Picspam | Summer Vacation: Wales 2011
Aug. 15th, 2011 04:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
galatheaTwo years ago ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif){kind=small}
nikkimisplaced and I visited llywela13 in Cardiff for a couple of days, and we all had so much fun together that we decided to repeat that experience as soon as possible. This summer we finally managed to coordinate our schedules and meet up again - and this picspam is the result. This time around we took ample advantage of Nikki's car and explored Wales more thoroughly, including some 'accidental' Torchwood/Doctor Who location spotting. Luckily the weather gods have been on our side, it was mostly dry and the sun came out more often than not - I even got a sunburn, again!
But now onto the picspam. Enjoy!
First of all, I really have to say thank you to Nikki and Jo, who have been wonderful hosts and great company. Just like on our last get-together we got along really well and had a lot of fun. Apart from traipsing all around the beautiful welsh countryside, we indulged in delicious food and watched a lot of TV - mostly random episodes of Friends and - since both Nikki and I are really into Game of Thrones - the first season of GoT, which Jo hadn't seen yet. Anyway, this time around I actually had a camera with me, so most of the pictures in the current selection I took myself. Of course having a camera does not make me a good photographer, so I touched the pictures up a bit - mostly adjusting brightness, contrast and sharpness as well as the colour when needed. :)
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Monday: On our first day in Wales we spontaneously decided to visit Rhossili Bay on the Gower Peninsula - a place I can generally recommend for a visit because the whole area has the loveliest countryside. ♥ Rhossili Bay in particular is absolutely beautiful, it has appealing sandy beaches and offers a lot of opportunities for long walks. This location has been used in Doctor Who as well as the current Torchwood season. If you look at the second picture on the left (the house near the beach): This is the place where Gwen and Rhys live in the S4 opener and the beach is where they blew up the helicopter. Funny enough, you can't actually access the beach from where the house is situated. So there was some clever editing involved in filming the escape scene. ;)
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Tuesday: The Brecon Beacons is a national park in South Wales - a beautiful mountain range with one of the highest points in Wales, the Pen Y Fen. Basically we spent most of the day climbing around the mountain site, an activity Nikki very much approved of, as she seems to have been a mountain goat or something like that in a former life. ;) She really loves climbing. We also visited the city Brecon, but I didn't post any pictures of the town. It was nice, but not particularly noteworthy.
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Wednesday: Originally we wanted to visit Flat Holm Island last Wednesday, but about an hour before we left to catch the boat, the organiser called us and cancelled the tour because it was too windy to safely get us to the island. Luckily they still had three places open on the Friday boat though, so the trip was only postponed. In any case, the cancellation left us purposeless for the day, so we spontaneously decided to visit Caerphilly Castle. For those of you who watch Doctor Who: The Castle was used for the outdoor shots of the Monastery in The Rebel Flesh. If you look closely at the opening shot of the episode, you can easily recognise the Castle - of course the base has been manipulated and everything was cleaned up, but still, it's easy to see.
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Thursday: As a long-time Jane Austen fan I have always wanted to see Bath, but somehow I never managed to actually go there whenever I visited the UK. So I was very happy that I finally got to see the city. Unfortunately the Jane Austen centre was a disappointment though and - as Nikki so rightly pointed out - it's kind of ironic that the centre is located in Bath of all places, the one place that gave Jane Austen a writer's block. Anyway, it was still nice to see the city. It basically hasn't changed since Jane Austen lived there, so the next time I read Persuasion, I'll know how to picture it in my head. Also, the Roman Bath is spectacular and well worth a visit, and the Cathedral isn't too shabby either. *g* I advise to bring some money though because the city is a pretty expensive treat.
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Friday: So, Flat Holm Island. I really wanted to visit the island last time I was in Cardiff, but unfortunately I had been low on cash at the time, not to mention that you have to book the tour well in advance - we ordered the tickets six weeks before our trip - so it hadn't really been an option. This year I finally got to take the boat trip over there and I was very excited about it. Flat Holm is one of the few places where seagulls are able to nest in a natural environment, so the island is heavily populated with gulls - they are literally everywhere. If you are still traumatized by Hitchcock's The Birds, it's probably not a good place to be. *g* We really had a wonderful day out there though. Oh, and for Torchwood fans: The episode Adrift was filmed mainly on this island.
