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The ninth, tenth day 1st July(Friday), 2nd July(Saturday) click on the blue frame picture, you can enlarge it.today's course Betws-y-Coed --- Powis Castle --- Heathrow LONDON 19:45 (JAL 402) ----- TOKYO 15:30
today's distance 408ｋｍ today's pedometer 9,100steps
Bryn Bella Guest House
We greeted the beautiful view in the blue sky and the morning of the last of the trip in The Bryn Bella that was situated in Gwydyr Forest in Snowdonia National Park.
The houses of the town of Betws-y-Coed were seen below between a forest, and the blue mountains of Snodonia were seen at a great distance, too.
A lot of bird feeders and water holes were established in the front yard of the bed and breakfast. When various kinds of birds came in sequence, we enjoyed the figure and the cry.
One piece of windowpane of the dining room separated it and we could observe it with closeness of very front 30cm.
Birdfeeders and birdbaths were too many to be counted outside, on one hand much kind of stuffed animals took up space inside. That was amusing.
The animals occupied all spaces, corridor, steps, landing, floor, wall and ceiling, too.
BGM of the tone of the harp flowed through the dining, and it was restful. We enjoyed full breakfast that was the last in this trip.
The sound of Welish harp was so comfortable that I bought the CD sold at the house. (We usually buy a picture make us remember the beautiful view, but we didn't have a chance to buy one on this travel.)
I was pleased with both Betws-y-Coed and the B&B. Let's start final drive thinking that I'd like to stay here longer next time.
Wales
We drove on the accustomed road A5 to the west in Welish hilly terrain. Sometimes my husband stopped to take a bright rural view photo.
Our destination was Powis Castle we couldn't come by an incident last year.
Powis Castle
The year before, we had been scheduled to visit Powis Castle.
But we couldn't arrive there, because a lot of logs fallen down from the carrier of large vehicle interrupted our way at one kilometer point before the garden.
It is one of the most popular gardens among the National Trust properties, we had been longing to see it for long time.
We walked gentle slope for the castle, when a peacock family, four young birds and their mother, welcomed us on that way.
Their appearance made me remember ladies of great refinement in the ballroom once I had seen in the movies.
After a while we arrived the gate of the castle, which was known as the house of Powis that had been a small country in the middle Wales before conquered by England.
The gate and the castle were built of red brown that was deeper red than the Castle Coch (That means red castle.), which we had visited in South Wales the year before.
Both were dazzling in the bright sunshine. In the center of the front yard, a dynamic beautiful statue was blowing a horn riding on the Pegasus.
We stood on the second terrace, which was made in the considerable steep slope, the step with the first step was wide greatly. That was a large-scale terrace.
A frill partitioned off by a hedge to the wall ranged. The planting was some southern country-like, and there were many plants of the feeling of the opening.
As for another, a belt of the turf was on, but the view was distinguished without a special fence. Will it be England to expect distantly?
Many colorful tents were pitched in the open space under the terrace, and some event seemed to be performed.
I came across a surprising display. Spaces for hangings and containers on the wall were dug out. There were five places, too.
It protruded so that the pruning of the yew falls from the top and do seemed to protect a flower.
The hangings were made of fuchsia, the containers were of tropaeolum majus and the bottom of the wall was covered with silver grasses named Artemisia Powis Castle.
There was a statue on the green turf extended on the former terrace, and that was the statue of great power. The hedge of the yew of the force to be superior to it was wonderful.
I could look around the walled garden partitioned off with a hedge by the left of the open space from the lawn terrace. That was the second step.
I went down the tunnel of the yew on diving, the third step terrace.
The chief character of this terrace must be the statue of two women who were dancing with the melody that two young sheepherder was playing the flute.
The wonderful sight made us step on a step in a feeling of throbbing pulse overflowing figure unintentionally.
I saw them on an English garden magazine many years ago, since then I have been longing to meet them.
They seemed to invite me "Let's dance with us". I remained standing there in long time and danced in a heart together. That was the happiest time.
I admired the container of large Fuchsia that was one of the most favorite flowers.
The hedge of the second step yew was forceful and made me imagine The Moai in Easter Island.
We went down the forth terrace, lined the beautiful border garden, too.
In this border there were pastel color flowers. It seemed to make me active.
This color trainer was splendid. It was a cool feeling to forget heat for a while. All plants had a lot of flowers and grew in good conditions.
