Cymru am byth! Yes, Wales forever. I've managed to find a local library in the town of Porthmadog that has (free) internet access so thought I'd blog a bit more. As far as I can tell, I'm the only English-speaker in here - this is very much a Welsh-speaking area. Since I was here in North Wales the last time about 5 years ago, the Welsh language seems to have made some advances - not only government signs but almost all private businesses display everything in Welsh first, with English beneath. Police cars are no longer labelled "Police" but rather "Heddlu" and some real estate agents don't bother telling you that a house is "For Sale", instead it's just "Ar Werth". In the last census, the number of Welsh speakers actually increased from the previous count, so it looks like the language has turned the corner and really does have a future. The world is a better place for it.
My last day or two in Rome were just idyllic - a very relaxing and immensely enjoyable time spent with Nadia, Ennio and Mereille. On Friday, Nadia, Ennio and I went for a walk to La Villa di Plinio, Pliny's Villa, not far at all from home. For any student of Classical Studies, this was where Pliny the Younger spent many of his days (first century CE), undoubtedly some of them spent writing the very influential works that have survived to this day. The foundations of the building were clearly visible and an exquisite mosaic of Neptune and his watery minions, still in excellent condition, was there out in the open for anyone to look out. Anywhere else, there would have been a museum built on top of it but the Romans have an embarrassment of riches when it comes to ancient ruins.
I flew on Saturday from Rome to Bristol in England, very sad to say goodbye, especially to my dearest Nadia, who I wont be seeing for the next month :( My good friend Steve Smith picked me up from the airport and we drove straight over the Severn Bridge into the land of the comrades, Cymru and spent the night on the beautiful Gower Peninsula near Swansea (Abertawe). Walked in the persistent Welsh rain the next morning along the coastline with fine views in spite of the wetness! We are now at the other end of the country in Snowdonia National Park and completed a walk up Yr Aran today and managed to avoid getting rained on! Just magnficent countryside and I'll upload some photos as soon as I get a chance. The culinary delights continue, in spite of Britain's reputation to the contrary - Lamb Shank in Redcurrant sauce last night at the local pub was superb!
