owain

Good idea to head to Wales in that gap - the rail line along the north coast is a decent journey in itself, a direct route from Manchester, and I'd recommend taking the detour from Llandudno Junction up to Blaenau Ffestiniog and the Ffestiniog Railway (www.ffestiniograilway.co.uk).

MissZiegfeld

Oh, Wasleys--believe me, I am nothing if not unusual! (and so are many of her fans!)

owain, thank you for the tips, I'm going to check out that site now..I'm really interested to see more of Wales, I have dealt with the Welsh people several times in my profession and they are lovely people, and I've always been intrigued by Welsh culture. This will be a perfect side trip.

This itinerary is making my head spin! I've planned long trips but never with so much running around, one night here, two nights there--but, it's exciting! Thank God for rail systems.

Hopefully I'll get to actually USE some of the Welsh that I memorized..I purposely studied up before going to Cardiff and, well, nobody spoke Welsh at all! ;-) I did a Welsh play once and learned a lot of pronounciation, and I was very eager to show it off!

A young persons rail card would probably be in my best interest for this trip, wouldn't it? What about train reservations in advance? yay or nay?

Hey, if anyone has a hotel in Aberdeen they'd recommend that's near the Aberdeen Music Hall, please sent it my way! Right now I'm booked into a Holiday Inn Express, and I try to avoid big American chains when I'm in Europe (and thus far, I have done just that!), but I saw it was near the theatre and booked it..I need something within walking distance, preferably a smaller family run type place, maybe a b&b. All I require is a ensuite facilities and a television in the room.

amelie

I am having a hard time picking a hotel in Aberdeen for my parents (Husband and I stay with his parents, who live there). Everyone usually says to stay at the Holiday Inn Express. I'd like to see what suggestions you get.

audere_est_facere

Ruby Murray was always in the charts when I was a kid - and I still don't like her stuff.>>>>>>

Come come. You can't beat a Ruby Murray and you know it!

MissZiegfeld

Yeah, Holiday Inn Express is what I keep hearing as well..I guess I'll just stay there, especially since a couple of friends will also be there during this trip

wasleys

audere_est_facere,

<i>You can't beat a Ruby Murray</i>

I don't like that sort either - too hot.

Michael

audere_est_facere

You should try washing it down with a few Britney Spears, or Vera Lynns.

Pausanias

Checked iTunes but couldn't find the Emma Bunton recording. In my opinion Mrs. Miller *owns* &quot;Downtown&quot; as surely as Ray Charles *owns* &quot;America*.

MissZiegfeld

Wait, who's &quot;Mrs. Miller&quot;?

audere_est_facere

Emma bunton download:

http://www.hmv.co.uk/hmvweb/displayP...amp;sku=585823

The money goes to a good cause.

As I say the meaning has somewhat been changed. I would say that the rather staid Petula wouldn't recognise it, but if the legendary Sean Connery quote is anything to go by, maybe she would understand comnpletely

carioca4ed

The show that I saw Pet.Clark in was Sunset Boulevard.....Curiously enough when I left after the theatre show finished,I went for the nearest underground....On the platform was someone that I knew who lived in Glasgow...He said that he'd been down, (to London),for an interview,and at the interview they said that everyone was going along to see show and did he want to go....I assume that he got the job....never saw him after that........Also,someone that I am friendly with,who has played with many famous syphony orchestras said that in the sixties he played at one time on the drums for Pet.Clark...He said that at the end she said,&quot;Thanks for covering up my mistake&quot;....He had not noticed that she had made a mistake,and was just drumming as usual !!!

Pausanias

&quot;Wait, who's &quot;Mrs. Miller&quot;?&quot;

Listen to a free sample on iTunes!

Merseyheart

Oh, Miss Z, I do envy you. I've seen Pet in &quot;Sunset&quot; in London as well as Portland, but never in concert. I must read her website more often. Glad to know she's still performing!

MissZiegfeld

Ok, now I have a few more Wales questions!

Coming from Glasgow, I will have four or five nights (I have to be in Northampton on the 22..if I cut it close and don't take the train to Northampton until the morning of the 22nd I will have five nights in Wales; otherwise I will have four nights if I leave on the 21st to play it safe..this is more likely!)

I'm interested in Llandudno, Conwy, Betwys-y-coed and Carnafaron (which I'm sure I spelled wrong). Also very interesting in seeing Portmeirion though I do not want to stay there(which I'm sure I also spelled wrong!)

I don't drive, so I won't have a car with me. I think I will have time to stay in 2 cities (and hopeully a few hours in Portmeirion).

I'm not interested in mountain climbing or any extreme sports, but being near the water would be nice. Not looking for wild nightlife. My main reasons for visiting Wales are really to enjoy the natural beauty and to get to know the culture. I'd be happy to relax with a cup of tea and a book..especially since I am doing a lot of running around on this &quot;tour&quot;!

I'm such a dork. But really, I'm interesting in &quot;soaking up some local color&quot;, as Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy once said! LOL. When I travel I really like to try and get to know how other people live, what foods they eat, etc..

Any suggestions, given the cities that I mentioned?

Thanks again, gang.

MissZiegfeld

I'm bumping myself (um, in a non kinky way..), because I posted this Christmas Day NIGHT, probably not the most high traffic time to post on Fodors..

wasleys

MissZiegfield,

Llandudno (elegant seaside town) and Conwy (castle) have a good rail service.

Caernarfon (super castle - investiture of Prince of Wales) has very good bus service from Bangor on the railway.

Good bus service (some via Criccieth - castle) Caernarfon - Porthmadog - Portmeirion (may need to walk from main road).

Betws-y-Coed on branch line from Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog (probably buses too).

Also Ffestiniog Railway (narrow guage, superb views) Porthmadog - Blaenau, alight Minffordd for walk to Portmeirion.

Also good bus service Porthmadog - Blaenau.

Could do circuit Llandudno - Caernarfon - Minffordd - Blaenau - Betws - Llandudno.

http://www.gwynedd.gov.uk/gwy_doc.as...amp;Language=1
http://www.festrail.co.uk/

Michael

sheila

I thought I'd seen everything on here, but this takes the biscuit!!

I think you need something &quot;open jaw&quot; and from New York to Aberdeen I think that's North West, then KLM. Shouldn't be a problem to get matching flights out.

As to where to stay in Aberdeen, there's very little in the town centre, and most of it's dodgy. I'd go for the Holiday Inn Express if that's where your frinds are. There's a Travel Inn marginally nearer to the Music Hall, but either way they're within 10 minutes slow walk.