room 211. It is across from the elevator and I told "George" that it was okay if he wanted to appear this evening. I also found the Queen's room--the Regent Suite.
Pictures of Beaumaris Castle.
