Home away from home for a week:  Llangollen, Wales.  It's been 35 years since we lived in a small community where it was possible to walk to the market, walk to the bakery, walk to church and walk to one of several pubs.  Very enjoyable.  Each day I was obligated to walk to the village and help spread the wealth of America to Wales.

How long has it been since you had a "real" cream puff to eat?  Llangollen has four small bakeries that excel at producing breads and sweets like a real cream puff.  I once read "a cream puff a day will keep the doctor away."  I am not sure if this is really true but it was delightful to eat a real cream puff.  Locally we have things that "look like" a cream puff but the pastry is just filled with some commercial stuff that looks like real cream.

The Llangollen region has some very rich and interesting history.  Later I will just direct you to a webpage for this.  Brief history

In "modern times" it was a mill town.  What do you supple made it a mill town-- or a town with a factory?  This photo should give you a clue as to why the town entered into the industrial revolution.  What do you see in the two photos?

The river narrows and as it narrows it will pick up speed. How will this then be used when Wales and England start through the process of the industrial revolution?  We can see the same thing ultimately happening in the Northeastern part of the United States.  Power.  The power of water can become the power that will be used in a factory.  So, Llangollen became a mill town.  It's location in modern times was because of the water that could be used.  In the 18th and 19th centuries [as well as back into history], where there is water that can be used for movement of goods and for power, a village will start.

The old machinery of the factory is still being used-- today, however, it is a curiosity for the tourists who come to town.  Today the old mill is a restaurant.  The wheel still goes around.  The belts are still connected to the machinery.

As a mill town it had laborers, managers and the wealthy.  Accordingly, housing was developed for all social and economic levels.  The Four Poster Motel originally was used as a rooming house or barracks for workers.  On the sides of the motel that do not have a stucco or plaster cover we can see the rocks that were used to make the original walls of the building.

With some of the remaining houses we can see the wealth and splendor that Llangollen had in the 19th century.

Every town that was really a town had to have an inn or hotel.  Below is the Royal Inn.

Every town will have a building or buildings that are used for worship.  Llangollen was not different. 

Earl in the industrial revolution water was used for transportation of heavy and bulky raw materials or the finished product.  Below is the rain center of the village.

Before the middle of the 20th century, towns and streets had a very different look.  Streets were narrow and turns were not considered.  The old European villages and cities are a nightmare for modern truckers or bus drivers.  It takes "everyone" to get the bus around the corner.  I commend these drivers.   Do you think that you could turn the corner with what you see below

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Welcome to Llangollen in Denbighshire North Wales

The Llangollen Railway - Wales' Scenic Preserved Railway

Llangollen Canal

Llangollen is host to the International Musical Eisteddfod and attracts thousands of visitors from around the world. This small picturesque town is full of surprises. It is an absolute must if you've never visited the area before. It is everything that you would expect from a traditional Welsh town.

Llangollen, Wales - Eurapart Guide

World Wide Wales   This is an exceptional webpage.  Look at it and follow the first, second, third steps.  It would be helpful to have a broad band internet connection as the page has both visual and audio materials.

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So, take a look at the menu on the left side of the page.  What do you next want to learn about Wales?