The shape of the castle from the forth terrace was magnificent.
The event in the open space didn't seem to begin yet. We went to the left and advanced toward the walled garden.
First, I was in the promenade of pretty and fragrant roses. The copper color trees on the left were the impressive accent.
There was a yew cave, which had an elegant bench in it, at the front of the promenade.
It appeared a pretty timber house. Someone must live in the house, because there were a pot and cup in the private garden.
I imagined an elegant life.
I found a secret zone at the point of the grape arch・・・・・・romantic atmosphere.
The action of little child brothers pleased to bathe in the spray of water of the fountain was pretty. They pretended not to notice when their mother called.
They seemed to be the same age with my grandson brothers.
It seemed to start the event in the lawn plaza. It came sound, too. In the center of the plaza a few people were dancing,
who were wearing the medieval costume.
The tempo of the music was so easy and gentle that the people in the costume looked graceful.
In the medieval age people dedicated their dancing to the king. That scene was re-created here to the king sitting at their front in the tent.
The people evoked the medieval daily life in the surrounding tent. I was interested in the woman lace working, who was removing some tiny pins according to the design note and hanging a reel of white cotton on the pin. She said it took two hours to make a little bookmarker.
There seemed to be woodland garden around the castle. We didn't have much time, so we gave up to walk the garden.
We ascended the terrace again. Though it was a steep long clime, I enjoyed the surrounding flowers and many interesting statues.
All flowers had their own nameplate, but I only wanted to surrender myself to the beauty of the flowers without research.
There were more particular flowers.
We met a smiling cute girl who was lifting a hen over her head. Her face was filled a beam of delight. She seemed to be as innocent as an Engel.
Opposite to her, the statue in front of the yew hedge was very weird, who was disposing of the snake, which had many heads.
On the third terrace it seemed to sound the music of flute by the shepherds. One shepherd's dog sitting at his feet seemed to listen his melody,
the other was dancing. The sight was amusing.
The skirts of dancing ladies fit the flute music were waving in the soft breeze, which seemed to call me together with them. The sheep sitting at her feet was looked up her cheerfully.
Finally the lady on the right held up the sheep into her arms. I felt the beauty of pulse and health from them.
Heathrow
Powis Castle met over our expectations. We enjoyed all things in the garden. We left the castle earlier than our plan after looking in the souvenir shop.
It began a long drive to The Heathrow Airport. It takes about 300 kilometers, three hours and a half.
My husband used to say that the long motorway drive makes him drowsy because of the monotonousness.
He drove for one hour and a half, then his eyes were heavy with sleep. He parked in the service area where he took fifteen minutes nap and refreshed himself by washing his face.
We arrived at Hertz office on schedule safely. For a short time we were over the proceeding about the rent-a-car, and we left for the airport by the shuttle-bus.
The value-added tax in Ireland is very expensive 20％. We had five documents for tax-free, so we stood in line for the proceeding.
After a while a customs officer came, checked our documents and said that our documents were perfect because of the payment by the credit card.
Only fifteen minutes were spent. It was very simple.
The necessary steps for emigration were all taken, we bought some souvenirs and two bottle of Scotch whiskey and went to The Seafood Bar where we are sure to have
tasty inshore seafood.
As we can eat raw oyster at the bar all the year around, late years we enjoy the last food there.
We ordered two half dozen oysters, seafood salad and a bottle of white wine. We had much time to taste every dish leisurely.
The oysters we had eaten in Kenmare were more delicious than here, but the salad was much tasty.
At that time the England versus Portugal quarterfinal football game in The World Cup was broadcasted. I couldn't catch my husband talk above the cheers by the people
watching the television. The audience gave a deep sigh of relief, I could catch the situation though I was far from the television.
It seemed to enter the penalty kick game. Three clerks who had fidgeted about the football game had gone to the place where he could watch the television.
Two remained of clerk bet on the winner.(I thought that was just like English.)
Portugal won 3-1. Somebody were excited at the victory of Portugal, others were downhearted at the defeat.
In the airport there were a lot of people from various countries, I understood.
After a while we were on flight and eleven hours later our plane landed at Narita safely. I realized my return at the moment I set the first step out of the plane.
It was hot and humid.
Watching the familiar view from the train window we took return home.
we thank all people we met on our trip.
Please look at our travel diary with many pictures
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