Knights and Round Tables..

When we were first married, my soldier husband was transfered to a new army post, in Wales. I look back now, and think how fortunate I was to have experienced that move.

Living in Wales, was something I had always wished for. My hometown bordered Counties with Welsh Counties. As a young girl, it was always our holiday of choice, either staying in a holiday "caravan", or camping in a farmer's field (complete with sheep), in some hidden valley, far off the beaten track.

On any given weekend, my parents would load up the camping gear, and off to Wales, we'd go.
From the sunny seaside town of Rhyl, on the Irish sea, to the rock-fenced rolling hills and waterfalls of Betws-y-Coed, the views are spectacular.
I do believe there is not a place in Wales, that isn't warming to the soul.

One of the first places we lived, was in the town of Chepstow, a small quaint town on the River Wye, in Monmouthshire.
The view from our home was of the Chepstow Castle, at the bottom of a small hill.

If there is one castle that stands out in historical importance, that castle is surely Chepstow.
Chepstow is a Norman castle perched high above the banks of the river Wye in southeast Wales. Construction began at Chepstow in 1067, less than a year after William the Conqueror was crowned King of England.

While Edward had his master castle builder in the person of James of St. George, the Conqueror, some 200 years earlier, had his equal in the person of his loyal Norman lord William FitzOsbern. FitzOsbern's fortresses were the vehicles from which the new king consolidated control of his newly conquered lands. Chepstow Castle became the key launching point for expeditions into Wales, expeditions that eventually subdued the rebellious population.

What a magical time of life..

Credits: LearnFree2007