Caernarfon Castle

At the mouth of the Seiont River, this impressive edifice was constructed in 1283 as a military stronghold, a government seat, and a royal palace. The structure was purposefully designed after the walls of Constantinople, which had been labeled “the fairest that ever man saw” according to Welsh myth and legend. Complete with unique polygonal towers, battlements, and color-banded masonry, this imposing fortress overlooks the walled town of Caernarfon. The symbolic status of this castle was emphasized with the birth of the first English Prince of Wales, also the son of Edward I, and then again in 1969 with the Investiture of Prince Charles as Prince of Wales. Take a walk along the lofty, stone walls for a spectacular view of the beautiful landscaped grounds and the adjacent town buildings. Visit the exhibitions located in the twin-towered gatehouse. Explore Wale’s oldest regiment on site at the Regimental Museum of the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

Take an exhilarating plane tour of the castles of North West Wales and the mountains of Snowdonia. Caernarfon Air World, a museum exhibiting the history of planes and flight, offers sightseeing from the sky. Be sure to stop by the Green Wood Centre, set in the beautiful Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site, where you can take traditional craft courses in woodwork or stay in wooden tents. Peruse the RCG Stained Glass Studio and shop for a variety of exquisite “tiffany style” creations such as lampshades, terrariums, chessboards, clocks, sun catchers, and more.

Conwy Castle

Experience the authentic medieval atmosphere as you explore this dark stoned fortress perched on a rock high above the Conwy Estuary. Constructed between 1283 and 1289, Conwy Castle displays massive military strength with a walls-within-walls design. Journey into the past as you observe the strategic curtain walls and the eight large powerful round towers. Visit the battlements and enjoy picturesque views of the sea, the mountains of Snowdonia, and the roofless structure of the castle’s 125-foot Great Hall below. Observe the sensational circuit of walls around the town spanning three quarters of a mile and incorporating twenty-two guard towers.

Conwy has many other intriguing attractions as well, including Bodysgallen Hall, which sits across the estuary and exhibits a watchtower that once was used as a signal place for the castle; the Conwy Suspension Bridge, completed in 1826 and spanning the River Conwy; and the Conwy Railway Bridge, a tubular bridge built for the Chester and Holyhead Railway in 1849 which remains in partial use today. Visit the 14th century Aberconwy House and the Plas Mawr (“Great Hall”) built between 1576 and 1585. An absolute must-see is the smallest house in Britain, measured at ten feet high and six feet wide.

Harlech Castle

Gaze over the dunes far below all the way out to Snowdonia in the distance from the top of this impressive late 13th century structure perched on a massive rock. Attackers had to conquer the vast rock before they could attempt to breach the powerful twin-towered gatehouse, as well as the many inner walls and towers beyond. A long siege was held at Harlech Castle during the Wars of the Roses, which inspired the song “Men of Harlech.” The castle’s battlements were formed out of a cliff face overlooking Tremadog Bay so that critical supplies could be delivered unhindered in times of siege. The walls still bear evidence of scorching from the conquest made by Owain Glyn Dwr in 1404.

Another interesting site is Criccieth Castle. Situated on a peninsula between two beaches, it began as a stronghold for the native Welsh princes but was later annexed by Edward I. Don’t miss out on this magnificent citadel overlooking Tremadog Bay. Take an excursion through the Snowdonia National Park, either walking, mountain biking, fishing, diving, or climbing. Visit the Cymer Abbey, Portmeirion Village, Llechwedd Slate Caverns and the Royal St. David’s Golf Club.

Beaumaris Castle

This unfinished masterpiece, located on the Island of Anglesey, was the last of the Edwardian “iron ring” castles to be built. Construction began in 1295; however, money and supplies dried up before the ramparts would reach their full heights. It is an amazing sight nevertheless, designed with symmetrical concentric walls-within-walls consisting of at least four lines of fortifications and surrounded partially by a water-filled moat. A protected tidal dock was created to allow supply ships to reach the castle in times of siege. Defensive elements of the castle include fourteen major obstacles, hundreds of arrow-slits in walls, and murder-holes, which are holes in the ceilings of passageways that allow defenders to fire upon invaders.

