More about Wales

As in most of Europe, old stuff is valued, adored, and revered in Wales.  Rarely is a home or building torn down to create bigger and grander.  Owners take pride in knowing that at least the main portion of their house was built of stone with walls, 18 inches thick.  I suspect that interiors in these old homes are often remodeled, with interior walls defining small rooms taken down to form spacious areas.  New insulated windows with crystal clear glass replace the ones made of rotting wood frames and imperfect, wavy glass – a feature I dearly love.   As evidenced by Wales’ TV home improvement shows and the places where we’ve stayed recently, modern kitchens and bathrooms are the norm, but many have been expanded by adding a room here and there, but usually keeping the existing design. A favorite addition and slight exception to the original look is a big glassy sunroom. These pretty light-filled rooms are often called conservatories. As one of our B&B hosts said, “Breakfast will be served in the conservatory.” How perfectly civilized.

Yes, as the population increases, as it has in Wales, the existing old homes are not enough.  New areas are being developed, but the designs of old times are typically maintained.  Except in old-money ritzy areas, like the Uplands in Swansea, home architecture is simple and boxy. We lovingly nickname houses in some residential areas “chicken houses,” because they are long buildings of apartments and townhouses, connected one to another. Some neighborhoods have free-standing structures but are so close together, they resemble Monopoly houses. Collect three and turn your investments into a hotel. 

Old homes built 100 years ago, quite understandably, sit on old roads. I like that, but it makes driving difficult, intricate, and even dangerous.  All drivers must be fully engaged and alert because it is easy to meet an oncoming car head-on on a tight curve. Commonly, cars on the left must find a tiny pullout to let the oncoming cars go by, and sometimes the cars on the right have to pull out to allow the cars on the left to proceed.  It’s a game in which everyone must be courteous or at least know the rules.

I’m amazed that no oncoming car has nicked one of our rearview mirrors; they often are just inches apart as we pass. As a note, when we turn our car’s engine off and put it in park, the rear-view mirrors automatically fold in.  It is necessary.

When we talked with Cody the other day, she remarked, “Mom, I feel like you are not posting as frequently as you used to.”  I laughed and said, “I can write about road trips and hiking just so often.”  That’s all we’ve been doing!  Driving and hiking and driving and hiking. We’ve likely logged 60 miles of hiking in the last ten days. In this small country, there are three national parks: Snowdonia, Pembrokeshire, and the Brecon Beacons. We’ve walked them all. The hikes are strenuous, scenic, freaking amazing, and wonderful. Some, as we reach the top of a big, broad hill, make us feel we are standing on top of the world! Plus, hiking allows us to see the country, get some sunshine and fresh air, and the activity is good for our old bodies. The best part is that we have met so many people from all over the world. Hikers love to stop and chat. It gives everyone a moment to rest. We spent enough time with some yesterday on the Four Falls hike in the Brecon Beacons, that we felt we had made new friends. Being in the midst of nature is good for the soul and reminds us that this is Earth. 

My blog followers sometimes comment on our ability to hike or walk long distances. It’s like this: we ambitiously test ourselves, one, because we enjoy it, and two, because we can — if we ever give it up, we will lose precious strength and the ability to do it. This motto has served us well: “Use it or lose it.”

I’ll just add this one point.  When we arrived at our Airbnb in Merthyr Tydfil, pronounced Muh-thuh Tid-vil, we found our keys in the lock box, opened the front door, and took a look around. This always carries a little anticipation. Ok, ah, the place looked fine, just as portrayed on Airbnb. Whew. Then we walked outside to the garden. Holy Moly!  More blackberry vines!!  Wild, sprawling, and amazing, left untrimmed much longer, they might consume the place. However, of all the berries we have foraged, these backyard ones are primo; they will be delicious in a spoonful of Greek yogurt!