Ebifulumiziddwa: 04.08.2023
The largest castle in Wales! A must-see!
Why was it built? At first, I thought it was built by the Welsh against the English. In reality, it was the other way around! And here is where the Prince of Wales, the successor to the British king/queen, is crowned - most recently Prince Charles (now King Charles).
I climbed up the mountain above the castle and met two Welsh people who were enjoying the week in peace with a few beers. Like everyone here, they are very friendly, open-minded, interested in Germany, and gossip about the succession of past British prime ministers...
Within the city walls, it is cozy and not very touristy. There is a Costa, but that's about it for big chains. Hopefully, it stays that way!
If you visit North Wales, you have to take the bus! Firstly, because it's great. Secondly, because there often isn't anything else (although there are many disused railway paths for cycling). And lastly, because it's cheap: with the £6 bus ticket, you can travel all day. I spent about 2.5 hours on the bus today (and roughly the same amount of time on my bike).
In the evening, I went to the pub in Machynlleth (pronounced 'Machünthleth', with 2x English 'th') and saw Robbie Williams live (as a cover band). Besides a few conversations, there were also some wild Welsh vibes!