Vacation photos - Cymru
This fall, Antoine and I took our first plane journey together to visit my family in the UK. We were due, not only for a vacation, but to introduce Antoine to all the places and faces I had been describing to him over the last few years.
The first leg of our journey was to south Wales to see the paternal side of my family.
After the 6 hr red-eye flight to London and a two-hour wait at the car rental company (where we were upgraded to an Audi S4 - I guess we looked appropriately disgruntled), we were off to Cardiff! We had lunch with my aunt, uncle and cousins before touring the city.
Cardiff Bay |
We then drove off to my Mamgu's (grandmother's) up in the Welsh mining valleys. What was slightly ironic, is that leading up to this trip, I had been less favourable in my anecdotes about Wales (rainy, near an open cast mine, etc. - sorry Dad!). However, on all our drives, we were amazed to be graced with amazing vistas - many of which we saw on our day trip to Brecon, a town in the Brecon Beacons.
Brecon, Powys, Wales - with Pen y Fan in the background |
Antoine turned out to be a real pro at driving on the left, skillfully navigating his way through the endless roundabouts and single-track roads. This was made evident on our drive to Rhossili Bay, where there were many country roads, but was it ever worth it!
Of course these day trips required a good hearty breakfast to start the day and what better than a Welsh spin on a cooked breakfast...
Just missing the bara lawr |
...made lovingly by Mamgu on the Rayburn fuelled by the coal from the said mines.
I learned a Welsh word while I was there that does not have a direct English translation. Hiraeth is deep longing for home, a nostalgia for Wales. Now that I back in Montreal, I feel that word accurately describes the feeling I have when I think of those incredible views Antoine and I saw while touring Wales. xx
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