A Castle In Shambles In Mumbles.

Aug 31, 2012

You can see ALL of today's photos - look for the link at the bottom of this post.

I'm writing from Hamburg where we will spend the next week exploring this city and visiting my nephew, Kris, and his wife, Mirjam and their two girls, Jona and Maya. Wales is now behind us but not forgotten. It was a magical week spent with good friends in a very special place. Ann and Alex stayed behind but they leave for the States in a day or so. Jane and Mark flew back to New York yesterday. Stacey and I travelled on to Germany.

The last few days in Wales were varied and rewarding. On Day Two we did what became a usual routine:  breakfast at one of the beach cafés. These breakfasts have been variations on the full English breakfast,i.e. eggs, bacon or sausage, roasted tomato, toast, coffee (which has been excellent here) and then, to work off those calories, a long walk on the beach path. This time we headed into the nearby town of Mumbles. We were off to see the restored ruins of a Norman castle and then explore the sweet shopping street that comprises the center of the town. Mumbles is just a hop and skip away from the larger city of Swansee but has its own small-town flavor.

Alex orders breakfast. "Well send it to your table."

Mumbles is a lovely little Welsh seashore village. Small and neat houses are spread out on a hill with the bay and shopping street down below. In the distance, Oystermouth Castle, a Norman stronghold built in the 12th century.

Back street of Mumbles with Oystermouth Castle in the distance.
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Newton Road, the main shopping strip in Mumbles.

Oystermouth Castle overlooks Mumbles.

The castle overlooks Mumbles Bay and the town of the same name.

The castle had a commanding view of the town and bay, but the short film shown inside said that at the time of its construction in the 1100's the bay was much lower in level and thus, further away than it is now and that trees obscured any view of the water. 

We climbed the parapets of the restored ruin and took in the views. And we stopped to shoot some photos of historic characters. 

Two Norman lassies and their bodyguard,
L-R: Anastasia The Fair, Janetha The Short and Anndrewth The Flamboyant.

Marcus The Magnificent.

A group self-portrait.

After the castle, we strolled the streets of the town ducking into this store and that to check the wares. 

Heading back home after a day in Mumbles.

My next post marks the end of our Wales trip - a visit to Janie's cousin in the interior of Wales and a National Trust historic house. After that, we're off to Hamburg and a week in Germany. Please come along with us.  - Matt

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