Dydd Gŵyl Dewi Hapus
Wales is a smallish Country in the SW of Great Britain. It is a beautiful Country known for its rugged coastline and beautiful beaches, mountainous national parks, their distinctive language - which is easy to speak and understand when you know how lol - and its Celtic culture.
Its Capital, Cardiff, has some of the best nightlife, a magnificent castle and a first-class Rugby stadium, along with a fantastic shopping centre. In the north of the Country, the scenery is even more beautiful and has the Snowdonia National Park, with its lakes, glacial landforms, hiking trails, and a railway to the peak of Snowdon if you’re feeling lazy.
Probably the most well-known beaches in the South are on the Gower Coast. It used to be very unspoilt and no caravan sites or anything. Sadly, it has been built up a bit but not ruined. It holds the distinction of being one of the earliest places to be known as an area of Outstanding Natural Beauty under the 1949 Act. It stretches for about 19 miles from the City of Swansea.
Three Cliff Bay Gower. Most of the beaches are like that.
Rhossili Bay Gower
I haven’t been back for at least 40 years, but have cousins there and would love to go.
Nearing the peak of Snowdonia
Lower-ogwen waterfall, Snowdonia
Today is St David's Day. He is the patron saint of Wales since the 12th century and was born about 500 AD in Pembrokeshire.
Many of the Welsh heritage sites, as well as the St David's Bishops Palace, let you in for free today, so it’s a good time to visit. There are plenty of parades, concerts, and food festivals in cities like Cardiff and Swansea. You will see many dressed in the National Welsh Costume consisting of, for women, red woollen skirts, white blouses and black felt hats. Then finish off the outfit with a checkered apron or shawl. Men have simple wool jackets, vests and breeches, complete with black hats and leather boots.
Welsh foods are lovely, and always well cooked :
Cawl: Cawl is a hearty soup and the national food of Wales. It is made from meat (most often lamb) and vegetables. The ingredients are slow-cooked to perfection, resulting in a rich and flavorful broth. It’s prevalent during the colder months and best enjoyed with crusty, rustic bread.
Laverbread: Despite its name, this dish is not a bread at all! It’s actually made from laver seaweed that has been boiled and minced. It has a deep green colour and a unique, savoury taste. The Welsh often mix it with oatmeal and fry it in small patties.
Glamorgan Sausage: A vegetarian delight, the Glamorgan sausage is made from a local favourite cheese, caerphilly cheese, leeks, and breadcrumbs. These ingredients are combined, shaped into sausages, and then fried until golden. It’s a flavourful dish that showcases the importance of cheese in Welsh cuisine.
Bara Brith: This dish translates to “speckled bread,” Bara Brith is a traditional Welsh fruit loaf. It’s made by soaking dried fruits in tea and then mixing them with flour and brown sugar. This recipe creates a dense, moist bread. It’s best after it’s sliced and buttered. It’s famously served at tea time in Wales.
There is a lot of history attributed to Wales and some of what we would consider odd customs. The village my Mam was brought up in, Felinfoel, had its own Church, and it towered over the village. It was a Baptist church and very set in religion. Only men were allowed at a funeral, even if the deceased was your husband, and that was in my lifetime. There was a brewery there, maybe still is, which made Felinfoel Ales, and stood next to a river, which, as kids, we had great fun playing in and around. Up to about 50 years ago, people were baptised in the River and have been known to break the ice for such occasions. It didn't matter what the weather was, it carried on, and most of the village used to go and watch.
Both North and South Wales are different in scenery, but both are beautiful, and the South Welsh I find a lot friendlier than the North. In fact, they speak a different Welsh. The South had beautiful beaches, ie Gower, but it has been built up a bit, but still very restrictive. The North has places like Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park.
So, today, post all things Welsh, and let's enjoy the beautiful place it is!
