Day 27 - Tuesday, July 9, 2024 - Holyhead, Wales

 

First sights of Holyhead Wales 

Our tour today began at 8:45 am.  We took the included tour of Anglesea.  The map shows where we started on the far left.on the map.  The island is approximately 25 miles east to west and 24 miles north to south and our bus covered most all of the island.  We went north to Cemaes and then turned east eventually crossing the Menai Strait (far right on the map in red).   There are two bridges there and we stopped to take pictures.   The juxtaposition of the cattle in the foreground and the newer  bridge in the background says a lot about this island, a separate island but still part of Wales (just not their mainland) connected only by these bridges.

Views from the bus as we headed north to Cemaes.  

This statute at the port is in honor of Captain John Skinner (1761) who moved from New Jersey to Holyhead.  He fought on the side of the British in the revolutionary war.  He became  a revered philanthropist, setting up the first soup kitchen of its kind.  He was eventually washed overboard from his own ship.  The people of Holyhead created this monument in his memory.

Scenes as we drove around the Isle of Anglesea 

Small fishing towns would pop up from nowhere.  This cemetery is right along side the road.

There are approximately 6,000 residents on Anglesea and more than 18,000 sheep.

The three standing stones date back to the Bronze Age.

The mounds, we were told, is evidence of glacial activity. Not hard to believe as far north as we are.

Driving along the coast at the north end of the island.

As we passed through this small town, this church was pointed out.  The blue glass in the window was made from Milk if Magnesia bottles.

The two bridges crossing the Menai Strait.  A very rough area for shipping due to the currents.meeting from east and west.

The Menai suspension bridge built in  the 1800's cut travel to 27 hours from Ireland to London.  It was first built as a railroad bridge and in the 1979's was rebuilt to include a road.

Prior to this bridge, farmers getting their cows to market had to make them swim across the strait.

The Britannia Bridge

Our last stop before we headed back to our ship.  We had 45 minutes to shop.  This store has EVERYTHING!  home goods, clothing, a cafe, typical tourist junk.  Definitely locals come to shop.  There is nowhere else to go.

The name of the town, on the top of the sign, yellow letters on red background is partially cut off.  This little town has the longest name of any town in Europe.  There's only one town with a longer name, in New Zealand.

I took several pictures at various points just trying to get the full name in the picture.

The words, underneath, are the English translation of the town's name.

Town Name:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch

Translation:  The church of St. Mary at the pool of the white hazels near the fierce whirlpool and the church of St. Tysillio of the Red Cave.

The locals abbreviate their town name as Llanfair PG.

I've been to almost all of these places on the sign post in the store in the town with the longest name.  And if not, may be, by next year!

I've heard of Victoria Sponge cake.  I never saw one before.  Had to take a picture.

Tonight's activities, trivia, and then a show of the Viking singers.doing a Beatles review 

Tomorrow Liverpool!