Conwy

[urbpan]

We drove up to Conwy (which we are assured is pronounced "conway") and found more castle-y stuff. What's up with that?




What's up with that is that Conwy has the most complete standing city walls in Europe. I have very little ability to understand British history, but suffice it to say, everyone was constantly killing everyone else. It seems that someone named Edward caused a lot of castles to be built in Wales in the 1200s, to protect some people from other people. It seemed to work pretty well, since here we are 800 years later and a lot of this stuff is still standing. The Conwy walls are 3/4 complete, making up almost a mile of wall, plus castle.


I love the fact that they have become rocky habitat for weeds and pigeons.




Nowadays it's pretty easy to come through the city wall.


In fact, you can drive right through--single file.


The best thing was when we realized we could actually go up onto the wall.


Rather nice view up there.


Morning rush hour in Conwy.


We spoke to a local merchant who suggested we go up on the wall. "You can look right down into people's gardens. Rather voyeuristic, really."


The railway and historic bridges are visible here.


Looking through the ancient window onto the present.




"Use the handrail, I invented it for a reason!"




A snapdragon enjoys the unfettered access to the sunlight (when there is sunlight).


A stunning view of the castle is probably wasted on these chimney-perched gulls.


At one corner of the city wall is the Smallest House in Great Britain.


The flag of Wales flies over the Carpark of Conwy.

Comments

[bdot.livejournal.com]

i love the fact that the woman in front of the smallest house is wearing a traditional welsh hat! was she in traditional dress for a reason, or do many women wear the hat?

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

She was there to draw people into paying a pound to stick their head into the house. That was the only hat like that I saw while I was there.