Wales

With a new dog in tow, we decided to stay 'local' this year and booked a cottage in a remote town in Wales called Llangynidr in Powys (we cannot pronounce either - Welsh is a mouthful). After a pit stop for Stevie, we made it in just over three hours and checked in just as the sun was setting at 1600. It was already raining and muddy but I was able to back down the single track road just barely scraping by the stone walls to unload. The cottage is cozy but plenty of family room and bedrooms for all as well as a fireplace. After unloading, we walked to the local pub but found it was open for drinks only so back in the car to drive into the nearby town (Bwlch - yes, that’s how it is spelled). Drinks only at that pub too (guess Wednesdays aren't a popular dinner night) but they opened the kitchen just for us and we had a wonderful meal including a Welsh beef pie, burger, bangers and local venison lasagna. We also noticed a rope necklace made with a wooden sign with the letters W and N carved on them. When the kids pointed it out, one of the locals told us the story of the 'Welsh Not' - a sign hung around school children's necks if they were caught speaking Welsh. At the end of the day, they would receive a beating as they attempted to remove the language from the country. Crazy.

Thursday morning we got up to cook breakfast in and play some games before bundling up and driving to Crickhowell nearby. The popular Crickhowell Bridge over the River Usk made for a good picture. We also got to see the remains of Crickhowell Castle (originally built over 1000 years ago) in the center of town. It was cold and windy so after pics, we found a Co-op and picked up groceries for the next few days and then headed home. We tried for an early dinner at the local pub but, again, closed for food - this time until 1830, not the entire night - so we drove to the next closest pub. Unfortunately, this one wasn't as good and H apparently got food poisoning as he left his dinner on the ground just outside the front door. Gave us a scare that we would all get sick but by the time we got home, he was already hungry again and is normal this morning. Thankfully he perked up because we got to introduce the kids to Liverpool rummy for the first time and it was a big hit. Kept us up late into the night pausing at round 5 but to be continued today. After breakfast in, we are about to bundle up for exploration today. The wind and rain are intimidating but Stevie loves it so we will have to take her along.もっと詳しく