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Llandudno
As with Caernarvon, we visited Llandudno on two separate occasions, ironically in reverse order to that of Caernarvon. That is our first was to spend a day there, and the second for an evenings seaside promenade and to locate some where for an evening meal. Our full day there was very well spent. Once parked, we walked to the shops, with one particular one in mind "Craft Age". This is an Aladins cave of all craft needs. You name it, this group of shops has it, and at very reasonable prices. We spent a while in each of the two establishments and purchased a number of essential items: cards and envelope packs, decoupage card kits and numerous peel offs, the latter in different colours and styles. We, sorry Pam, could have spent lots more time browsing and eventually lots more money. We decided to have lunch in town and then make our way to the tram that would take us up the Orme. The last time here with both boys the trip up the Orme was ok, however when we reached the top it was very windy, cold and occasionally wet. We hope today is better. We eat in M&S, which was a mistake, they had little food left and took an absolute age to serve you. Food purchased could have gone stale by the time you got to sit to think about eating! I walked back to the car, to take the purchases from the craft shop, as Pam and Ben made their way to the tram station. I caught up with them queuing on the pavement below the station, such was the volume of the holidaying populous wanting to ascend the Orme. We stood for just short of an hour before we finally got on the first of the two trams that would take us up to the top. I'd forgotten that you need to change half way, but thankfully no queue at the half way stage, infact we were first aboard, so grabbed the front seats. At the top it was breezy, especially if you went to the very edge of the hillside, which Ben & I did, to take pictures. Pam, gladly said that she would sit in the Summit Complex and have coffee, whilst we wandered around. Having had sufficient wind in our faces we moved to a lower hill, which we had noted was covered in peoples names, marked out by stones, which had been gathered from a rock face at the base of the hill. Not to miss an opportunity Ben set off, sped up the hill, to a point where he thought the name he was going to write could be seen, and promptly started amassing stones. Some of which he and I nicked from other names. The end result was that the name Shirley, on that day at least, adorned the Orme hillside. We met up with Nana and all three decided to have a drink and a snack before returning back to Llandudno. Ben & I had decided to walk back down, rather than catch the tram, so having finished our snack we went back to the top station and left Pam queuing to catch the tram. Thankfully she didn't have to wait long, as by the time we had walked to the mid station, Pams tram was also making the approach. We continued walking down the Orme, stopping to take the occasional picture and had just about reached the lower station, as Pam's tram appeared. Once re-united we walked back to the sea front and sat in the sun people watching, along with the various, sometime comical, antics on the beach. For our evening meal we ended up at "The Palladium" another Wetherspoons establishment, where for the first time I used my phone to order food and drink. Suitable replenished we returned back to the van.
Above:at the lower tram station about to board. Midway between the lower and middle stations looking back at Llandudno bay.
Above:Ben leaving his mark on the hill. Don't know how long it would last, before, like us some one robs it to make another name.
Above: Another view Llandudno bay, taken this time from on top of the Orme.
Above: Waiting for Pam's tram to descend. The first picture of Number 5 as it makes its way up the Orme with Number 4 on the way down carrying Pam. Close up picture of Pam, with hood up against the wind on the top. She had been taking pictures on the way down, hence, the reason for her phone in hand.
Above:A superb panoramic scene. Llandudno bay at its best.
Above: Ben and I photographed at the Palladium. This was once an old theatre, of which, much as been left intact. However areas, were desperate for a thorough clean, especially the carpets, and other walkways, which obviously get a hammering with the 100's of people trampling through and spilling drinks.
Our second visit was a spur of the moment decision. We had just left Penrhyn Castle for the second time and as the sun was shining Pam asked if we could have an early evening at the seaside - Llandudno it was. Llandudno is the furthest point from our temporary base, but with easy access using the A55. We used the same car-park, with little choice really, as there was no on-road parking available. It was only a short walk to the front where we were lucky to arrive just as a lady was vacating a bench. We jumped in quick and spent the next hour or so, enjoying the last of the days sun, once again watching the actvities on and off the beach. Ben spent some time clicking away with the camera, recording our visit for prosperity.
For our evening meal we decided that we would have a wander around the town to find somewhere that would suit our taste. We passed one with people outside eating, the food looking good so went to go in to be told that they were closed - at teatime - very strange. Having walked around and not finding anything suitable we ended up back at "The Paladium".