England

Off to a late start this morning after sleeping in followed by the pressing need to wash some clothes.  Because of this we decided to spend another night here with Ton in Manchester and just make a day trip out to Wales in the afternoon.

It was raining heavily when we got to Wales so we didn't get to do the hikes we had planned and went instead to see Conwy Castle which dates from the 13th Century and was completed in the relatively short period of 8 years or so.  The ruin is quite extensive and very pretty while Conwy township itself was a walled town and much of the original wall is still standing.

With some time left and still pouring rain we decided to visit the town of Betws y Coed at the foot of the Snowdonia mountains, travelling by the backroads once again.  More spectacular green countryside straight from a coffee-table book.  Betws y Coed is a pretty little village though packed with tourists but when we stopped to buy some pastries for lunch I was delighted to be able to hear some women in the shop conversing in the lilting tones of the Welsh language.