Considering I’ve only lived in the student town of Aberystwyth for a couple of months, I’d say I’ve fallen in love with the place pretty quickly. Filled with history and stories and nationalism (and Vodka Tuesdays), Aber tends to draw you in completely. In some ways, it’s relatively similar to my hometown of Swansea with its beaches and hills and castles, but something about this sleepy seaside makes it completely foreign. So far, I’ve basically only been out during daylight to go to lectures or to walk back home after a long night out, but I wouldn’t have it any other way as I’ve had some of the best adventures at midnight. From stargazing to skinny dipping, towns like this are so much better when darkness falls.
EVERYTHING IS QUIET
EVERYTHING SEEMS MORE PERSONAL
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE
EVERYONE’S MORE COMFORTABLE
I’ve met some of the most chill people at night, as by the time the clock strikes 3am everyone’s too sleep deprived to care about anything. You can have some deep discussions as you wander down to the beach as fireworks go off overheard on Bonfire Night, and people are always hazy with guileless glee in the arcade when all the windows overlook a pitch black town. Time moves slower, people are happier, and it’s a pretty decent atmosphere to experience.
A SENSE OF DANGER
From eating candyfloss at a funfair to sipping soup on the edge of a pier, to even going dry slope skiing, some of my best experiences at this uni town so far have been during dark. They’e exciting and personal and honestly, it makes you fall in love with everything twice as quick and I can’t recommend then enough.
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Hey Amy! Hope you're doing well!
It is always refreshing and inspiring to read your stories and experiences around the globe! I totally agree with you, cities and towns are one thing with daylight and one thing without it. The sense of danger, some quiet alleys when you go away of the party zones (at least in Barcelona where I live and where you can go from shady to cool to elegant to creepy in a few minutes in the same area). Promise I will take a walk by night in my next trip, I usually do it in Spanish cities but people stay awake in the streets until 12 o'clock so it is not a big difference tho!
Thanks for the inspiration and thanks also for your comment in my Paris post, I don't use nothing too expensive, just and old Canon EOS 1300D with a 18-55 mm lens (the one that comes with the camera) and sometimes my iPhone and a little bit of Photoshop 🙂 Hope it helps. By the way you're really good at taking photos by night, is one of the hardest things for me at least so congrats 😀
These photos are beautiful! You've really captured the whole "magical nighttime" thing, and I love it. My own town is nothing like this, but you've still inspired me to take a night walk. I don't think I've done that in years!
Great post. I love all of the photos. My fav part of exploring at night is def little to no traffic & little to no people! It can't get creepy though!
Nice!! I really loved the photos!
xx
Mónica Sors
Wow the pictures are so amazing,
I totally understand and see why it's worth to explore a place at night too.
I never explored my town by night, but I definetly have to.
These are wonderful photos! To be honest the only time I wander around in the dark is when I've got back late from work or if I need to nip out to the shops haha, maybe I should make more time for it!
Amy xx
Such gorgeous pictures! I agree there is so much to actually see at night, especially right now! Thanks for stopping by my blog!
I like this post! Your pictures are great!
It looks like a rather interesting European town. I don't think many American towns would be quite so nice at night. They just don't have the same kind of personality.
You have some great night shots here!! I love discovering a new place at night as well!!
Hope you are having a great weekend!
Andrea.
This is so true! The atmosphere and energy of a town/city completely changes at night. I'm especially loving it right now because Boulder puts up so many gorgeous lights during these months. It's so beautiful! And of course, there's always a little room for some shenanigans. Going out at night is also one of our favorite ways to explore a new city. Love it!
thanks for sharing this! lately I've been too busy and tired to do anything after work. I just go home and sleep!
Lovely photos! 🙂 xx
You got some great photos! Once we had a particularly foggy evening and although I was tired from spending the day with the toddlers I still popped out once they were in bed, just down the end of our street, to take photos. It was beautiful and quiet (as people were asked to stay home and off the roads) and it was nice to have that little moment to myself, so I know what you mean with some of these experiences 🙂
Hope you had a great weekend! We did a lot of Christmassy things like putting our tree up which was good. They predicted wild weather but thankfully it stayed away all weekend.
Really lovely photos, Amy. There really is something spectacularly special about exploring places by night. It can feel as though you've part of some exclusive club, no crowds, no hustle and bustle… just you under the cover of night! Totally get what you mean about it feeling more personal. Beautifully written post!
Gabrielle
¡¡Hola Amy!! Me alegro saber de tí de nuevo y saber que te va bien en tu nuevo lugar de estudio. El lugar se ve precioso gracias a tus fotos, que para ser por la noche, han quedado fabulosas. Las imágenes de las olas rompiendo en muro de contención me han encantado. Besitos y hasta pronto.
fabulous pictures my dear
have an happy day
kisses
Aberystwyth sounds pretty cool overall but it sounds like nighttime offers some unique charms. I totally agree about exploring about your town at night because the energy is usually totally different. I live in New York City and things are still fast paced but they're also more chill than during the daytime.
I'm a night owl and I do love s night stroll especially when I'm in a new place… but of course, with some company LOL
xx Alyssa
Beautiful photos! <3