London(I)

On 14, July all of our group wanted to London. Maggy waited us at 9 o’clock at the university gate. The weather is good and all of us were excited. This is my first time to London and last week we prepared to London but the bus didn’t come. So we had to go to London that day. On the road we singed and talked and dreamed what London is. London is the capital of UK and it is one of the most important cities in the world. When most people heat the words "Big Ben" they immediately conjure up an image of the striking Victorian Gothic structure of the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster (the Houses of Parliament). Let's clear up a common misconception first; technically speaking, the name "Big Ben" does not refer to the famous tower, nor to the four huge clock faces of this London landmark; instead, it refers to the largest of the five bells inside the clock tower, whose chimes are such a familiar sound to listeners to BBC radio over the years. The tower was begun following the disastrous fire which destroyed the old Palace of Westminster in 1834. Charles Barry was given the contract to rebuild the Palace, and his designs included a clock tower. r The clock tower of the Palace of Westminster took 13 years to build, and was completed in 1856. The tower is 316 feet high. The spire that rises above the belfry is built with an iron frame, and it is this frame which supports the weight of the bells. A staircase rises up inside the tower, and a climb is rewarded by excellent views from the belfry level. Several small rooms are built into the lower part of the tower, including a small prison cell. The cast iron frame of the clock face was designed by AW Pugin, who was responsible for much of the Gothic decorative elements of the Palace of Westminster. The dials are 23 feet in diameter and the faces themselves are not solid, but is composed of many small pieces of opal glass, assembled like a stained glass window. Several of the central pieces of glass can be removed to allow inspection of the hands from inside the clock tower. The numbers on the clock faces are each two feet high. An inscription in Latin below each clock face translates as "God save our Queen Victoria I". At the time of its construction the clock mechanism was easily the largest in the world, and it is still among the largest today. The clock mechanism, designed by Edmund Beckett Denison, has proven to be remarkably accurate over the years, allowing small adjustments to the clock's rate to be made by placing pennies on a small shoulder of the clock's pendulum!

Bath

We planed to go to London on 21,July. But the booked bus didn’t come and Maggy decided that we visited Bath. Mike and his beautiful wife were eager to go to London and then they had to go with us to Bath. Anyway, I was the first time to visit Bath and felt very happy also.
Bath is a city in Somerset, England most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. It is situated 99 miles (159 km) west of Central London and 13 miles (21 km) south east of Bristol.
The city is founded around the only naturally occurring hot springs in the United Kingdom. It was first documented as a Roman spa, although tradition suggests that it was founded earlier. The waters from its spring were believed to be a cure for many afflictions. From Elizabethan to Georgian times it was a resort city for the wealthy. As a result of its popularity during the latter period, the city contains many fine examples of Georgian architecture, most notably the Royal Crescent. The city has a population of over 90,144 and is a World Heritage Site.
The archaeological evidence shows that the site of the Roman Baths' main spring was treated as a shrine by the Celts, and dedicated to the goddess Sulis. The Romans probably occupied Bath shortly after their invasion of Britain in 43 AD. They knew it as Aquae Sulis (literally "the waters of Sul"), identifying the goddess with Minerva. In Roman times the worship of Sulis Minerva continued and messages to her scratched onto metal have been recovered from the Sacred Spring by archaeologists. These are known as curse tablets. These curse tablets were written in Latin, and usually laid curses on other people, whom they feel had done them wrong. For example, if a citizen had his clothes stolen at the Baths, he would write a curse on a tablet, to be read by the Goddess Sulis Minerva, and also, the "suspected" names would be mentioned. The collection from Bath is the most important found in Britain.
During the Roman period increasingly grand temples and bathing complexes were built, including the Great Bath. Rediscovered gradually from the 18th century onward, they have become one of the city's main attractions. The city was given defensive walls, probably in the 3rd century. From the later 4th century on, the Western Roman Empire and its urban life declined. However, while the great suite of baths at Bath fell into disrepair, some use of the hot springs continued.

Cardiff Bay

On 8,July I with Lily and Hao went to Cardiff Bay. It is said Cardiff Bay is beautiful and we want to testify it. The weather is good and in the way we met a Romania girl, who is a model and newcomer to Cardiff. And she joined our group.
Cardiff Bay (Welsh: Bae Caerdydd) is the regeneration area created by the Cardiff Barrage which impounded two rivers (Taff and Ely) to form a new 500 acre freshwater lake around the former dockland area south of the city centre of Cardiff in south Wales. The bay was formerly tidal, with access to the sea limited to a couple of hours each side of high water.
The Cardiff Bay Development Corporation was created in 1987 to stimulate the redevelopment of the run down areas of Tiger Bay and Butetown. Since the early 20th century, when the city was the world's largest coal merchants port, Cardiff's docklands had been in decline. By the 1980s they were a mass of empty land and abandoned buildings and had become an embarrassment to the city as it tried to become an international capital. The Development Corporation aimed to attract private capital by spending public money to improve the area. Despite opposition by environmentalists and wildlife organisations, the mud flats at the mouths of the River Taff and River Ely were inundated, with loss of habitat for wading birds. The barrage has created several new habitats for freshwater species with a growing wetlands habitat at the mouth of the Taff to the south of the Hamadryad Park.

