Aberystwyth {St. Padarns Church, Llanbadarn Fawr}

It was just a Tuesday.

I hadn't put much thought into the day except that it was windy enough to grab a jacket on my way to lecture.  The thing about living in a place is you can take time to get lost.  I hadn't intended to to, but when I went walking to the National Library after class I found a heavily wooded walk, I thought - of course, why not.

The path crested a ridge above houses, with curious stepped yards and patios.  I was rewarded at the end of the path with a view of St. Padarn Church, the surrounding graveyard and a tantalizing arched entry - it was terribly tempting to creep through the gate and view closer the history.

The church is built on the hillside and, like so many buildings in Aberystwyth, it surprises you with a view when you least expect it.  I was first impressed that I hadn't seen it's height sooner.  It's now in the midst of very English houses, which rub shoulders just across narrow streets.  There's really no angle to capture the whole building - at least with my lens.

The silence inside the church was heavy, every movement interrupted the silence and the sound of the wind outside was magnified in the empty interior.  The church is a cruciform in structure.  The pews under the tower were cleared away beneath the vaulted wood ceiling because the BBC was coming to record a Christmas concert.

I pause here to think about the clash of old and new.  St. Padarn was a Celtic monk who settled in the barren land.  He would have worshiped in the open spaces and been buried simply as fitting his ascetic lifestyle.  The building is now a massive collection of history named after a man from the wilderness.  The foundations starts in the 3rd century but the tower was rebuilt in 1297 after the original church burned.  Since then it's been developed and the most recent noticeable additions are war memorials and 19th century gravestones.

I loved the significance of the discovery and how the light mixed through the stained glass windows inside.  Every ancient church needs to be discovered on a dark rainy day, in silence, awe and memory.  

Aberystwyth

Aberystwyth is a coastal town.  It's roots are in farming and there's proof in the hills of sheep and market Saturdays, two times monthly.

To me, Aberystwyth is like your favorite coffee shop, cozy and surprising.  Sometimes full of the locals and sometimes an eclectic collection of university students and tourists. 

Aberystwyth offers a million views and is probably photographer heaven.  To me it's a bit frustrating, trying to capture anything close to reality.  To begin, however, I've gathered a few shots close to home. Please note the Sun. Aberystwyth does live up to it's "resort" title occasionally.

The Promenade and colorful University Student Housing

It's just one week now since I rolled into Aberystwyth Railway Station (It's not a train station guys).  The city is full of old and new: banks and bars in beautiful old buildings and modern grocery stores at every turn.  The history is evident everywhere but so far all I can do is look and listen. The city has been growing up here for hundreds of years. 

 Aberystwyth Railway Station (and Bus Station)

I've been attempting to photograph Old College ever since I arrived but it's just so big - I can't quite capture it's ancient and academic awesomeness.  Old College now houses administration and perhaps a few art lectures.  The history of Aberystwyth University I intend to unravel at the National Library soon, but now is just for looking.

Finally, of course the sea.  My dorm room sadly faces inward and not to the sea but I can't really complain because these ocean views are on the way to nearly everywhere.  I can't get over the perfect shades of green, blue and grey that greet me; or the tides that surprise me, littering the beach with strange notions. I have never lived near the ocean before and the ever present gulls and sounds are slowly sinking into my psyche.  I find myself walking slower, even when the streets are crowded. And the little streets do crowd.

 More pictures posting daily at: Community of Three