Weary pilgrim reaches destination
Everyone in the mediaeval market place and festival within the ruins of the bishop's palace beside the cathedral in St David's (Pembrokeshire) was agog to witness the arrival of this giant puppet, along with its supporters.
Music, dancing, singing, selling and picnicing paused as the dishevelled figure stumbled through the throng. Followed by a sort of green dragon - well, what do you expect? this is Wales!
It was a beautiful day for it and the time of the year meant locals were in ascendence: we met lots of friends and aquaintances. Later in the summer, visitors and holiday makers swell the ranks but alter the social dynamics.
A few temporary extras to illustrate the event.
Pilgrimage has been revived here in recent years to offer opportunities for contemplative walking, cycling or even driving via a series of stopping points along a route that wends between St Davids and Fearns in Co. Wexford in Ireland (with a sea passage between). There is no assumption of religious belief involved; pilgrims may be more concerned with history, landscape or the experience of following an ancient travellers' way.
The beautifully crafted beehives (containing real bees), hard by the cathedral, signify the tradition that tells of St David's gift of bees to his pupil St Maedoc when the latter left Wales to found a monastery in Fearns, Co. Wexford
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