Wales of a Time VI - Return to Swansea

     After wandering the lanes of the Gower peninsula, we went back to Swansea to spend the night at a very fine hotel called The Dragon(one of the symbols of Wales is a red dragon). We had an excellent room, bath with a tub, and a great meal.  The next morning we set off to see a bit of Swansea.
     In the middle of the downtown area are the remains of Swansea Castle(not much left, it's said to say)  The castle was originally built in 1106, but all that is visible today are two sides of the rectangular shaped "new" castle built in the late 13th or early 14th century.  Urban renewal and World War II bombing raids took the rest.

       Across the street from the caste is a lovely park, which contained a large video screen that had been set up for people to watch the Olympics.  The day we were there was the final parade of athletes associated with the para-olympics and people came to eat theirs lunches and watch the parade of athletes on the big screen.

     Wales was the home of the Welsh poet and playwright Dylan Thomas, whose most recognizable works include the poem "Do not go gentle into the night" and the play "Under Milk Wood".  Swansea is the home of the Dylan Thomas museum.  The museum does an excellent job of displaying Thomas's life and works, and isn't shy about discussing his shortcomings.  As a 20th century writer and actor, there are quite a few movies and videos showing him and his work.  It was moving but sad to see such a great talent was ravaged by alcohol and infidelity.(He died in NYC in 1953 having put himself in an alcohol coma after a night of binge drinking.  He left a wife and children back home in Wales)

    
     Our last stop in Swansea was actually unplanned.  After visiting the Dylan Thomas Museum we happened upon a theater named after him.  As fate would have it, the manager of the theater was outside having a smoke and invited us in for a look-around.  It seems that as a youth Thomas performed in some of the productions at the theater.  It remains a community theater.  In order to audition for a production you must be a member of the theater and pay an annual fee.  The manager was a character.  She never really introduce herself, but told us about the history of the theater and their productions.  She even let into a rehearsal of a show being prepared for a school age audience based on a Welsh legend.  It was an interesting 30 minutes.  Many thanks to "whoever-you-are" for the tour.