Glorious two days in Wales, with the sun shining and some real warm temperatures! Our final destination was the Town of Books, Hay-on-Wye, just north of the Black Mountains. The town holds a massive litarary festival every year at the end of the May, and with over 40 bookshops it's more than earned its place in Britains literary elite. Off tomorrow to Brighton but I'm back to regular programming on Monday. Happy weekend!
The River Wye, just outside the town centre. 
Lots of biking and footpaths, with all signs in Welsh, too!
Our B&B, called The Start. Glorious!
Kitty (who tried to bit my hand) curled up inside a bookshop.
One of the 40 bookshops in Hay.
This shop was called The Book Passage. And it was - literally!
The largest second-hand bookshop in the world, Richard Booth. In the 70s, Booth declared himself King of Hay on Wye, and even issued passports for the residents. 
Inside Richard Booth.
Lots of biking and footpaths, with all signs in Welsh, too!
Our B&B, called The Start. Glorious!
Kitty (who tried to bit my hand) curled up inside a bookshop.
One of the 40 bookshops in Hay.
This shop was called The Book Passage. And it was - literally!
The largest second-hand bookshop in the world, Richard Booth. In the 70s, Booth declared himself King of Hay on Wye, and even issued passports for the residents. 
Inside Richard Booth.
It's a good thing I don't live there, I'd never leave. I's spend all my time hopping from one store to another reading.
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures, lovely vacation, kiss Mum & Dad for me. See you when you get back.
Oh my Wales is calling me. The scenery is beautiful, but all those books! What more could anyone ask for?
ReplyDeleteI'd have to move there because I'd buy so many books I wouldn't be able to bring them all back with me.
These pictures of bookshops are the equivalent of drooling over chocolate cake recipes in books for me.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to visit. Love the photos. Thanks for sharing and giving us a taste of the sites. Enjoy.
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Thoughts in Progress
Ah, girl, this place is calling my name. You must be in heaven here. Thank you so much for sharing this with us. :)
ReplyDeleteWhat absolutely charming bookshops. I could spend all day just browsing there, lingering with coffee, doing a little reading. (And letting Kitty nap!)
ReplyDeleteOh Hay on Wye is one place I would dearly dearly dearly love to go!
ReplyDeleteAnd looking at your gorgeous pics and those fab bookshops not to mention A CAT!!!! who tried to bite you (no accounting for taste these kitties..!!) I think I just might.. (I'll have a word with Charlie!).
Have a wonderful break!!!! This weekend's forecast = SCORCHIO!
take care
x
Hay-on-Wye--I've GOT to remember that. I want to see those bookshops, to wander and linger. Thank you, thank you, thank you for posting this. I think I'm in love with this post.
ReplyDeleteLook at all those bookstores...
ReplyDeleteThanks guys. It is an *amazing* place! I'm still drooling.
ReplyDeleteAh, what beauty. Those bookstores are little pieces of heaven. I think I know where I want to move to. People in that town must be the happiest on earth. I bet they walk around humming all the time, smelling roses and greeting their neighbors. Can't commit a crime here, kind Sir, we're too busy reading.
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Wow. I need to go to Wales to see this Town of Books! Looks like my kinda town. Happy w/end! x
ReplyDeleteSome photos of the bookstores you'd mentioned! I just love the possibilities of the treasure that can be found in bookshops. It looks like you're having a great time!
ReplyDeleteBetween the lovely scenery & all those bookshops, you've done a great job in introducing us to Wales. Wish I could visit the largest 2nd hand bookshop in the world. I'd have to have lots of available credit & room in my suitcases for this type of adventure!
ReplyDeleteLet us know what kind of books you get. :)
Perfection.
ReplyDeleteGosh - those pictures made me feel really nostalgic for home!
ReplyDeleteI'm a Brit, too Talli, and am also your 250th follower...is there a special prize for this number???
I married a Greek so have been living and working in Greece for a long time. Too long I sometimes think. Which part of London do you live in?
Have a great weekend!
That Richard Booth bookstore is dreamy.
ReplyDeleteOmg look at those bookshops! There's a used bookstore about an hour and a half away from where I live, and it's like a windy passageway that goes up and down stairs and in an out of rooms. It's like... 20 something rooms full of books, and even the stairwells and passages to and from rooms are full of books. I love it!
ReplyDeleteahhh, my idea of heaven.
ReplyDeleteI want to go...just for the bookstores! The awesome scenery and landmarks would just be the icing on the cake. A perfect vacation for a writer!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteALl those books! YUM!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful photos, and a very dangerous place for bookaholics!
ReplyDeleteGlad you enjoyed it so much.
Talli kitties and all this is amazing!!! I love all the bookstores you visited and the B&B looks so magical! I want to go some place like this... so much inspiration!
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