On Sun, 23 Nov 2003 22:45:13 +1100, "Wayne Harridge"
<wayneharridge@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>Dear Zs,
>
>Do we have any list members in the general area of Bangor, Nth. Wales.
>Looks like my daughter might be living there for a year or 2 starting
>early/mid 2004 and I'm interested in finding out the real story on the
>place. From what I can see on the net, it looks like it might have some
>good photographic possibilities.
>
>...Wayne
Well, as one born in Bangor (and who went to university there), I'm
going to be a bit biased, aren't I? :-)
Bangor itself has no great pretentions as a tourist town, although its
original cathedral was founded in 525AD (2nd oldest in UK after
Canterbury, I believe). The approaches to Bangor proclaim it as
"Dinas Dysg - City of Learning", and that's its principal status these
days, with its university enjoying a very high reputation. It has a
lot of "pubs" for its size - something to do with the students
perhaps! The walled town of Caernarfon (about 8 miles distant) is
perhaps more photogenic in itself, as is the small (also walled) town
of Conwy to the east.
Within a very few miles, though, can be found landscape and seascape
photo opportunities that are possibly unsurpassed in the UK (except
maybe in Scotland). Narrow gauge steam railways are within a few
miles, such as the Welsh Highland Railway (Caernarfon) and the
Ffestiniog (Blaenau Ffestiniog to Porthmadog).
One thing Bangor lacks (amazingly) is a decent photo dealer. There was
one a few years ago (I bought quite a bit of OM gear from him) but
he's retired, alas. However in the town of Colwyn Bay (about 20 miles
east of Bangor) is perhaps the foremost photo dealer in Wales and
north west England - Cambrian Photography. Lashings of OM gear, as
well as lots of MF stuff (Bronica, Blad and Mamiya). Very knowledgable
and helpful people.
Your daughter will have to get used not only to the wide use of Welsh,
but to the rather peculiar Bangor dialect when speaking English! They
put "Aye" after every sentence, e.g. "I've got an Olympus, aye, and
I'm trying to find a winder for it, aye" :-)
Regards,
John Gruffydd (Mold, Wales, UK)
(ex Bangor lad, aye!)
< This message was delivered via the Olympus Mailing List >
< For questions, mailto:owner-olympus@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx >
< Web Page: http://Zuiko.sls.bc.ca/swright/olympuslist.html >
|