First night in Laugharne

First night in Laugharne

Friday 21 September 2012

View from the castle

 It was dark when we arrived in Laugharne late last night. As we drove through trying to find the lane that would bring us to our hotel, I mused about the village...

"It is Spring, moonless night in the small town, starless and bible-black, the cobblestreets silent and the hunched, courters'-and- rabbits' wood limping invisible down to the sloeblack, slow, black, crowblack, fishingboat-bobbing sea.

The houses are blind as moles (though moles see fine to-night in the snouting, velvet dingles) or blind as Captain Cat there in the muffled middle by the pump and the town clock, the shops in mourning, the Welfare Hall in widows' weeds.

And all the people of the lulled and dumbfound town are sleeping now."

This morning, I found out that Dylan Thomas had written the EXACT SAME THING a few years ago. Weird, right?

I knew we'd fit in as we drove through the quiet Welsh village. It suited our lifestyle choices - tucked up in bed by 11pm after a few wee pints.

Admittedly, our journey shouldn't have taken as long as it did. We flew into Bristol, which we discovered today may have been a mistake. I didn't realise that the ferry from Dublin went to Fishguard, just a little drive away. Bah! And I effing love the ferry*.

It took us (over) four hours to get here, and most of that was in the dark. But it's tricky to find your way somewhere in the dark, so the drive back will be easier. Right?

Anyway. In the beautiful light of day, we set about exploring the village. And it's gorgeous.

Which is why I must leave you with a pretty short blog entry, so I can explore some dinner into my belly. And maybe some Dylan Thomas pints in the Brown's Hotel.


*ETA - It actually doesn't, on further inspection! Rosslare - Fishguard/Pembroke only, not from Dublin. Which is a shame, as Rosslare is at least 5 hours from us here, making it an exceptionally long drive.