A weekend ago we decided that we were going on our first exploration trip that didn’t involve housewares. As mentioned, we promised castles, and it was time to deliver.
The morning started with football for the boys. Yes, we have started calling soccer football. (But we still long for football football and are trying to figure out NFL Game Pass.) It’s going pretty well for the boys – Bennett’s group takes it quite seriously, so that’s taking some getting used to. Nathaniel has not learned to take it seriously at all and had to be reminded to try to stand up occasionally. Some things don’t change no matter what the country.
When they came home, they were being a little sassy and in a fit of frustration, we threated not to go at all. But I looked at Tim with panic in my eyes. “Threaten something else! We have to get out.” I couldn’t sit in our barely-furnished house one more afternoon and we all needed a little fun. So we gave a quick but stern parenting talk while loading up the car.
Where we live is actually not far from Wales, so we chose Conwy Castle there as our first visit. Tim and I had visited this castle about 10 years ago, when he was working here for a few weeks and I visited him on a weekend trip.
On the drive there, we explained that we were now in Wales, which was a different country, but still in the United Kingdom, which England is a part of…I’ll be honest, I was mostly trying to answer Bennett’s questions by slyly Googling on my phone:
“is Wales a country”
“what countries in UK”
“difference between Great Britain and UK”
“how to speak Welsh” (you never know)
We arrived in beautiful Conwy about an hour later, and as we parked, Tim and I kept grinning goofily at the boys. I expect it’s the same way every parent looks at their children when they expect a huge reaction, whether they arrive at a castle, Disneyworld or Santa’s workshop itself. You expect sheer amazement, awe, maybe even tears!
No tears, but the boys did seem genuinely impressed that they were going to a real-life castle. We worked our way up to the entrance and went in. And here is where I noticed the difference between Conwy Castle 10 years ago and now.
Then, it was beautiful, majestic, mysterious and a bit romantic… (per photos below)
Now, it was beautiful, majestic…and a dangerous playground with catastrophe around every corner and panic-inducing for an anxious mother.
When I say that, I’m identifying two things at play. First, the terrain: rough rocks (tripping hazards), steep stairwells (falling hazards), a prison dungeon, a well, and towers hundreds of feet in the air, all screaming DANGER.
Second, Nathaniel. 🙂 This kid does what he wants, when he wants, how he wants. Tim and I had to keep saying, “Careful, careful, BE CAREFUL! Hold my hand, stay against this wall, STOP RUNNING!” It was just all too restrictive for Nate, who eventually had a melt down and had to sit on a bench with me until we both calmed. We were those tourists.
Bennett, on the other hand, loved seeing everything but was more cautious, especially with the heights. He either gets that from Tim, who doesn’t like heights, or from me just being nervous about everything. Most pictures I have of him are a cross between a frightened grimace and a smile because he thinks it is cool…just too high up!
Conwy Castle was built between 1283 and 1287 for King Edward, who holed up there over Christmas 1294 during a Welsh rebellion. It’s amazing to see how much has been preserved. You can imagine the royal gatherings in the Grand Hall, feel the peacefulness of the restored chapel, see the stark contrast between the narrow servant quarters and stairways vs. the large chambers for the king and queen, and sense the doom when you look at the prison and the dungeon pit below.
Not only is the castle and structure impressive, but the views around it are stunning – the sun peeking through over the countryside hills, the quaint village buildings and the boats anchored in the bay.
I took a lot of pictures, intent on recapturing a particular moment I remember with Tim from our last trip, in which he’s staring out at the view from a castle window. I kind of got it with Bennett, looking out to the same view. After I found the original photo on Shutterfly, looking to prove to Bennett how cool it was, Bennett helpfully pointed out, “But we’re looking in different directions.” Critic.
Honestly, it was surreal to be back there – back when England was the farthest place I had ever been on a trip for a couple of days…and now we were living here, with kids!
Once we finished (survived) the castle, we stopped for ice cream at a nearby shop, and then immediately went for fish and chips! Here are three things we learned at the restaurant: what they call lemonade is basically Sprite with lemon squeezed in. Also, black currant juice is a big thing here, and Nate digs it. Finally, that we should have gone to the toilet when we had a chance.
Before heading home, we decided to revisit the beach where Tim and I had watched the sunset many years ago. It was about 15 minutes away in Llandundo, overlooking the Irish Sea. Bennett wanted to play football on the beach, which we had been promising all day. Nathaniel just wanted to play on a nearby playground. The sun was beginning to lower and I watched them all play with a smile, listening to Minus the Bear (I love this song…)
Record scratch back to reality. Bennett had to go to the bathroom. Followed shortly by the same assertion by Nate. We looked around. There had to be toilets somewhere… but we have discovered that there are not as many public restrooms just out and about for your convenience. We hustled down the beach, looking for any option.
We finally found some, but they required 20 pence to open the door. (Seriously?!) I ran back to the car, grabbing whatever change I had. Time was running short – for the sunset and their bladders. “I have it!” I shouted, running back to Tim and two dancing boys. We put the 20 pence piece in the slot. It rolled back out. We worked our way down the line of doors, before concluding that either they all didn’t work or they wouldn’t open beyond their regular “operating hours.”
Things looked dire. Tim was ready to let them go in the grassy dunes, but I thought there were too many people around (such a buzzkill, I am). Once again I turned to my phone. “SIRI, WHERE IS THE CLOSEST STARBUCKS?” And we were back in the car, headed to the other side of the peninsula with more shops and restaurants. A continent away and it’s a Starbucks to the rescue. After a quick latte and bathroom run while I double parked with my hazard lights on, we debated what to do.
The sun was down; we had missed the sunset. But there was still football to be played and swings to swing, so we headed back again. We figured we could always come back and catch the sunset, and maybe even experience the glory of the 20-pence bathrooms. First adventure, done.
Tosa to Tarporley 
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