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Date: 2011-08-15 04:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 04:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 06:00 pm (UTC)You checked out that ep of Doctor Who to compare with the pics of Caerphilly Castle, then. *G* As I recall, when we were there, you were struggling to remember it to compare the likeness!
I'll get my picspam posted soon, possibly in stages rather than all at once. I probably could have found time today but was still a bit bummed out over losing half of them, so didn't have the heart for it.
Anyway, it was fab having you to stay again. :)
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Date: 2011-08-15 06:24 pm (UTC)You checked out that ep of Doctor Who to compare with the pics of Caerphilly Castle, then.
ROFL yes, I did. Once I saw the opening shot of the episode it was really apparent that it had been Caerphilly Castle, I just didn't have a good recollection of it. LOL
I'll get my picspam posted soon, possibly in stages rather than all at once.
I'm looking forward to it.
Anyway, it was fab having you to stay again.
I had such a good time. *hugs* I am looking forward to our time in Surrey. *g*
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Date: 2011-08-15 07:12 pm (UTC)For the castle was it inside Cardiff Castle then that they filmed those DW scenes? :s Cool about the house too!
Lol Flat Holm Island, didn't run into any TW facilities there then? :p Whenever I think of it I think of the gorgeous musical score piece called "Flat Holm Island" from that epp!
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Date: 2011-08-15 07:27 pm (UTC)I went to London on Saturday, the 6th and returned yesterday, so we spent 7 full days together. Next time around we'll be staying at Nikki's place and explore Surrey. *g*
For the castle was it inside Cardiff Castle then that they filmed those DW scenes?
No. Jo told me that the inside scenes for the Rebel Flesh two-parter were actually filmed in 6 different castles around Wales. LOL
Lol Flat Holm Island, didn't run into any TW facilities there then?
Hehe, unfortunately no, I'm afraid. Also, most of the old WWII buildings on the island are off-limits for the public anyway since they are not really stable. :)
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Date: 2011-08-15 07:50 pm (UTC)No. Jo told me that the inside scenes for the Rebel Flesh two-parter were actually filmed in 6 different castles around Wales. LOL
Well but I remember her saying that she saw filming for that epp in Cardiff Castle at least in part, so I was wondering...
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Date: 2011-08-15 07:59 pm (UTC)Oh, heh, I didn't know that. How embarrassing. I've read all the books, several times, after all. LOL
Well but I remember her saying that she saw filming for that epp in Cardiff Castle at least in part, so I was wondering...
I know that Jo saw filming at the Castle, just not sure which episode it was for. But well, it's entirely possible that Cardiff Castle was one of the Castles involved in filming the Flesh two-parter - just if it was, it was not the only one. :)
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Date: 2011-08-15 08:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 08:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 08:41 pm (UTC)Aww, I love DanRad, he's such a lovely, funny, genuine and modest person even if you don't care for his portrayal! Have you seen him past the 1st movie, he gets so much better!
But yeah, I used to love HP, and still do to an extent, but I lost a lot of love because of the horrible fandom, JK's horrible insulting interviews, and the last two books, esp. HBP, which were so disappointing and in the case of HBP especially abysmal writing-wise...
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Date: 2011-08-15 09:25 pm (UTC)I've got nothing against Radcliff as a person. I just didn't like his acting and he never matched up to the character I had in my head. I've seen bits and pieces of the later movies, but still, I am not convinced. I am not really interested in the movies anyway. :)
I guess I'm lucky that I never read any JK interviews. The only thing that reached me is the stupid stuff about Dumbledore being gay. I had a good laugh about that discussion. LOL I quite like the last book - apart from the epilogue. HBP isn't one of my favourites either - GoF is still my favourite book of the series - but I wouldn't exactly call it 'abysmal'. But well, I guess that's a matter of tastes. :)
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Date: 2011-08-19 03:00 am (UTC)The only thing that reached me is the stupid stuff about Dumbledore being gay. I had a good laugh about that discussion. LOL I quite like the last book - apart from the epilogue. HBP isn't one of my favourites either - GoF is still my favourite book of the series - but I wouldn't exactly call it 'abysmal'. But well, I guess that's a matter of tastes. :)
Oh yeah the Dumbledore thing, see that didn't bother me in of itself so much as her smug pronouncement that this ~reveal~ would have fandom talking for the NEXT TEN YEARS! /rolleyes/ And I like DH okay, but it sure doesn't hold up much to closer examination (agreed about the epilogue at least!). And we can agree on GoF being our favorite (nice, you don't see many people saying that! :D), and not liking HBP at least, even if you don't think it's "abysmal"! ;) But yeah, HBP, IDK everyone is just acting so OOC and horrible, and the writing is so shallow and cheesy besides the LV flashbacks, basically. I wanted to be reading HP, not "Sweet Valley Hogwarts", they barely even went to class anymore.../sigh
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Date: 2011-08-19 08:54 am (UTC)And we can agree on GoF being our favorite (nice, you don't see many people saying that! :D)
Really? What is generally the favourite book in HP fandom?