View the elegant Beaumaris Courthouse built in 1614 and the Beaumaris Gaol built in 1829. Stroll across Puffin Island and see the charming lighthouse. Visit Penmon, about three miles east of Beaumaris, and explore the Penmon Priory and St. Seiriol’s Well.

The Iron Ring Castles of Wales

by: Jonna Holder

Mussels, another Belgian specialty cooked in white wine then scooped into your mouth, or eaten with fries (or frites, also a national specialty), are a common yet delicious snack. It’s as commonplace in Belgium to see folks walking by with plates of mussels and frites as it is to see people munching on fish and chips in London. Speaking of chips, it’s said that French Fries were actually invented in Belgium; true nor not, a basket of Belgian frites may ruin all future fast food fry encounters for you, though you’ll likely be OK with that. Belgium has more than 400 outdoor vendors - or frietkots -where you can load up on frites and a variety of dipping sauces (mayonnaise is the most common frites-friendly condiment in Belgium.)

Those who agree that breakfast is the most important meal of the day will be happy to wake up early in Belgium for a plate of those famous Belgian Waffles. Belgian Waffles are made with special waffle irons only available in Belgium, which is why you haven’t had a real Belgian Waffle until you’ve had one here. Waffles can be feasted upon in cafes and restaurants all over the country. The “Brussels” waffle is often doused in toppings like chocolate, whipped cream, sugar, or strawberries. If you find yourself hankering for a crunchy, yet gooey-soft waffle while strolling around, outdoor waffle vendors are happy to oblige. They sell the “Leige” waffle, which, in contrast to the “Brussels” waffle is baked with a burned sugar coating, making them both sweet and portable.

RealTraveler Focus2Focus feasted on a pile of tempting waffles while touring Brussels, and also made sure not to miss another Belgian culinary specialty: Belgian chocolate. He writes:

“The waffles with chocolate sauce are to die for and were a highlight of my trip. Just make sure you have plenty of tissues to wipe up the mess around your mouth… But the one thing that you must not leave without is of course, Belgium Chocolates. Here is a tip for you, buy your chocolates at a supermarket, same quality - way cheaper.” (more…)

With over 2,000 chocolate shops throughout Belgium, remembering to pick some up while you’re here is easy. Belgian chocolate is some of the best in the world, largely because chocolatiers still make chocolate using Old World techniques, often by hand inside small shops. Belgian chocolate pralines are a sumptuous specialty; rich pieces of chocolate filled with a variety of delicious nougats, creams or fruits. Bruges is home to several famous chocolate shops, like Chocolatier Pralinette and Sukerbuyc, and in Brussels you’ll find Chocolat Manon, La Maison du Chocolat Artisanal, and Wittamer, among others. Godiva and Neuhaus are also based in Belgium. If you’re in Belgium in April, check out the Chocolate Festival in Bruges, a four-day chocolate extravaganza in which chocolate makers and chocolate lovers come together for one common purpose - to appreciate chocolate.

Once you’ve stuffed yourself with mussels, frites, waffles, and chocolate, you’re going to need something to wash these delicious Belgian specialties down with. Luckily, Belgium makes over 400 kinds of beer, and they do it very well. Belgian beer making is taken very seriously, with hundreds of breweries crafting specialty beers that, when they reach the pubs, can only be served in specialty glasses (RealTravelers Sarah and Liz, for example, drank a beer called ‘Sudden Death’ out of mug shaped like a human skull!) Bruges, Brussels, and Antwerp are great cities for pub-hopping, where you can try everything from fruit flavored beer, to chocolate beer, to Trappist beer, to Belgium’s famous Lambic beer. A great way to taste a bit of everything is to book a brewery tour, or to spend a day at one of the many beer fairs or festivals.

