SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 13TH - NEWPORT-BRECON-CARMARTHEN-WATERFORD,IRELAND

"Your journey through Wales takes you north along the Taff Valley and through Brecon an historical market town in the Brecon Beacons national park, to Carmarthen  and then to Fishguard. Cross St George's Channel to Rosslare in Ireland and proceed to Waterford, a stronghold founded by the Danish Viking in 853. After dinner, enjoy and Irish coffees demonstration."

GRANVILLE WATERFORD

  

Today was a glorious day and remained that way all day....im definitely bringing the sunshine with me!





The day was a "travelling" day, through the Taff valley in Wales to Fishguard where we caught the car ferry over to Ireland.

 

 

 

We went through, miles and miles and miles of the most beautiful lush green farming land, mainly hedges dividing the fields and narrow, winding roads lined up to 2 metres high with hedgerows. The photos really don't do the countryside justice!

 Our first brief stop was in Brecon a cute village.

 

 

 

Most of the shops were shut because it was Sunday morning but you could still see how quant they were....dragons everywhere!

  

 

 

...and of course the pubs have names that you would expect to see here!

 

 Many of the villages in this area were miners' cottages, joined in rows and often "2 up and 2 down"...2 rooms upstairs and 2 downstairs.

 

 Our next stop were a coffee was very welcome was Carmarthen. All villages here have not only a church and churchyard but also a memorial statue in a square commemorating those who died in wars.

Signage in Wales is in English and Welsh. I heard several people speaking welsh, and in this part of the country this is common. People in cafes and even in the street seem to be very friendly.
Many of the shops are very modern, and there is a Marks and Spencers in most towns.

 On to the ferry where we had a 3 hour trip over to Ireland. it is a typical car ferry, the bus rolls on, you go upstairs and sit in relative comfort, and watch the Irish sea go by!

 



PICK THE ODD ONE OUT!



..........HELLO TO IRELAND...
We were all pretty tired after the days travel. We reached the hotel which I might add has wonderful charm and is my favourite yet. A very large group of Irish supporters of "curling" were celebrating their team's victory (Waterford)...lovely to see so many families enjoying themselves!



JFK MEMORIAL APPARENTLY THE KENNEDYS LEFT WATERFORD IN THE LATE 1700"S FOR USA



THE SUIR RIVER (PRONOUNCED SEWER!)

My main excitement today was packing my socks in my suitcase that goes on the bus early. Resulting in me not having any socks to wear!
Henry asked me if I could wear my shoes without socks........what choice did I have I wonder? Lucky I hadn't packed my pants in the bag!!!
On our second stop I was able to race into a clothing store which by then had opened and I bought 5 pairs of socks for 4 pounds. Guess what everybody is getting for a souvenir?
Dinner was delicious, real home cooking, and spuds both baked and mashed! afterwards a demonstration of how to correctly make Irish coffee and a huge free coffee....I love this hotel!