When I was a kid, I loved Ripley’s Believe It Or Not. I devoured every one of the paperback books and couldn’t wait for the weekly Sunday comic strip version of Ripley’s.
The only thing I knew about Wales — literally the only thing — is that the Welsh have their own language. I learned that from a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not comic. The brain’s a funny thing — I have no idea why I remember the two following Ripley items, but I do:
“Ed Ek has the shortest name in the United States” and “The longest place name in the world is a town in Wales named Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch.”
We’re in Cardiff, Wales today and, oddly enough, a local weatherman made news around the world when he announced that the town was a relatively balmy 70 degrees farenheit yesterday.
The English translation of the 58-letter Welsh name is “St. Mary’s Church in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool of Llantysilio of the red cave.”
Just for fun, and to demonstrate how different the Welsh language really is, I used Google Translate to translate a common phrase into Welsh.
In English it was, “Now is the time for all good men to come to the aid of their country.”
In Welsh, it reads, “Nawr yw’r amser i bob dyn da i ddod i chymorth eu gwlad.”
That’s a real language? It looks like random letters throw together for an eye chart. It’s no wonder we’ve been lost ever since we got to town. Good luck reading the street signs.
Loving my travels with you! This MUST be turned into a book or you are a complete idiot. Just wondering: Does Jamie EVER take a bad picture???
Always looks so glam and happy, whereas my travel shots elicit such probing questions as… “Who is that Russian immigrant?” Your book should include a packing list addendum…has J. even worn the same earrings twice? Enjoy, my friends. Can’t wait to journey on with you.
xox
There is no question: I am a complete idiot.
No, Jamie’s never taken a bad photo. Even her driver’s license photo looks great. The sad thing is that as bad as all my photos look, they look better than the reality.
Re: packing. Believe it or not, we’re doing this entire trip with two backpacks, one regular-sized suitcase, and one carry-on suitcase.
You are truly blessed with a wonderful woman if that is all the luggage you are hauling around! You guys have been my “eyes” to the world, keep up the good work!
My point exactly! That might actually be another book. Don’t make me be your agent…..