Albert's Traveling Adventures Pt. 1

Albert has had a lot of adventures this week.

We were sitting in Boston waiting for our connecting flight to Philadelphia and Albert just had to have a Big Mac. I'll never understand his fascination with that particular sandwich.

 While exploring Dublin we found the Garden of Remembrance. Albert thinks this statue is about Goose-Human oppression, but I think it has something to do with freeing the spirit of the Irish people.

 Cardiff Central Station. While we did not come through this train station, we did volunteer to pick some other people up from it. Apparently those metal tree things used to be covered in hanging flowers, making them flower trees.

On the Fourth of July we went to London to celebrate Independence Day. Our first stop was the Museum of London to get an overview of the history of London.

 Albert wanted to march with the other animals onto Noah's ark. He was quite disappointed that none of the other dragons had showed up yet.

 Then we meandered over to Saint Paul's Cathedral. We wanted a picture in the nave, but he kind fellow at the door gruffly and succinctly stated that there would be no photography inside the cathedral.

 As an art lover, Albert refused to leave London without going to the National Gallery (And Portait Gallery around the corner).

 It being Independence Day, Albert needed a statue next to one of the most famous British people of all time, George Washington, in Trafalgar Square.

 Naturally we had to see Parliament. I offered to take Albert's picture in front of Buckingham Palace as well, but he said he only wanted to be associated with real governmental power. And for some of you, that is not Big Ben. It is Big Ben's house (Big Ben is the bell).

 What self-respecting theatre practitioner can go to London without at least stopping by the Globe Theatre? Not Albert, and he was just dying for the groundling experience. And then he got super excited (sort of embarrassing, really) when Billy Boyd came on stage as Banquo. He's like a teenage girl.

 He then ignored the stewards' warning about going onto the stage, but he just loves a good photo opportunity.

 The following day we went to Hay-on-Wye. This is the castle.

 Hay-on-Wye is famous for having dozens upon dozens of bookshops. This particular one is quite well known. We explored a lot of them, and even held a very expensive first edition of Pope's translation of the Iliad.

 Oh, and if you wanted to know what the Welsh countryside looks like, this is the view from the castle in Hay-on-Wye.

 Albert likes to think that his kind are the reason for the look of many Welsh Castles, but really it was a lot of people just scavenging stone from nearby castles to build their own houses. That's what happened here at Grosmont Castle.

 And here at Skenfrith Castle. That's the keep. (Albert took this picture, so he's not in it)

 But he did want a picture of him in what could very well have been a dungeon.

 The next day we went to Cardiff Bay. This Norwegian Church happened to be the church where Roald Dahl was baptized and attended with his family. It used to be several hundred meters the other way, but they preserved it and moved it to keep it from falling to dust.

It must be said at this point that we then went to the Welsh Assembly, but Albert was so overawed and impressed with the spirit of Welsh Nationalism that he completely forgot to take a picture. Maybe another day.

 But he did manage to get a picture in front of the Millenium Center, or Canolfan Mileniwm Cymru.

Albert is looking forward to the adventures coming up in the next several weeks.