Travelog for: Orpheus

It’s been 10 months since I arrived here, and the evil witch twennifer has kept me prisoner ever since ignoring my mentor requests to let me free . But today, when my jailor and torturer was distracted I saw a hole in the ground and run in it as fast as I could. It’s probably a place for moles rather than canaries , but desperate times call for desperate measures.



I wonder where I will end up. What’s this smell? Haggis ! Better hurry up, I am not far enough yet.

Hi!

I am not sure where I ended up. It’s always pitch dark and there’s lot of nice people around...it’s just they keep telling me we are all dead down here , while I know that I am just lost. I even met my illustrious and (so far) more famous namesake , but he was too busy crying about Eurydice to pay any attention to me .
Eventually today I was summoned to what appeared to be the main entrance: they told me that I was being bailed out . I just had to follow a noise of flapping wings until I saw daylight.
It was a long walk but eventually I came out of a hole and saw my friend sammino there with one of smaug’s owls .



For some reason as he saw me he behaved quite strangely for a few seconds: first he checked himself as if looking for fleas, then the first thing he said was “nice tan!”, as if I had been to the beach rather than prisoner in a scottish dungeon . But then he gave a me a big hug and welcomed me back .



He introduced me to Dean, a nice horse visiting from the US.



As I was feeling a bit cold I looked around to see where I was. Mountains almost everywhere.






No wonder it’s freezing cold. mmm, it seems my tag's gone: I thought that maybe I should go looking for it, but sammino told me that twennifer probably threw it away . Can’t wait to be back home .

Hi,

Today Dean and sammino helped me catching up with what I missed in almost a year in prison. Apparently I have been even nominated for a Golden Bear , but strangely not for best singer .



But the day flew by and it was soon time to say goobye: I am going to travel on the WTVT . sammino gave me a big hug and wished me good luck...and for some reason also added that I should better stay away from mirrors .



See you soon .

Hello Dad,
I have arrived safe and sound in Wales, just as dotdog was leaving.

Bye Bye dotdog.

mira, Dusel, Charlie B. and alfie langer welcomed me.

Hi Dad,
Today, we had a GeoCaching day, in and around the Snowdonian village of Llanberis.
First off, was a walk around Coed Doctor, a community woodland.

The first cache was easy to find.

The second was easy to find but hard to get to - my host's son was put on to my host's husband's shoulders to retrieve the cache.

And the third cache here was near the lake.

My host's son is filling in the log.

The next cache was high up in the hills.

The cache is in the Snowdon View series.

Snowdon is visible in this picture.

Hi Dad,
Today, we have come to Barclodiad-Y-Gawres, a Neolithic chambered cairn. It was a public grave for the local farming community.

It is situated on the Anglesey coast.

Afterwards, we went for a stroll.

Can I stop for a snack please?

This caterpillar filled me up.

Hi Dad,
Today, we have come back to Anglesey, to Din Lligwy. There is a Neolithic burial chamber constructed before 3000 B.C. Also, there is a Roman-British settlement of stone buildings, and the ruins of a medieval chapel.

The chapel was built in the 12th century with some rebuilding in the 14th century and an extension in the 16th century.

Can you see me on the wall?

There was a bell.
We have come to the settlement. The site was excavated in the early 20th century, finding various things from the 3rd and 4th century including animal bones with some made into tools and even a musical instrument.

There were a few buildings in this settlement

I wonder what this building would have been used for..

I'm perched on a wall.

My host took this photo from outside the "building".

A closer look at us.

This is the burial chamber, constructed before 3000 B.C., and was excavated in the early 20th century after the settlement. The capstone weighs 25 tons.

It is a big slab!

My host's son was able to go underneath the capstone.

Hi Dad,
Today, we have come to the historic town of Harlech where a castle stands atop a hill.

The view, had the weather and sky been nicer, would have been superb.

This is one of the towers.

When the castle was built, the sea was a lot closer.

The information board informs us that the castle was built between 1283 and 1289.

The main section..

We climbed up onto the walls and walked around.

Long way down!

Somewhere over there in the murk, is Criccieth. There is castle on top of a hill. On a clear day, it can be seen.

Shame the hills/mountains of Snowdonia aren't very visible.

There is an exhibition in the main section.

Looks impressive on top of the hill. Can't have been easy to build.

What the main section would look like...

Hello Dad.
Today, we've come to Trefnignath burial chamber near Holyhead.

This monument was erected in the Neolithic Age.

There it is. It is near the A55.

We could walk into the chamber.

That is Anglesey Aluminium, which is on the other side of the A55.

After visiting the burial chamber, we went to look at the Hut Circles on Holyhead Mountain.

The remains of these round-houses were excavated in 1860s and 1970s. They date from the Iron Age to post Roman times.




My host's camera was broken so she used the camera in her mobile phone and listed the help of her husband!

We are going on a summer (OK, it isn't summer) holiday..
To get there, we are going through Scotland.

Hello Dad
We are staying in a caravan. After unpacking the car, we went for a spin. First off, towards Lindisfarne (Holy Island) but encountered a bit of difficulty. Lindisfarne is a tidal island and the tide had covered the causeway.

We'll just have to come back another day, when the road is not underwater.

Before going shopping for food, we went into Berwick Upon Tweed. You should be able to see 3 different bridges, The Royal Border Bridge, The Royal Tweed Bridge and The Old Bridge (or Berwick Bridge).

The nearest bridge is the oldest bridge of the three. This version of the bridge dates back to the early 17th century and is 355 metres long and 5 metres wide. It is made from sandstone locally sourced.

The middle bridge was built in the 1920s and once carried the A1 road.

The bridge in the distance is the Royal Border Bridge which carries the railway over the River Tweed. It was designed by the engineer, Robert Stephenson (son of George Stephenson).

Berwick is a walled town.

Here we all are relaxing on a bench.

Hi Dad,
Today, we have time only for a brief visit to Lindisfarne before going further south along the coast. This time, the causeway was relatively clear of water but the weather was a bit wet and windy.

This is Lindisfarne Castle.

After visiting Lindisfarne, we came to the little coastal village of Bamburgh. Atop a hill and overlooking the sea sits a mighty castle

We decided to go and visit inside this castle.

The castle has cannons. Can you see one of the Farne islands? My host visited there last year, maybe we can all go this year.

The castle is home to a museum about one of its former owners, the Victorian industrialist and engineer, William George Armstrong (Lord Armstrong).
Armstrong worked in aviation. This is a Junkers Jumo 211 F.

Rolls Royce Merlin 23 A.

Next, we went into the State Rooms, a nice picture and clock.

Bronze model of the castle, and in the background a portrait of Henry VIII.

A closer look at this King.

What time is it?

Do I need to plume my feathers?

Swords