Caerphilly Castle

On 3, July Tuesday, Annie and Mike with our group visited Caerphilly Castle. Then we had a drink in a traditional pub.
Proudly standing on a 30-acre site, Caerphilly Castle is one of the largest fortresses in Europe. Boasting a tower which 'out leans' that of Pisa, the castle also receives visits from the infamous ghost of the Green Lady.
Stretching over a thirty-acre site in the centre of Caerphilly, this imposing Castle is a striking testament to the turbulent times of medieval Wales. Located close to the site of a former Roman fort, the building of Wales' largest castle began in 1268, under orders from the Anglo-Norman Lord Gilbert de Clare. Its construction acted as powerful symbol of Anglo-Norman rule and reinforced de Clare's control over the conquered lands of the Marchia Wallia. Its magnificence no doubt struck fear into the hearts of the local people. Its formidable stone and water 'concentric' defences provided protection from the Welsh and in particular against the threat of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn - the Prince of Wales. Llywelyn launched his first attack against the Castle even before its defences were complete. The fortress also played an administrative role, replacing the local court of the commote as the centre of administration and revenue collection.
Throughout the late thirteenth and early fourteenth century, the Castle continued to be the focus of Welsh attacks. In 1316 Llywelyn Bren a noble of Senghenydd, raised an army of ten thousand men and attacked the Castle. The attackers failed to breach its defences, although much of the town of Caerphilly was destroyed. By the mid-fourteenth century relative calm had fallen upon Caerphilly and parts of the Castle were probably abandoned. However, its upkeep continued throughout the fifteenth century, when the Beauchamp family spent a considerable sum of money improving its domestic accommodation. At the end of the century the Castle was leased to the Lewis family. They 'robbed' its stone to improve their own home at Van Mansion.
The Castle's role in the Civil War is far from clear. Reputedly, its massive medieval defences were damaged by gunpowder, but there is no evidence to support this. Beyond these defences an earthen redoubt was built. Whether the Royalists or Parliamentarians raised this gun platform is again unclear, as is the nature of any battle that ensued.
In the late eighteenth century the Marquees of Bute acquired Caerphilly Castle, His descendants would oversee its 'great rebuilding'. Restoration of the Castle began in the late nineteenth century, under the direction of the immensely wealthy third Marquees of Bute. This work continued throughout the last century under the fourth Marquees and later the State. The result of this extensive and painstaking work is the Castle you see today. Mike and Annie are very friendly and we took photos together. After our visiting the castle, Annie took a mini-bus to a traditional pub. At the pub, we all enjoyed the delicious beer and wed wine. Richard drinked too much and he didn’t eat anything after he came back dormitory.

Brecon Beacons National Park

On 25, July all of us(including USC group) went to Brecon Beacons National Park. We spent about 2 hours in driving there and we had a break at the road. Dr TAN was the guide and Prof. BAI and Mrs Mark joined our group.
The Taff Trail Long Distance Footpath links Cardiff and the Valleys to Brecon. It is 88km or 55 miles long though this figure is deceiving as there are many community or circular routes that link into the linear route which itself may have more than one route running parallel at certain points.
The Taf Trail is one of the most recent long distance footpaths in Wales. It is not a linear route from point A finishing at point B rather its route is like the shape of a keyhole. The route from Cardiff is linear as far as Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil. The Taf Trail Circuit in the Brecon Beacons National Park begins and ends at Cefn Coed having walking to Brecon by one mountain pass route around the Central Massif and return via a mountain pass on the other side. The route may be followed in either direction but I would recommend the Cefn Coed, Pontsarn, Pontsticill, Talybont, Brecon, Libanus, Cwmtaf, Cefn Coed approach. Probably the best starting point for the Taf Trail is the village of Cefn Coed. The Brecon Beacons circuit can be completed and one can on return to Cefn Coed then continue onto Cardiff either on foot or by public transport.
The Taf Trail is an interesting concept in that there is more than one trail. It provides an opportunity not just for walkers but also for cyclists (a fairly rough surface for the most part). On some sections cyclists and walkers coexist not entirely successfully and one would ask cyclists to be mindful that walkers particularly elderly walkers may not hear them. Often the main arterial route is complemented by a second route designed principally for walkers. One of the most innovative design features of the Taf Trail is that there are many circular walks that link in to the main arterial route.
This approach serves a dual purpose. It encourages local people to who live along the route to use the trail for informal recreation. Secondly it is intended to enrich the opportun

