Our next destination was Wales via Heysham to find the church where my parents got married.
St Peter’s dates back to the 13th century, although it’s believed a church in some form has been on the site from the 8th century. Around the side of the church there are some impressive medieval coffins carved into the sandstone. It’s in a beautiful spot on the bay and as usual for England we had lovely weather (seriously). Great choice mum & dad! 
It was sweet to think I was in the same place as my parents on such a happy day for them. Mum tells me that Dad was wearing an apricot coloured shirt to match the apricot coloured flowers in her bouquet, how delightful!
We arrived in Conwy, Wales just in time for a quick visit to Conwy Castle. It was perfect timing as we had the most spectacular sunset (at just after 3pm) and no-one was around – another reason why I like to travel in the off season. Conwy Castle was built by Edward I in 1283 and is incredibly impressive and well preserved. He sounded like a bit of an arse but he can sure build a castle!
Queen of the castle!
I’d never been to Wales and to be honest didn’t know much about it, I was pleasantly surprised to hear so many people speaking Welsh. I had heard it was a dying language but people all around us were conversing fluently, there was even a TV channel all in Welsh. It’s such a funny looking language, vowels don’t rate highly. According to my trusty google translate, ‘I’ll have a beer please’ is ‘Bydd gen i cwrw, os gwelwch yn dda’.
The next day we went to Snowdonia, which sounds like a ski themed adventure park but it’s actually a large national park. The scenery here was different yet again. Sharp and imposing slate cliffs which were accentuated by the dramatic eerie mist. We went for a beautiful walk around Llyn Ogwen where I half expected dragons to come swooping down from the mountains… maybe I have been watching too much Game of Thrones.
I could have easily spent more time in Wales but gingerbread and mulled wine were waiting for me in Europe.
The Bon Vivant 
11 thoughts on “Beth yw castell drawiadol!”
Anthea Harris
i can’t translate your title! Ever the castle…?? You have graveyards full of Hughes ancestors in Conwy – just impossible to tell which ones as they all have the same names. Also some on the Harris side but not that name. So they were maybe calling to you.
I feel old but special in a nice way that you looked back on our life. We walked from Morecambe to Heysham most Sundays, along the beachfront, so it was a logical choice. fascinated by the graves and that there are still no answers. xx
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mondeuseandmountains
‘What an impressive castle’ Highly likely it’s incorrect 😉
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Meg Morgan
Hi Emily, we do enjoy your commentaries, we feel like we are there. We will have to get our travel agent to organise a trip ! If she ever comes home!
Gee your parents looked young.
Meg
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mondeuseandmountains
Hi Meg, thanks for your lovely comment, I’ve been a bit slack but now we are a bit settled I’ll get up to date. My parents were 21 when they got married, seems very young to me! Xx
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Letitia McCubbin
How much do you look like your mum in that photo? We spent about as much time as you did in Wales. Not enough.
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mondeuseandmountains
Yeah she is pretty cute 😜
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Amity Hunter
Love that you got to stand right where your parents got married! Hope you got a picture standing there with Andrew too? 🙂
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Steve & Jess
Wishing you both a Happy New Year and continue your safe travels into Europe. All your photos of Britain bring back fond memories.
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mondeuseandmountains
Thanks Steve & Jess! I’m my thrilled my blog brings back lovely memories of the UK for you, we have had such a great time so far. Happy new year to you both x
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Flora
Happy New Year Emily to you both. Am enjoying your posts. Gosh you so do look like your mum. Continue to enjoy and post.
Flora. xx
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mondeuseandmountains
Thanks for your encouragement Flora! I should be able to write more frequently now we are settled in Annecy. Did you go away in the end? X
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