Although we stayed in England proper for most of our road trip, we did nip into Wales for a day trip on our way from Devon to the Cotswolds.  (I looked for Will and Kate, but didn’t see them.  Maybe next time.)  Our first destination was Tintern Abbey.

Tintern Abbey was stunningly beautiful.  There’s something about the carpet of emerald green grass below and the wide open sky above… I actually find these “ruined” abbeys more spiritual than most churches.  I got the shivers wandering up and down the nave, imagining what this place must have been like when it was in use.

To add to the mysterious vibe, there were white doves all over the place.  Check out this shot of one of the doves taking flight.  I’d think it was too perfect to be true, but I was there.  (Can’t take credit for the picture, though – that was all hubby.  He excels at capturing these wild moments.)

We wandered around the monastery compound, reading the placards that described what each foundation once was.  Here I am – I think – in the Abbot’s first house.  (Please excuse my hair.  I wore it down to keep my ears warm, but it was windy that day.)

If I should be where I no more can hear
Thy voice, nor catch from thy wild eyes these gleams
Of past existence–wilt thou then forget
That on the banks of this delightful stream
We stood together; and that I, so long
A worshipper of Nature, hither came
Unwearied in that service: rather say
With warmer love–oh! with far deeper zeal
Of holier love.  Nor wilt thou then forget
That after many wanderings, many years
Of absence, these steep woods and lofty cliffs,
And this green pastoral landscape, were to me
More dear, both for themselves and for thy sake!

William Wordsworth, from “Lines Composed A Few Miles Above Tintern Abbey”

After exploring every corner of Tintern Abbey, we headed to Abergavenny, for the next stop on hubby’s family reunion tour 2011.

The main castle was built around the 1300s.  It was a smallish site, and interesting, but we had a different goal in mind.

See this hill?  It’s actually a “motte,” or a defensive fortification, built during Norman times by Hamelin de Ballon, the first Baron Abergavenny and one of hubby’s ancestors.  Hamelin came over from France as part of the Norman invasion and settled in Wales at the behest of his “BFF” (father-in-law’s term, not mine), William the Conquerer, to provide a civilized place for the Norman kings and knights to hang up their armor and to keep the locals quiet.  The motte is original, although the Norman tower is long gone and replaced with this modern structure, which is now a pretty interesting local museum.  Hubby wanted to see this piece of family history, so we decided to swing by and see about retaking the family castle.

Unfortunately, hubby’s plan to “take back the family castle” didn’t quite go.  His problem is that he’s just too nice.  Dude couldn’t even chase the teenage girls away from racing up and down the motte.  Ah, well, we like our digs in northern Virginia too much to leave, anyway.  😉

Wales was a fantastic day-trip!  And stay tuned for next Friday, because I already spilled the beans about our next destination, if you were reading closely.  And if you weren’t, I’ll say it again here: we’re off to the Cotswolds!