ities to visitors to explore the countryside and communities through which the Trails central route passes. The walking approach this design is intended to encourage is to move away from seeing a long distance footpath as a purely head down physical challenge and to encourage an approach based less on counting mileage and more on exploration and understanding. Most of the route follows gentle gradients with an occasional steep climb and is mostly suitable for all ages and abilities though anyone with a particular medical condition should enquire further before venturing forth. It is a long distance footpath concept devised in the C20th for the C21th.
The route follows the Taff valley using old railway lines, canals and forestry paths to link Cardiff Bay with the Brecon Beacons via Llandaff, Pontypridd and Merthyr Tydfil. On reaching Merthyr Tydfil or more specifically the confluence of the Taf Fechan and Taf Fawr at Cefn Coed this linear route becomes a circular walk from Merthyr to Brecon and by the alternative mountain pass and valley back to Merthyr. Most but not all of the route is also available to cyclists but not horse riders. Small sections of the route may be closed to cyclists or an on road alternative offered - enquire for further details. The route links at various points with other regional trails including the Cambrian Way, Coed Morgannwg Way, Marches Way, Rhymney Valley Ridgeway Walk, Taff-Ely Ridgeway Walk, and the Usk Valley Walk.

Gower Coast

On 7,July I with Maggy and other group member visited Gower coast. It was sunny and all of us felt excited. Situated in south Wales, about 70 square miles in area, Gower is known for its magnificent coastline, popular with walkers and many other outdoor enthusiasts especially surfers. Gower has many caves. Some of these caves are Paviland Caves and Minchin Hole Cave. The interior consists mainly of farmland and common land. The peninsula falls under the administration of the city of Swansea, the urban area of which is situated just to the east of the peninsula. The peninsula is bounded by the urban areas of Swansea to the east and the Loughor estuary to the north.
On the peninsula itself, the population resides mainly in small villages. The southern coast of the peninsula consists of a series of beautiful, small, rocky or sandy bays like Langland and Three Cliffs. There are also some spectacular beaches like Port Eynon, Rhossili and Oxwich Bay which are slightly larger. On the north side of the peninsula there are less beaches, where this section of the coast includes the famous cockle-beds of Penclawdd.
Following the Norman occupation of Glamorgan, the lordship of Gŵyr or Gower passed into English hands, and the southern part subsequently became one of the most Anglicised regions of Wales. Villages in the north-east of the peninsula such as Penclawdd and Gowerton remained strongly Welsh-speaking until the middle of the 20th century.On the Gower Peninsula there are six castles. Such castles are: Bovehill Castle, Oystermouth Castle, Oxwich Castle, Pennard Castle, Penrice Castle and Weobley Castle.
Worm's Head with causeway exposed at low tide, Gower, Wales The Gower Golf Club at Three Crosses hosts the annual West Wales Open, a two-day tournament on Wales' professional golf tour, the Dragon Tour. Economically, agriculture remains important to the area but tourism plays an increasing role in the working lives of the inhabitants. However , much of the working age population in the Gower work in urban Swansea, and in that sense the economy of Gower is little different from elsewhere in Swansea. But we had not enough time to visit Swansea and only had a glimpse at Swansea.

Cardiff Castle

On 8, July I with Lily and Hao went to Cardiff to visit Cardiff castle. This is our second time to come to Cardiff. So we are familiar with the route. It was raining but it couldn’t influence our mood.

At first glance, it was difficult to find a castle in Cardiff's city. The capital of Wales is a typical big city, busy, laden with traffic, shoppers searching for a good buy. Government buildings glisten in the sun. And the National Museum of Wales offers impressive exhibits of Welsh history and cultural development. However, in the midst of this urbanization, Cardiff's ancient past is grandly displayed, in the form of a fine castle. Cardiff Castle is one of Wales's leading tourist attractions. Situated in the very heart of the capital, alongside city centre shopping and the magnificent Bute Park, the Castle's enchanting fairytale towers conceal an elaborate and s plendid interior. Contained within its mighty walls is a history spanning nearly 2,000 years, dating from the coming of the Romans in the first century AD. After the Norman Conquest, the Castle's Keep was built and a number of Medieval fortifications and dwellings followed. The Castle fell into the possession of many noble families, until, in 1766, it passed by marriage to the Bute family. The 2nd Marquess of Bute was responsible for turning Cardiff into the world's greatest coal exporting port. The Castle and the Bute fortune passed to his son John, the 3rd Marquess, who by the 1860's was reputed to be the richest man in the world.

From 1866 the 3rd Marquess employed the genius architect William Burges to transform the Castle lodgings. Within gothic towers he created lavish and opulent interiors, rich with murals, stained glass, marble, gilding and elaborate wood carvings. Each breathtaking room has its own special theme, including Mediterranean gardens and Italian and Arabian decoration. As well as visiting the spectacular interiors, visitors can enjoy the Castle grounds, where peacocks, ducks and geese wander freely, and enjoy a break in the Castle Tea Rooms which offers a warm welcome for coffees, light lunches and afternoon tea. Besides this, we had a free welsh cake because we buy the ticket. But it was not enough for a lunch and we had to buy something for a lunch.