Sarah and Liz embarked on a Belgium beer tour on their recent trip, first stopping to taste Belgium’s other famous foods. Here’s an excerpt from their travel blog, Waffles, Fries, Chocolate, and Beer:

“After settling in we decided to go on a hunt for waffles, fries, chocolate, and Belgian beer. We took the train to down town, as soon as we got off the train towards the Grand Palace Square we smelled waffles and fries! We b-lined to the first concession stand and purchased fries. (Did you know French fries were invented here?)…in Belgium they serve fries (frites) with mayo and ketchup. Don’t knock it till you try it! They were yummy. A few hundred feet later, we found ourselves at the waffle stand and bought our first Belgian waffle. It was delicious! Now, off to find the third thing on our list- Belgian beer.

The first stop on our Belgian Beer Crawl was a place called ‘A La Morte Subite’, or ‘Sudden Death’. The establishment actually serves a beer called Sudden Death so we were intrigued to say the least. We all tried a variation of the Sudden Death, my favorite was the Kriek, or cherry flavored beer. We had one round and headed out for our next stop on the Belgian Beer Crawl…A place called Le CERCUEL, or ‘The Coffin’…”

The Cuisine of Belgium

by: Corry Seibert

Upscale

Sloane Square is in the storied London neighborhood of Chelsea – home to the Natural History Museum, Royal Albert Hall, King’s Road, and many other sights. Not only is there a tube station named Sloane Square after the square itself, located on the east end of King’s Road, but there’s also a hotel – the Sloane Square Hotel serving Chelsea and Knightsbridge. This luxury hotel isn’t cheap, but with its approach of a traditional English hotel brought up to date with the latest amenities, including hi-speed internet, it may be worth it – location is everything. And if you really want to splurge, the Draycott Hotel a few blocks away is an opulent Edwardian retreat with a private garden and each room outfitted with a fireplace and antique furnishings.

Midrange

Chelsea is London’s original bohemian neighborhood, the place where Oscar Wilde was arrested and Mick Jagger resided, and where some argue punk rock was born. Chelsea has gone upscale over the years, but is still a central location for sightseeing and shopping, and the boutiques along King’s Road still boast outrageous fashions. For a more middle-range spot to sleep in Chelsea, La Reserve offers comfortable habitations with modern design. On a quiet residential street, it is within easy reach of plenty to do. For another midrange room in Chelsea, the Jury’s Inn Chelsea is close to the River Thames, and though it is less accessible by Tube, it places you within striking distance of the Chelsea sights.

Budget

Chelsea, and its adjacent neighborhood Kensington, is a paradise for literature fans; the old stomping grounds of Henry James, Jonathan Swift, and other writers. Virginia Woolf set her novel Night and Day in Chelsea. Those who have read Joseph Conrad are familiar with his narrator, Marlowe, and his tendency to sit in a boat on the River Thames, telling novel-length stories such as Heart of Darkness and Lord Jim – which, incidentally, is the name of a Kensington Hotel.

The Lord Jim Hotel offers comfortable habitations in an easily accessible location, just a few minutes walk from Earl’s Court Underground Station. It’s a good bet for travelers on a budget, and offers rooms with both private and shared bathroom facilities and in a variety of sizes. Staff is on duty 24 hours a day and a continental breakfast is included with the cost of your stay.

Near the Lord Jim, the Royal Albert Hall is not to be missed. One of England’s most spectacular structures, the hall opened in 1871 and since has hosted the world’s premiere artists – everything from Rachmaninoff to rock n’ roll, Pink Floyd to Puccini. RealTravel blogger Shatrick writes:

“Michelle and I went to see Madame Butterfly at Royal Albert Hall. Oh my god, it was so amazing. We had seats in the loggia, front and center. What a way to see the show. The production was done in the round and was really effective. I have never been to a show where at various points you felt like you would be able to reach out and touch one of the actors. Royal Albert Hall is a huge theater and so beautiful.”