My Wales

In August 1975, the British Council enabled me and a group of other foreign students to visit Wales, which I found quite interestimg, especially the Welsh language. It is so, so different from the English language. And how is this for the longest name in the world? Care or even dare to pronounce it?

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch

The English translation for this town in Northern Wales is 'The Church of Saint Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by Saint Tysilio's of the red cave', quite a mouthful.

At the town with the longest name (1975)

We had the opportunity to visit quite a few towns/cities other than Cardiff  the capital, Aberystwyth and the above town with the longest name ever. There were also a couple of castles thrown in including Caernarfon Castle.

At Caenarfon Castle (1975)

Ffestiniog Railway ran from Porthmadog to Blaenau Ffestiniog. It is Wales' narrow gauge heritage railway. We did not take the train but had a chance to see it up close.

The Ffestiniog Railway train (1975)

We were at the crossroads in Wales. Which way to go?

Before embarking on our trip to Porthmadog (1975)

We also visited the slate caverns at Llechwedd. At the gift shop I got a little slate paper weight with the Welsh dragon on one side and the day I visited on the other.

The Welsh dragon on my slate paper weight (CNB 1975)