Folly is as folly does

Portmeirion is an Italianate Folly that was built in the early part of the 20th century. Grams has wanted to see it for years because one of her favourite TV shows was filmed there: The Prisoner. It was a kind of existential spy drama. The main character was an ex-spy whom the government wouldn’t allow to quit. So, he was kidnapped and put in this strange little town and followed about by a big ball and watched over by CCTVs everywhere he went (how prescient!). Anyway, she used to watch faithfully back in the olden days (the 60s) and drool over Patrick McGoohan, the star of the show. So, we had to go there.

It is an amazing place. I had the camera. Bronwyn was busy with Declan (AKA, the child). He was into everything. It was an incredible day filled with sunshine and warmth. Portmeirion really ought to be seen that way. We had ice cream cones and strolled.

The estuary is one, like so many in Wales and England that empties completely at low tide and has a tidal surge when it fills again. While we were there it was empty. Grams was hoping to see a tidal surge, but there was none to be had. She’s also hoping to see the Northern Lights while we’re in Scotland, we’ll see.

Portmeirion is atypical of Wales, but the eccentricity that created is endearingly Welsh. Near to Portmeirion is town called, Porthmadog. Legend has it that in the 1100s Madog, a Welsh prince, embarked on a sea voyage with his followers and actually discovered the New World. It seems that they intermarried with the locals; which is why some Mandans had red hair. They also had some Welsh phrases in incorporated into their native tongue. It may be true, or not; but it makes a darn good tale.

Today, Porthmadog is a tourist town and Portmeirion is known the world over for its crockery. You can buy seconds in the town. There are accommodations in the town, but evidently no one actually lives there. It’s kind of a storybook land. The hotel looks like the one in the movie, “Separate Tables,” only nicer. There are cottages all over the village for guests. They even have a swimming pool overlooking the estuary. The rates are quite high. You won’t see the Gweeds staying there anytime soon.

A dopo e Moochas Smoochas,

Please give what you can to Médecins sans Frontières (Doctors without Borders) and support Kiva.

And, of course

平和 に 働 き

(heiwa ni hataraki: work for peace)

Comments

[Rédigé par : Mrs Wright]

scarf/shawl left at Langley bank

[Rédigé par : Janet]

I remember 'The Prisoner'! Great show and Patrick McGoohan was very easy on the eyes. The footage of the town was great in that show. Terrific that you got to visit there!

[Rédigé par : Lynn]

Nice photo of the 3 of you! I do hope you get to see the Northern Lights
when you're in Scotland. I was hoping to see them when we stayed in Inverness,
but there was MORE than a "wee bit of fog!" Either that or it was Nessie's
breath that was causing the mist!!! :-)

[Rédigé par : Olwen]

Not very far from Portmeirion is Plas Brondanw where the creator of Portmeirion lived. It has an interesting garden planned so that you see beautiful views from whereever you look.Through some woods nearby there is a folly - a tower which takes you above the trees so you are looking down on the tree canopy and again has amazing views. www.brondanw.org for information. I hear you are off to Scotland tomorrow, I'm lookiing forward to reading about your trip. All the talk about the aurora borealis has Arthur thinking about a trip to Scotland sometime. I hope we can meet before you return home - maybe you'd like to call by one evening for a glass of wine or ARthur's wicked sloe gin! Have a good Trip.