Tale of a Bumbling Backpacker

I spent today wandering around Caernarfan, particularly the castle. Really, really awesome. Massive, with loads of stairs and towers and stunning views of the countryside, the river and the Ocean. One Welsh curator spent ages chatting to me about South-Africa (he found it very fascinating), and I ended up telling my gap year plans to several people. It was fun. :D

After meeting Sai and Gwynn for lunch I hopped on a bus back to Bangor, where I met Antonia. She is a really interesting lady, with many tales to tell of her experiences in Africa and the rest of the world. Her House was really homely, and reminded me strongly of my Opa and Oma's House in the Netherlands. We spent ages chatting about pretty much everything, and then Sarah, a Couch Surfer from France, came in, and we began to make supper.

One of Antonia's friends came over for the meal, and it was a really relaxed, pleasant evening, with good food and good company.

The bed was devine. Soft and comfy and perfect. I honestly felt I was staying in five star B&B.

The following morning I went for a walk with Antonia's puppy, then spent some time helping out in the garden and doing a few chores around the House. It was actually quite satisfying to be doing something worthwhile.

I'm a bit sad to leave Wales as I really don't feel I've spent enough time here. But, sitting here on the train, watching green slopes and little Houses slip past, I know I'll come back, eventually.

The past few days have been amazing!!! We packed up our luggage (LOTS of it) and loaded it all in the back of my parents' car. 5 of us + plus my mom = me squashed into the boot of the car with all the bags.

The drive was long and hot, but we made it there eventually.

The place was stunning!! Right by the sea, dotted with pools, and designed with white-washed Greek styles, it was the perfect place to unwind and have fun (apart from the incident involving the security guard banging on our door at 2 in the morning).

Us girls spent most of the time by the pool, while the guys did who-knows-what and managed to get lost trying to find the infamous Strandloper Restaurant.

We tried the sauna which was hot and dry as opposed to hot and steamy (which we were expecting). It was an odd experience and we all felt slightly claustrophic in the tiny wooden room, but at least now we can check that off our to-do lists.

One evening Sheryl and I managed to catch the sunset while on a walk to the small supermarket (the others were too lazy to join us, so they missed it). It was absolutely amazing, and definitely worth the ten minute walk.

Poker, alcohol, some interesting Truth-or-Dare games, and Austin Powers had us all up until past 2 each morning, resulting in bleary-eyed mornings, but it was well worth it.

All in all, it was a pretty awesome trip. And I really love my friends.