Wales!!!!!

Wales is simply breath taking. There is no photo in the world that can express how incredible the landscape really is. The houses are built of slate and stone.(which by the way are rediculously expensive because the ground is compressed so tighly- the coql is the slowest burning in the world from what I'm told) The houses look... rustic and quaint and every thing my mom would ever dream off, like pottery barn but 100x times better! The mountains are so very tall! There is a layer of fog and clouds before the top! Great Britain and the US actually train special forces here because the terain is so rough up top! AND they shoot movies here for scenic scenes like china,Japan, and the green parts of Afghan! There are lakes and streams flowing down the mountains and the grass is greener than I've ever seen, probably all the rain. It is truly magical. There is a myth that Merlin was burried in these mountains!! There is an "ugly" house, the man built it in one day exactly and the deal was he would never have to pay takes for it if he could complete it in a day.. its incredible because the house is made out of large stones and slate, not ugly at all.. the law is... you can camp anywhere as long as you can be seen from the road.. well there are millions of miles for that! I would love to spend weeks here just exploring!! I know that I could get lost but be completely content. :)

so we stopped at a little town in Wales where the name was translated to atleast 6 words in English but it is one word in Welch. It is such a crazy language! I guess the language is the truest Gaelic dilect and the people are the most like "pure bred" because it is surrounded by, mountains and no one wanted to conquer it. Their flag is sweet its a red dragon! They use to run to battle with onions to symbolize what side they were fighting for.. so their like thing is I ions like Londons is a red rose... anyway.. so the little town we stopped at was adorable. I just love the architecture it Europe. The cities are so old. They have shops older than our country!! And tho things may be up to date they keep the original structure. I just. I can't come back to cement and plaster and sky scrapers. No fun!!

We went to Beaumaris castle today in the small town! There are more castles in little Wales than Starbucks in Cleveland I swear haha!!! (Wales is not a very long or wide country) we bought wood swords and sword fighted in the castle haha!! We could wctualky walk to the top of the castle via circle staircases!! I could see the tops of all the houses in the city! they are slanted tops! And a gorgeous mountain sky line, with sheep EVERYWHERE! We grabbed a bite to eat at a local deli, I got a tuna baguette with aged cheddar and green pesto-mmmmm! They don't really have cans over here, drinks are all in glass bottles! I got raspberry lemonade but it was a bit fizzy, So tasty :)

Speedy, the tour director was talking to Elena and I about Great Britian's royal family..it was really interesting because I cant say I learned much about it in school... people really love their Queen. at first I thought the whole set up was a bit old school with being born into power but he put it in a way that makes a little sense... thry are raised and trained for this position since birth. Its not like a president who just decides at age 25 or so he has a shot at it because he's a good politician and has a squeeky clean slate. Kings or queens can abdacate the thrown or not be selected at all if felt unfit, which has happened- or beheaded haha. Not really a laughing, after but that would make me think twice about screwing the public over!  Did you know that there has NEVER been a king who was the first born. Spooky aye!? It always ended up that they abdacate the thrown, werent deemed fit, or beheaded for bad behavior! And he was even talking to me about Prince Charles.. he isn't such a bad guy... I have a lot of respect for the system actually, they have more freedoms than the US,  a booming economy - Australia supposedly has never had a recession,  and it seems to be working pretty well. Hmm makes you think...

So! Now Im in Manchester.. we ate at the hotel, woo free buffet dinner! I actually surveyed the dessert table and was confused by the pitcher of milk.. the waiter told me it was cream and I was like .. for.... coffee? He's like nooo.. for... the cake. It was fantastic! Everyone tried it!!!! ESP if the cake is dry!

By the way! I am SO thankful we are staying in hotels. Seriously a nice shower is perfect for a day of exploring, and speaking of hotels. Its not what I read about online! They offer shampoo and body wash, towels (no wash cloths or ice) but tea is in the room.. they have like little single beds or a large queen and a single in the room. Its so different than what we are use to tho.. the hallways are soooooooo windy and confusing. zero is the ground floor and then it goes up, they have negative numbers for the basement. And even of you are suppose to go to room 217 you walk up three flights of stairs and there are little sub sections with tree rooms in a corner. Strange! We rode on a lift (an elevator) that fits one person and literally screams clostraphobia or trapped for eternity. Haha! Speaking of odd words that Europe uses here's a list that Parker, Tasha, Tim, Elena, and I have compiled: Lift -elevator to let - is comparable to renting or leasing Boot - for trunk of a car Cap -for hat Our Chips are crisps and chips are actually French fries Braces - suspenders Cash register is called a Till Baps- are like rolls or the guy sitting behind us overheard our conversation and said there is also another meanings -tits Biscuits-cookies Welch cakes arw comparable to a sweet English shortbread muffin with a hint of lemon Gents is on the men's bathroom! Coach - bus I feel like there are so much more... Our tour guide, Andrew Speedy is such a classy bloke.. He says cheers, and a spot of lunch, he called us sex kittens today and chuckles about our small bladders "take wee wees" and our large appetites. He was speaking to us about the food in certain regions, in what is to die for...I hear an English strawberry is practically orgasmic. Haha! The lamb in Wales is good and lean because they are on the slopes of the mountains... we begged him to tell us if we had any food we are good for.. because even our milk is banned in Europe because of the antibiotics and crap we do to the cows! He said our steak is phenomenal but banned as well.. beef jerky and pancakes with syrup but not bacon on top haha! Well that's all for now, hopefully my photos will upload better... Tim has added so many photos to FB he's putting me to shame Cheers!