Tenby, Wales - Day 2

Monday, June 9

We awoke this morning to the sound of cars on the wet road outside and when we went downstairs for breakfast, Steve the owner of Croyland, told us this was typical Welsh weather at this time of year - nice one day, wet the next two or ten! We enjoyed another lovely breakfast with Welsh produce then ventured out to explore the old town and seaside area.

Noelle at an entrance to the old town in Tenby

By now, although still overcast, it was quite warm. We headed straight for the vantage point we had used yesterday evening to look at the harbour and alas, still no water. The sun was starting to break through the cloud cover and as we continued our walk along the coastline, it got warmer and brighter so that everything looked really pretty. The weather seems a lot like Melbourne - several seasons in a day. We walked across a sandbar to St Catherine's Island but were not allowed to enter as the tide was beginning to turn and apparently covers the sandbar very quickly and can trap you on the island for quite a few hours. We were told to return around 9.30 am tomorrow so will do that another day. Tenby has a sensational beach and there were quite a few beach-goers and swimmers although most Aussies wouldn't have thought about swimming! We followed the old town wall around the waterline and could see parts of the medieval port and canons that had been added in the 1800's.

Beautiful wide expanse of sand at Tenby's South Beach

Al on one of the canon's overlooking St Catherine's Island

The warm weather had made us thirsty so we stopped for a cuppa and sat at a table overlooking the harbour. We could see the tide coming in but the boats had not begun to rise. It was glorious sitting in the sun so we took advantage of it and read up on the places to see in and around Tenby. Amazingly, both of us got a bit sunburnt! We continued on with our walk but were interrupted by a fisherman returning with his catch and taking it into a beachside shack selling fresh fish. We have heard Tony & Angie speak about periwinkles and whelks (sea snails) so bought a tub of them to try. I was glad we had seafood dressing on them because I don't think I could have eaten the whelks plain - a bit like chewy octopus. Anyway, at least it was fresh and local! There were a lot of people eating by the water and we saw one man trying to carry too much back to his table causing him to drop a plate of crab sandwiches. There was no chance of rescuing any of them because the seagulls swooped and were away with them in an instant. (The seagulls are huge here!) The poor man was so embarrassed, especially when his wife berated him very loudly, that he didn't even go back to pick up the china plate. I was glad it was him - it is so something I would do!

Enjoying a cuppa in the sun at Tenby Harbour

Al withTenby Harbour in the background and the tide in at last!

We went into the main church in Tenby - St Mary the Virgin. It dates back to 1172 and has been updated a number of times over the centuries but the majority of it is now from the 1400's. It was very bright and light inside - quite unusual for a church of this age. A previous parishioner was Robert Recorde (1510-1558), the founder of the English School of Mathematics, and Doctor of Physics and Astronomy, who was responsible for the "equal" sign (=) being "invented" - amazing what you can be remembered by! By the time we left the church it had clouded over again and there were a few ominous spots of rain so we decided to head for "home".

St Mary the Virgin Welsh Church, Tenby

We walked past some interesting little shops along with a round fort-like gate structure with 5 arches in it forming part of the old town wall.

Al outside one of the many "sweets" shops - Tenby Rock & Fudge are local "specialties"

The round gate with 5 arches

It was lovely just taking our time strolling around Tenby and not having to be anywhere by any special time. It is a really interesting and pretty place so we are looking forward to the next few days here. Tonight we plan to work out all the things, especially castles, museums, etc. we want to see a bit further afield but will definitely allow more time in Tenby itself.

 

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