And we're in Wales

[catherineldf]

Hay-on-Wye, to be exact. Getting here involved getting bounced off a few trains due to repair issues, then a white-knuckle ride via local bus service through incredibly tiny, curvy roads from Hereford. Very, very exciting, as in terrifying.

Now we're comfortably settled at The Bear B&B, having made an initial pass at book shopping, dinner at a local pub and an actual hot bath. The scenery is quite beautiful and the town filled with squirelly book people, both local and imports. While Bath was pretty friendly, this area seems to take a bit longer to warm up to random visitors. Not unfriendly precisely, but less inclined to random chatting on the streets and in the shops.

That said, we wandered into Addyman's Annex, said to be the best bookstore in town and I found several books that I've been wanting for several years now, including East of the Sun and West of the Moon and Other Stories, illustrated by Kay Nielsen.


V. pleased. :-D And the pub was very good too. Next up, more exploring and a first visit to a Welsh laundromat!

Comments

[sacchig.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the Nielson link. Gorgeous art!

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

Happy to share! It's amazing stuff. :-)

[gavinatlas.livejournal.com]

Bounced off a FEW trains because of repair issues? My. That makes British rail sound rather decrepit. I'm glad you made it safely. I was in Wales for a day on some kind of American Express tour. I don't remember it except my mom bought a hedgehog knickknack that might have been made out of coal.

I wonder if Jasper Fforde's books have prompted anyone to put up a sign saying "Welcome to the Socialist Republic of Wales" That would be funny.

[catherineldf.livejournal.com]

I gather that things went somewhat downhill after they privatized. "Downhill" is relative since their system is still much better than ours. Jasper Fforde does seem to be a beloved local son and Jana got an earful when we went through Swindon on the train. :-)