Children in Conflict

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!!

I would like to encourage you to visit an interesting exhibition in Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Every year many children die in unnecessary wars and conflicts. They suffer from hunger, substance abuse, violence, thirst… Artists decided to protest against the poverty among children by creating an exhibition called Children in Conflict. On the exhibition you can find works of Laura Ford, Anthony Haughey, John Keane, Simon Norfolk, Monika Oeschler, Martha Rosler, Emma Summers and Guy Tillim.

Butterfly House

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I would like to encourage you to visiting Aberystwyth Butterfly House. It is a unique place founded by tropical forest botanist – Neil Gale the Earl of Cranbrook. In Butterfly House you can find many species of tropical plants and various kinds of insects (butterflies and moths mainly). You can also find there captivating insect and caterpillar displays and a gift shop. It is a fantastic place for taking the pictures, so bring your camera with you!

More information on Aberystwyth Butterfly House you can find at www.magicoflife.org

Malcolm Pryce and the world of Welsh noir detective novels

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I would like to introduce to you some interesting pieces of literature. Did you know that Aberystwyth is a  background of the plot of some noir detective novels? In the picture above you can see Malcolm Pryce – the author of  the four fabulous thrillers : Don’t Cry for Me Aberystwyth, Aberystwyth Mon Amour, Last Tango in Aberystwyth and The Unbearable Lightness of Being in Aberystwyth.   There is one more book in preparation called From Aberystwyth with Love.   

Malcolm Pryce was born in Shrewsbury  in 1960. He moved to Aber at the age of nine and went to  Pen Dinas Primary School.  After graduating from German Universities of Warwick and Freiburg he worked as BMW assembly-line worker, dishwasher and aluminium salesman. In the early 90s he started to write novels. Now he is a resident of Singapore.

I really would like to encourage you to read these books my dear Aber Lovers. More information about the books and the author you can find at www.louieknight.com                                                                                                                                                                          

The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari

Hallo my dear Aber Lovers!!

Today I would like to invite you for an exclusive event which takes place in Aberystwyth Arts Centre.  On the 1st of May 2009  there will be screening of the famous classic silent film called The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari. It will be a unique show because of the live music! This is a fantastic opportunity for all fans of the cinema.  You will experience how the films were displayed at the beginning of the 20th century. Hope to see you there! 

More information about the show and price of the tickets you can find at www.aber.ac.uk/artscentre  

Ceredigion Museum

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I would like to write about the Ceredigion Museum. Museum is open every day except Sundays and holidays. I possesses wide range of  unique showpieces donated by local people. The displays show us not only a history of the town but also the everyday life of the Welsh ancestors.

The greatest advantage of the Museum itself is a reconstruction of  19th century Welsh cottage. The reconstruction helps us to understand how the Welsh people used to live almost two centuries ago. What is more Ceredigion Museum is housing a mechanism of the  town clock which used to stand on the top of Great Darkgate Street.  The clock was replaced in 1956 by the current one and now we can see it in the Museum.

Devil’s Bridge

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

I would like to encourage you today to visit Devil’s Bridge. It is a fabulous place 12 miles far from Aberystwyth. It is famous for the beautiful waterfalls and three picturesque bridges. Waterfalls are part of the River Mynach which passes very interesting small village called Pontarfynach.

According to the legend the smallest of the bridges was built by devil himself to help one of the local women. She wanted to pass the river with her cow. In exchange for his help devil watned a soul of the first creature which will cross the bridge. The thing is that the wise women send a dog to cross the bridge before she passed it. Devil was somehow punished for his dishonesty.

To the Devil’s Bridge you can get by Vale of Rheidol steam railway from Aberystwyth.

Ceredigion Historical Society

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!!

Today I would like to write about The Ceredigion Historical Society which  celebrates its 100th centenary in this year. Initially it was called the Cardiganshire Antiquarian Society.  It was founded in 1909 by a group of antiquaries and local, Welsh patriots.  Societyaimed to preserve, record and promote the study of history of Ceredigion. Society’s name was changed to the Ceredigion Historical Society in 2002. Over the past century the Society has published 15 volumes of its Transactions, 2 volumes of a proposed three-volume county history. It has worked closely with major institutions like the Ceredigion Museum, The National Library of Wales and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales.  Society organizes lectures, excursions and  local exhibitions.

Arts Center

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I will write about the place you already know very well – Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Arts Centre is a cultural heart of the town. It is a venue which provides wide range of entertainment, courses and workshops both to the students and members of society. In the building you can find several galleries, two cafes, a cinema, art shop, book shop and dance studios.  During the year Arts Centre organizes variety of events including theatre plays, music concerts, film festivals and meetings with interesting people (artists for example) If you are interested in pottery, contemporary dance, black and white photography or website design Aberystwyth Arts Centre is a place for you!!

Students Life

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I will show you how wonderful is studying here in Aber. University of Wales Aberystwyth was established in 1872 as a first University in Wales. Nowadays the town is full of students from 45 countries!  Aberystwyth is a great place to study because of the town’s atmosphere. The closeness of the sea gives the opportunity to train water sports like kite surfing, surfing or sailing. If you like to keep fit you can join hundreds of joggers on the Promenade or use the gym in University Sports Centre or Leasure Centre.

What is more the town offers a variety of pubs, bars disco clubs and restaurant where you can enjoy yourself and your friends company.

Aberystwyth is also a great place to study because of top-of-the-range University staff – whole bunch of professors and lecturers who will do their best to pass their knowledge to you.

Welsh National Library

Hello my dear Aber Lovers!

Today I wold like to familiarize you with the history of National Welsh Library.  The Library was founded in 1907. The cornerstone of the Library was laid on 15th of July 1911 by Her Majesty Qeen Mary. In 1937 the institution was finally opened by Their Majesties King George VI and Queen Elizabeth II.

National Library of Wales is unique because it is entitled to receivea copy of every book published in United Kingdom. Now the Library’s collections includes more than four million books! Library is in possession of the most important books and volumes published in Welsh including the famous Black Book of Carmarthen.

National Welsh Library often organizes very interesting exhibitions connected with Welsh culture and heritage. It is a great place to visit!