Ferries and Wales

We got up super early this morning to catch the ferry to Wales.  We were driving through downtown Dublin when the bus started developing problems.  Ray couldn't shift into 3rd gear, and the coach kept stalling.  At one point we pulled over and the coach actually quit.  I kept thinking about what we were going to do if we missed the ferry.  Ray pulled it off, though, and we made it to the pier in plenty of time.  We boarded the ferry and commandeered the very back of the ship for our delegation.  It was very nice because the kids could all stretch out and sleep.  

Goodbye Ireland!

Yes, that is a teddy bear in his arms. 

The ferry ride was uneventful, and after about three hours we found ourselves in Holyhead, Wales.  (Harry Potter reference....remember the Holyhead Harpies Quidditch team?).  We had lunch at a pub that looked like what I have always pictured English or Welsh pubs to look like....lots of dark paneling.  Very charming.  Lunch was ham, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and these little fried potato balls that were very good.  I was asking the cook/ owner how to make them, and apparently the secret is lots of really good duck fat to roll them in....it makes them nice and crispy.  

After lunch we had a short lesson in Welsh, none of which I remember except that hello is the same in Welsh as it is in English.  We then headed up the road to Caernarfon and Caernarfon Castle, which was completely huge and remarkably well-preserved.  Of course, since this is a People to People trip, we didn't actually get to go into the castle but we walked around the outside and marveled at it.  (Fun fact of the day....Wales is the home to 614 castles.  Someday I am going to do a castle tour of Wales.)

We also stopped at Llanfairpwllgwngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, which is a train station in Wales.  It has the longest station name in the world.  We stamped our passports and continued on our way.  

We had supper at a really cute little B&B up the road, and then the kids had their first part of their Full On experience.  We broke boards with our hands tonight.  I am amazing.  Tomorrow we rappel (or abseil, as they call it here) down a castle wall.  I'm freaking out a little bit.  

Wish me luck.