July 10, Chester

There is no non-stop train from Prestatyn to Shrewsbury, so I decided to stop in Chester.  Maybe that was a mistake.  We'll get to that later.  Back to the chronological order of things.  Since the taxi to the train was not coming until 7:15, I had time to take a walk along the beach: 

As you can see, it is quite an extensive beach.  Hi, doggie!

The train platform—there are only two tracks—has flower boxes to brighten it up:

It also has instructions for what you are not allowed to do.  My favorite is that you are not allowed to skateboard on the train (remember, you can click on the photos to enlarge):

Most likely they mean on the platform, but the prohibition does not specify.

The train was fantastic! It puts the Acela to shame.  I wish I had been taking it all the way to London, but I was on it less than an hour.

From the station in Chester I walked to the hotel.  First mistake.  There are these underpasses, some with water and garbage, that go in several directions and you are supposed to know which way to go?   You figure it out.  Approaching the hotel, my heart sank.  It was located beyond the garbage bins just before the multi-level parking garage:

I approached with a heavy heart. There was no way to get in.  I phoned.  After about 10 rings, a young woman answered and told me she would let me in.  The place didn't look great and it didn't smell great.  I wanted to flee.  To make matters worse, they had booked two rooms for me.  Finally, someone who had hair the color of Stella's, only not for real, and false eyelashes so thick and long you could not see her eyes—I swear—came to help out.  First, she refunded the room I never booked.  Then she told me that the room I had booked would not do because it was on the third floor and it was going to be VERY hot and they don't have AC, so so "upgraded" me to this room:

(It looks way better in the pictures. In reality everything is dark grey.)  and whose entrance to the"garden" is this:

There is a constant hum from some sort of equipment, I don't know what. Thank God for the noise cancelling headphones, although they don't not help with the food odors.  (Honestly, in the photos, the room I did choose looked quite pretty.)

Anyway, the helpful woman let me use a room to change my shoes and "get sorted."  They were supposed to call me when my room was ready, but they didn't.  I came back a couple of hours later; again, no one was to be found,  FINALLY, when I was able to check in, a different young woman assured me that someone was on the premises 24/7.   

With half hearted enthusiasm, I wandered around town, and learned a thing or two:

Not the London Eye:

And not running, either.

Some people were takaing advantage of the hot weather:

 

Grosvenor Park is THE park in town.  It has stone arches:

 

And some very big trees:

Down by the River Dee (like in Llangollen) were boats (American?) on which one can take a ride:

A bridge crosses the river:

I headed over to the cathedral, but did not go inside. 

I think I had my share ot warnings and dangers for the day.   

BTW, Susie Grimes informed me that the dolphins way back in Chester were actually seals.  I am sure she is correct!