Friday's castle was an abbey. And caves.

[byslantedlight]

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?

Comments

[hagsrus.livejournal.com]

I'm enjoying your holiday, as usual!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Oh good! *g*

[cyanne]

I love the pictures, they're so ethereal. Glad you're having a good trip, you deserve it.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Thank you! *g* It does look rather ethereal with everything so misty. I must think of it like that, rather than "drizzly and wet"!

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

Amazingly beautiful places we went!
Thank you so much for taking me.
Looks very springy, all te green.

Looking forward to new adventures and have to look up that story, I don't think I kow it...

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Didn't we go to some fab places? And there are more in store for today, before heading back to the medieval banquet!

Here's Killing Notes - I remember not liking it as much as some of her other stories, but I'm enjoying it this time. *g*

[milomaus.livejournal.com]

You're a treasure! Thanks for the link!

Looking forward to our outing today!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Coming soon - I hope!

[heliophile-oxon.livejournal.com]

Either you always find amazing places, or you're an outstanding photographer ... or more likely, both! Beautiful and a biiiiiit eerie too *g*
Thank you for sharing your holiday with us :-)))))

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Aw, thank you - I do come across some fab places... *g* Thank you for coming with me!

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

Ooooh, that mist makes everything very atmospheric!
Monmouth sounds like a great place. What's not to love about a bookshop and an ice-cream cafe? They're the perfect places to escape a wet day when you're on hols.
The Nelson museum sounds interesting too. Maybe it will inspire an Age-of-Sail Pros fic... *vbg*

After being out and about yesterday, I'll be spending today playing with Photoshop. Good times!

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I do like a misty morning for photos.... *g*

I didn't get to the Nelson museum in the end, because I realised I'd better get to Hay on Wye or else miss out... and I was so close that I hated to miss out on that. My Age-of-Sail fic is still on my laptop, awaiting inspiration... *g*

:-)

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

RE: :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah now, if that had been Doyle... *g*

(Not that it isn't a perfectly good picture of Bodie - nicely done! )

Re: :-)

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

Ah, well, that would be tricky because Doyle's currently undercover as a pirate.

RE: Re: :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

Ah, now there's an interesting conflict... *g*

RE: Re: :-)

[loxleyprince.livejournal.com]

Icon!love :-)

[gilda-elise.livejournal.com]

Wow, such a lovely day! The abbey looks spectacular and the cave decidedly creepy. *g*

And happy reading anything by Ward! I love her work. Wouldn't it be glorious if she were to write more about the lads?

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It was a nice day - it's fun finding new things, no matter what they are. If there'd been no rain it would have been perfect!

The idea of Ellis Ward writing more Pros - how lush! *g*

[cim3745.livejournal.com]

Nice gloomy pictures, especially the cemetery. I like this kind of atmosphere. You were the only person visiting the Tintern Abbey ? There aren't any other people on the photo.
I have never heard about Hot Cross Buns and the special day for :-) thanks to wikipedia I am fully informed now.
Have a nice trip and I am looking forward to your next pictures.

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

I do like a good morning mist for photos... *g*

I wasn't anywhere near the only person visiting Tintern Abbey - but I did get there early enough that there weren't very many of us, so I got lucky. *g*

Hot Cross buns are for Good Friday - the cross! I never thought of it being a specific UK thing rather than a Christian thing, but I guess maybe it is then...?

And thank you!

[merentha13.livejournal.com]

Oh, it looks like you're having a lovely time - despite the weather. Thanks so much for posting all the beautiful pictures, it feels like I'm travelling along with you. Looking forward to the next "episode"! :-)

[byslantedlight.livejournal.com]

It's definitely a good break, despite the weather! And it didn't rain today after all, so that was an added bonus after yesterday! If I could get my dropbox pics to load, the next episode would be on its way.... Might have to be tomorrow morning though, if it doesn't get on with it - I'm getting sleepy now!

[ariss-tenoh.livejournal.com]

Enjoy yourself.

The abbey looks spooky. Love the soaring arches though.

[freetraveller15.livejournal.com]

Beautiful, atmospheric photos! So glad you're enjoying your holiday break. Thank you so much for your email. I'll reply soon, I'm travelling at the mo myself, with patchy internet access.
I love the Circestian abbey style very much. We've got plenty of abbeys or convents in that style in Italy and they're beautifully simple and elegant, and well preserved.
I was in Tintern Abbey about 15 years ago (with similar weather!) and loved it as well :)