Sophie’s World is (at least in part) about travelling with children. About time the children are heard. Alexandra, my oldest daughter, just finished her MA at Aberystwyth University in Wales. Today, she shares one of her fave features of the city by Cardigan Bay.

Hello and welcome to Aber. I was a student in Aberystwyth for a year and I LOVED the place I lived. I realise that many people know very little about this city, so I thought I’d share one of my Aber faves with you. I hope you enjoy it!

My absolute favourite feature of Aberystwyth is the promenade.

The promenade is over 100 years old, and is separated into a South and North beach with the Pier in the middle. This post is about the northern part, where I lived, and, frankly, the nicest part. Pictured below is one of the halls of residence – or dorms, for you Americans. I lived here! Impossible not to love living here…

Aberystwyth

Below is a view of the end of the promenade with the residence halls and Constitution Hill in the background. The black building is Alexandra Hall. Another reason to love living here!

Aberystwyth

… and the other direction, leading into town:

Aberystwyth

Practically next door is the pub, at the Glengower Hotel, locally known as The Glen. Part of the hotel used to be the house of Sir John Williams, founder of the National Library of Wales – and a suspect in the Jack the Ripper-case. Spooky!

 Aberystwyth

The weather can be rough here in far western Wales and locals know not to park their cars on the seafront. This is what happens when the waves hit the shore. Just one night of storms did this.

Aberystwyth

Revenge of the Irish Sea

But Aberystwyth isn’t always rough:

Aberystwyth

 

Sun setting on the Promenade, Aberystwyth
Sunset over Cardigan Bay. Seen from my windows!

Alexandra Redisch is a citizen of the world, as Ibsen’s Peer Gynt said, but hails from Norway. She’s a published short story author, old-fashioned mystery fanatic, avid traveller and intense tea drinker. Alex has a BSc in psychology and an MA in creative writing. She just got a book deal – yay!

*From Aberystwyth With Love is one of the many cheekily titled books by Malcolm Pryce, Welsh crime noir author. I’ve cheekily pinched his title.