Chapter 8 - Merlin Lives

Every day I am in Wales I seem to grow more and more fond of it, and today was no exception to that rule. This morning started off at the same B&B with an amazing sunrise, not a cloud to be seen! We got ready for the day and then went down for breakfast (the same as yesterday's breakfast). Irene picked us up at 9 am, we checked out of the B&B, said goodbye and thank you to Gill, and we started off toward Caernarfon. Our nights accommodation for tonight is at the Black Boy Inn, who was named after a slave that was freed in Wales in the 16th century (the Welsh didn't believe in slavery). After he was freed he became prominent enough that he could donate 8 pence a year, or something like that, to the slaves and poor of the area. This Inn was built originally in the 16th century and then refurbished recently into a pub and Inn. It is inside the ancient wall and down the street from the medieval castle here.

Anyway, after we dropped our bags off, we made our way down the hill towards the train depot. My mother and I had tickets to take a steam engine through the Welsh Countryside and the Mountains of Snowdonia to the small village of Beddgelert. It was my first time on a steam engine and was a great time. I got a locally brewed beer and enjoyed the scenery as we chugged along.

Once we arrived in Beddgelert (Irene met us there with the car), we were told the story of the town. Prince Llewelyn (the prince I was trying to remember yesterday (and he was the last Prince of Wales that was actually Welsh) (and his wife's name was Joan, and it was her sarcophagus that we saw!)) had a Palace at Beddgelert. One day he went hunting without Gelert, "the Faithful Hound", who was unaccountably absent. On Llewelyn's return, the truant stained and smeared with blood, joyfully sprang to meet his master. The Prince, alarmed, hastened to find his son and saw the Infant's cot empty, the bedclothes and floor covered with blood. The frantic father plunged his sword into the hound's side thinking it had killed his heir. The dog's dying yell was answered by a child's cry. Llewelyn searched and discovered his boy unharmed, but nearby lay the body of a mighty wolf which Gelert had slain. The Prince, filled with re-morse, is said never to have smiled again. He burried Gelert here. The spot is called Beddgelert. It is a beautiful town on the river, and the grave site of Gelert is a very sad site. There were many dogs in the town, all of whom were 'paying their respects' to Gelert, a god in the doggy world. On a lighter note, we stopped at an ice cream parlor here and had some of the most amazing ice cream I've ever had, and when I say that you can take it to the bank, I know good ice cream!

Now before I move on, I've finally reached the title of the chapter. Now anyone who knows me well, knows that I really like movies, stories, TV series (yes most of you are thinking of Merlin which will always be one of my favorites!) and anything else about the legends of Arthur and his knights. Well, it just so happens that I've found the home of the legend! While I was learning about the story of Beddgelert, there was another legend in the same book. A legend that discussed why the Red Dragon is the official image of Wales. It has to do with Merlin... "Two great fire-breathing dragons, one red, the other white, are said to have fout at Dinas Emrys at the time of Merlin. King Vortigen built a castle at Dinas Emrys, but as soon as its walls were built, they would fall down. the two feuding dragons were trapped in a pool beneath the castle foundations and as they fought, they shook the castle walls to the ground. With Merlin's help, Vortigen released the dragons and they fought a mighty battle among the mountain peaks filling the winter skies with fire. The battle was fierce, but the red dragon rallied and sent the white dragon reeling into the dark skies in a fiery balze, never to be seen again. Since then, the triumphant red dragon has been the emblem of Wales, often marking its struggle for recognition as an independent nation". That page was followed by, "Snowdonia abounds with stories about King Arthur. One of these tells of his death in a great battle above Dinas Emrys. Arthur and his men marched through the mountains to meet his enemies at Tregalan. the armies joined in bloody battle among the steep cliffs and jagged rocks. As Arthur drove them out of their mountain stronghold and pursued them down the mountain, he was caught in a hail of arrow andd was killed. The area is now called Bwlch y Saethau (Pass of the Arrows) in memory of this event. Now even though I didn't go to Dinas Emrys, I know I was close to it and its something that I will be sure to see next time I visit Wales!

Moving on, after Beddgelert, we drove to the seaside town of Criccieth and visited another castle there. It was up on a cliff and had views of the beach and surrounding area. We toured the ruins for a bit, and then continued on to Portmeirion, built by Sir Clough Williams-Ellis in 1925. It was extremely unique, and very hard to describe. There was about 70 acres full of every kind of tree from all over the world that we walked around for a while.

Afterwards, we returned to the Black Boy Inn and had some dinner (which was delicious). Then had a walk around Caernarfon and visited the outside of the castle again, this time at night while it was lit up with spot lights. It was the first castle I saw and still my favorite, although all of the castles I saw had something about them that is my 'favorite'.

Tomorrow marks the last day I have in Wales and I will be extremely sad to leave. This country completely took me by surprise and it seriously is the greatest kept secret of Europe. I will miss it until I return. But, with sadness also comes great excitement tomorrow; for tomorrow marks the day I fulfill a childhood dream. Tomorrow evening, I will be taking yet another train to one of the greatest cities in the world, London! Until then...