Monday – St. Davids and Solva

Tuis in New Zealand are ringdoves in Wales. The pushy curring wakes us up already very early in the morning. It’s so nice to be on holiday! We just turn around in our bed and sleep on. By travelling to Wales we changed back to winter time, the clock is one hour back. We very soon got used to that time change – no jetlag at all.

It rained during the night, now the sun comes out again. Outside it is warmer than in our cottage. Today is a day for culture, we want to visit St. Davids with its cathedral and the bishop’s palace, and afterwards a detour to a wool mill in Solva. We also hope to find a cash machine in Solva accepting our bank cards.

The trip to the smallest cathedral town of the United Kingdom is worth it due to several aspects. The bishop’s palace is no more than a ruin but there is enough left of the building to give a good impression of the original grandiosity. We carefully climb up the unbelievably narrow spiral staircase to the highest tower, with spectacular views across the whole area and over to the cathedral. I still pity the wretched servants who were obliged to climb up and down this stairs all the day.

Our second success we have when strolling through the little town. The cash machine in front of Lloyds Bank has absolutely no problem to accept our bank cards – we finally got cash we at once transfer into some delicious icecream.

At last the visit to St. Davids Cathedral. Even if you think you have already seen enough large churches – I urgently recommend to invest the two pounds fee for the right to take photos. The ceiling is worth it! Due to an earthquake and other reasons the ground lowered on one side so now you go uphill to the other end of the building. Statics do not allow a stone ceiling, they installed a wooden ceiling from Irish oak, painted in beautiful colours and decorated with ornate carvings. It goes on and on through even another door, new photo motives wait behind every passage. The central show-piece is of course St. David’s tomb, renovated only in 2012 and polished to high gloss. I can now understand why this place has been and still is a popular aim for pilgrims.

In the late afternoon we make our detour to the wool mill in Solva. Besides coal mining the wool industry has been one of the largest lines of business in Wales though nowadays there are only a few original wool mills left, it was all turned into large factories. There is a nice café in Solva wool mill and of course a little shop where they sell their own products. The mill mainly produces carpets but they also offer table runners and cushion sheets. Beautiful things which unfortunately not at all fit into our furnishings.

Back in the cottage we install ourselves in the cosy conservatory. Yesterday it was the cat to say hello here, today two chicken look curiously through the open door. Life in the countryside!