Chepstow Castle

Wales is a hop, skip and a jump from Cheltenham. As part of our commitment to see castles, we found an awesome ruin on the River Wye. While we consider Chepstow Castle a ruin, there are many birds who for generations it seems, find the castle and it's grounds homey and supportive of their needs. Magpies, gulls, pigeons, and some sort of English crow, caw, coo and scream at the visitors who interrupt their Sunday afternoon.

The castle is well positioned at the top of a cliff right over the river and the river's bend, which might be considered an estuary, not sure on that. It is not hard to imagine the busy community the castle once supported. The historical society provides drawings of what the castle looked like in it's day and during various stages of construction. With the remains, the drawings and some imagination the whole scene comes to life. If you add the smells of some cooking fires and horses, and the sounds of a small but bustling town the scene appears before your eyes.

The building of this Norman castle began in 1067 after the battle of Hastings. It is clearly a fortress of importance; the defensive position on the cliff provides a panoramic view in nearly every direction.

After exploring we went across the street to a pub for lunch. The food was wonderful. This area, near Cornwall is famous for it's pies or Pasty's. We had a meat pie, sausages and mashed potatoes. And beer, not because we wanted to, but because we are committed to authentic reporting. The hostess was a rotund Jack Russell Terrier who only took notice of patrons when their food arrived. She sat square on the diners feet and turned her head in the position of up, put on a well practiced and patient dog smile and waited for her fair share of whatever it was the owner of the foot was eating.

In Wales they speak Welsh, it's own mysterious language. I am hoping we have an opportunity to hear the Welsh language spoken. It is not possible to read it and come up with sounds that resemble the placement of the letters. There will be more trips to Wales; they have many Castle ruins and the drive is short and beautiful. Hopefully we will have an opportunity to overhear some conversation, I have this idea that it will be sort of sing-songy; Gaelic like. More on that as discoveries are made.