Made a quick drive to Bethesda for a local produce market. The day started out as cloudy with light sprinkles and rain chances were at 90 percent, but the rain had stopped by the time we arrived. At the market, about eight vendors had their wares displayed.
A couple had fresh produce. Others had handmade goods and homemade marmalades and baked goods. One vendor was had a variety of goat cheese.
I came away with lemon curd, onion marmalade, fresh Stilton goat cheese and a handmade tea cosy.
For the rest of the day, we decided to leave the car at home and take the bus to Conwy.
We picked up some scotch eggs at Marks & Spencer in Bangor caught the X5 bus to continue on to the medieval walled town of Conwy.
Going through the pedestrian entrance, we encountered pirates everywhere.
At Britain’s smallest house.
And in the street.
Conwy was having a pirates’ weekend.
We stepped into a few shops and then went to Plas Mawr. Plas Mawr is considered the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era to be found anywhere in Britain. It was fascinating. Some of the furnishings are actually original and great effort was apparent in the authentic look of the home.
Front door.
Pantry.
One gathering place.
Another ballroom.
Kitchen.
Back view.
The guided tour and detail on water use and medieval medicine certainly took the romance out of the period. The attention to detail made this one of the best historical houses I’ve visited.
Then it was time to try the scotch eggs. We bought half pints of beer and sat on the water front enjoying the hard boiled eggs wrapped in sausage and covered with a crust of bread crumbs.
Last was the walk on the wall that surrounds the city.
Up the many steps to the ramparts.
Conwy’s circuit of walls is over three quarters of a mile long and guarded by no less than 22 towers. You are able to walk the top for most of the way.
As you moved tower to tower some of the paths were on long inclines.
The castle was imposing, just as Edward I intended. A road cuts into the rock below.
We have no complaints about the weather. The rain always seems to clear out when we need it to and you can actually see your shadow.
Next: Anglesey
revising life 
Looks like you are having a fantastic trip! I want to visit Wales someday.
How did you like the Scotch eggs? They were on the menu at the pub I was in here yesterday!
I think I’d like them better warm. Warm or cold, they are good with beer.
We had a British woman working at the paper years ago. She brought Scotch eggs to a potluck. I’d never had them before. I liked them — certainly better than haggis!
I’m curious how they are made – especially in how the boiled egg gets inside the cooked sausage without getting over cooked.
Good question — I’m sure someone over there can give you the scoop. Let me know what you find out. I’m a member of a cooking club, and this is something I might want to bring to one of their potlucks someday.
You can get Scotch eggs at the Scottish booth (and probably a recipe) at Texas Folklife Festival next month. That booth long was a regular stop for me. I like Scotch eggs — and shortbread!
Great travelogue, Janet. I’m vicariously traveling with you. Loved Llwelyn the Great’s castle. The keep is striking.
Another wonderful day with lots to see and enjoy. Scotch eggs are simply hard boiled eggs dipped in flour, completely encased in sausagemeat and breadcrumbs. They are then deep fried in oil for about 10 minutes, I believe. I haven’t made them since I left school – more than 40 years ago!
And it doesn’t overcook the egg? I guess that’s what deep fat frying does for it.