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Date: 2011-08-21 08:14 pm (UTC)Besides HP though Bones was really the first show I watched/fandom I got into while the show was still airing, I decided after a while to start watching shows that were still actually on the air! :lol: It's been all downhill from there...;)
The most popular fave book of HP fandom was and still Is PoA I believe, though I think plenty also like the last book best, or some even like HBP....
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Date: 2011-08-22 07:44 am (UTC)Ah, PoA is a great book, but nothing will ever beat Harry's first real encounter with Voldemort in GoF for me. :)
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Date: 2011-08-23 03:54 am (UTC)And yes ITA, 4 books of buildup and suspense and stories on LV, and then he finally returns?! SO epic and exciting, and loved their conversation too...
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Date: 2011-08-23 10:12 am (UTC)Heh, I think most fics in my AtS collection are C/A fics. I have some really great stories in my archive. Some of them I read at least 5-10 times.
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Date: 2011-08-16 08:50 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 11:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 09:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-15 10:28 pm (UTC)re Bath: I love visiting historical places like that. The Roman Bath is 2000 years old, there's something awe-inspiring about standing in the exact same place Romans used to roam. Bath in itself is a pretty old city. In most cities in the UK or Wales you'll find a good mix of historic buildings side by side with modern architecture - not in Bath though, it's all historical. Feels like a time-travel. :)
I hope you and your family are fine. How's the pregnancy going?
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Date: 2011-08-17 08:06 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-17 10:27 pm (UTC)Having 2 small kids will certainly be a challenge. My sister had 3 kids in the span of 8 years and that was a hugely stressful time. But on the positive side, they're out of the worst almost at the same time. ;) I hope the rest of your pregnancy goes smoothly. And yes, update your journal. I always love to see pictures of T. :)
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Date: 2011-08-15 10:52 pm (UTC)Glad you had a wonderful time there. What a great place to vacation!
*Hugs*
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Date: 2011-08-16 08:13 am (UTC)The UK is probably the place I visit most often. I love the countryside, it's near the sea and I speak the language, so it's all good. *g*
Why are lighthouses familiar to you? Do you live near the sea?
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Date: 2011-08-16 11:42 am (UTC)I live on Long Island in NY so I'm minutes to the Ocean and often visit famous lighthouses such as the one at Montauk Point. Love the Ocean and the sea life.
I don't know how to do small links on lj so here's the link to the lighthouse. Hope you can see it. View it with the Birds Eye View setting and zoom in......
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?encType=1&where1=Montauk%2c+New+York&cp=41.031200~-71.953720&FORM=ATRCCN#JnE9Lk1vbnRhdWslMmJwb2ludCUyNTJjJTJiTmV3JTJiWW9yayU3ZXNzdC4wJTdlcGcuMSZiYj00MC45OTk2NjY4NTY1MTM2JTdlLTcyLjYxNzM1NDM5MzAwNTQlN2U0MC40MTk4NDM0NjU2OTY1JTdlLTc0LjA4MTI4MjYxNTY2MTY=
I love to sit on the Ocean beaches with Hubby off season and just relax and enjoy it's awesome views and power as the waves crash up on the shore. Very little "Country side" left on LI so we have to travel West or Upstate New York to the Mountains for those views. Mostly Pine barrens, seashores and flat farmland left outside of the populated areas here. The famous "Hamptons" are nicest to me off season when it's more like a sleepy town and the Summer crowds go home in September. :)
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Date: 2011-08-16 12:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 10:01 am (UTC)Anyway, I'm glad you got to have such a great holiday! x
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Date: 2011-08-16 11:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-16 07:38 pm (UTC)