Llandudno, Wales | A Valentine's Adventure

 

Paris. Venice. New York. All dreamy cities brimming with romance and high expectation, and hit the mark for being a top destination to spend Valentine's day. What doesn't normally make that list is a small country west of England, that is often associated with rain, sheep, and cheese on toast. I'm talking of Wales of course, and it is where me and Gavin stayed for a few days to celebrate the day of love.

 Firstly, let me just say that, yes, Paris or New York are beautiful cities that elude romance through their glistening lights and standout architecture, but they are obvious choices for couples getaways on the 14th February. Wales was chosen with thought. I've been a little down in the dumps recently and I've decided to make some changes in my life, to welcome more opportunities and to have more adventures. I love exploring, and there's nothing quite like a snow-topped mountain, and a continuous backdrop of never-ending hills to make your problems seem insignificant. So Wales it was, and my was it beautiful. Granted, in February a lot of the attractions were closed due to the weather, but that just meant that it was so calm and peaceful. It was so nice to escape the noise of city living, which can sometimes make you feel claustrophobic.

We stayed at the Cae Mor Hotel, which is directly opposite the Venue Cymru theatre, and right by the sea front, so it's in a perfect location. The hotel itself was a decent size for a few days stay, and breakfast was lovely. The staff were extremely friendly, and we didn't experience any problems with
our stay.

 

On our second day we took a drive up to the top of Great Orme to see some fantastic views of Llandudno and the coast, and not to mention that snow-topped Snowdon! We had a fantastic American style dinner at Harvey's New York Bar and Grill one evening. I had BBQ Pulled Pork; I could barely move afterwards, but it was so worth it! On Valentine's day itself, we took a romantic trip to a waterfall, which was so beautiful, and a prime proposal spot (take note gents!). We had a lovely stay overall, full of laughter, getting lost, and great food! We'll definitely go back in the summer and hopefully visit some of the various attractions in North Wales.

Paradise

There's something about the idea of paradise that drives people crazy. It's the standard all places must face up to, but it's an impossible task to please everyone's differing ideas of what paradise is. You can't replicate your dreams and expect them to be the same as everyone else's.

Yet, no one can say that the impeccable scenery of a crisp, aqua sea pushing against the backdrop of a blue sky, almost mirrored reflections of each other, is a bad thing. No one.

So holidaying in Mallorca last October was definitely a taste of the quintessential relaxation nirvana. Sitting atop a rocky cliff, surrounded by greenery, watching almost as if in slow motion, the world turn before me. It seems a little crazy now being home, rain constantly falling, and the Winter's breeze here to stay. Reminiscing is great, and partly why I wanted to write this post now, rather than so soon after our return, but also because I'm finding myself edging closer to the edge of the earth, ready to take giant leaps and see where I land. The travel bug has definitely hit me, and I'm feeling sicker by the day.

I love how different you can feel in various parts of the world; how a destination can shape you into someone completely new.
There's so many more visions of paradise I have left to see. I recently returned from a short stay in Llandudno, Wales, and although on the opposite end of the paradise spectrum to Mallorca, it was still equally as beautiful. More on that trip soon, and hopefully many more travels to come.

Michelle
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