Wales

Right before end of term, I was able to show a visitor around London for a day- it was fun to take some time out and see the city again and make a new friend. Other than that, I’ve just been working on my paper or going to church stuff.

Well, as I write this I am sitting in a small train station in northern Wales about to head back to London. I’ve been staying with my friend Vanya and her wonderful family. (PS - Happy Birthday, Vanya! Thanks for letting me stay!)
I don’t know what really to say, so many things. Oh, I saw an owl! That I didn’t expect to see. It was a cute little brown one sitting on a little branch as we were driving up to the train station. Oh and as per usual, more pictures will be put on FB instead of here... 

Vanya’s family was so much like my extended family, I felt right at home. And I was able to breathe some clean air for a few days, despite being rather congested. I even finished up my term paper which is worth about 12% of my entire degree… so no pressure. I even got to talk to my mom for a bit yesterday – when I asked her to drop everything and reread my paper. Haha. But I ended up submitting it before she had a chance to reread it anyway. So here’s hoping I didn’t miss something huge. Oh well. This means that this blog is going to be … a bit less structured than it probably ought to be.

I’ve seen a lot of sheep, castle ruins, learned the Welsh difference between going to church and going to chapel. Or at least I was told. One of them is older, i.e., cathedrals from the 1300’s, then I think churches came about in the very late 1700’s or 1800’s. The Criccieth castle, by Vanya’s house, was attacked by catapults and is now just ruins. I saw the castle where each Prince of Wales is crowned. I got to watch a school play almost entirely in Welsh. My train into Wales went on to Holyhead so I’ve had plenty of Harry Potter references (Holyhead Harpies, Welsh green dragons, etc.).

My first full day here I was actually quite ill, so we stayed in most of the day (though, it should be no surprise that I found my way to the beach anyway, since it was only about a minute walk and I love the sea). We saw all these cute small towns that I wouldn’t know how to pronounce or spell again… I think one was Pwhelli but I am not sure.

That's not a very good chronological account of my adventure - but it reflects my present, scatterbrained state... haha.

And now for some pictures!

Harry Potter reference... ten points to your house if you know why... I was thinking it the whole train ride...

This was my favorite part of the train ride, but I didn't get a picture of the actual bay... but I loved it. So... I took a picture of the sign so I'd remember. Haha.

This is where I got off...

Everything is in Welsh, which is sweet.

Bangor Cathedral

This mouse was made by a famous wood carver... and I liked the little guy.

Caernarfon Castle and Walled City. Pretty sweet. It's where each Prince of Wales is coronated. No big deal.

Right by Vanya's house, this is East Beach.

Second attempt at fish 'n chips. I had them with salt and vinegar... It wasn't my favorite but better than my first batch... haha

Isn't my travel buddy so cute?

Wales is enchanting. And so fun, a little storybook-esque with a little walkway.

I just thought this was cool... so I took a picture. All in one, it was pretty handy

Welsh dragons!

Cwtch - Welsh for cuddle - precious time with sisters

And beautiful music!

We've gathered here today to mourn the loss of Squishy. 

December in North Wales. Still green. Beautiful.

And there were lots of sheep. I never got a good picture so I snapped one really quick on the drive to the train station... haha... They're very cute.

The end. For now...

If you would like to see more pictures, please let me know so I remember to upload them... I've got to get going at the moment and have been easily distracted lately...