mick
where are you originally from?
wales, uk
people
how would you describe the people in your country?
friendly, cwtchy, and with music in their souls.
on a scale of 1–10, how well do people in your country speak english?
10
what’s a common word or expression people use in your country?
cowin’ lush (meaning really nice/delicious)
how do i say hello, thank you, please, and sorry in your language?
shwmae / diolch / os gwelwch yn dda/ sori
what do people in your country usually do for fun?
i think people mostly prefer to take it easy!
food
what’s the best local food to try? anything unusual?
my favourite is definitely cockles and laverbread: little shellfish that are fried in breadcrumbs, and black seaweed served hot. often served with thick-cut bacon, and with vinegar on the cockles. mmmm 🙂
we also have faggots, which sound gross if i told you what they’re made of haha, but are absolutely delicious, and are served with mushy peas and gravy.
what local drinks would you recommend trying?
cwrw (welsh for beer). we have some fantastic welsh breweries, with bitters being the specialty. you also have to try penderyn madeira whiskey.
what’s a typical breakfast like in your country?
the best breakfast is cockles and laverbread, but it’s more of a luxury than an everyday breakfast.
culture
what’s the best festival to attend?
the lost cove festival in west wales is fantastic – within walking distance of the beach, it’s a mix of amazing music and party vibes, and chilling out on the beach with a bonfire.
which sports are people in your country most passionate about?
rugby! come on waaaales!
what’s the craziest thing someone can do in your country?
wales has the world’s fastest zipline! get strapped in lying on your front and tear down the old slate quarries of north wales!
what activities or experiences would you recommend to visitors?
visit pembrokeshire and walk the coastal path, or go caving in an old slate mine in north wales in a place called go below.
are there any local customs visitors should be aware of?
don’t say that wales is england!! you’ll not be welcome here for long haha.
places
what are some of the most incredible places to visit in your country?
portmeirion is a village built by a famous artist, and is just very surreal and a bit bizarre!
is there a lesser-known place you’d recommend? maybe a secret spot?
pontnedd fechan is an unspoilt area with multiple beautiful waterfalls, set in an area of outstanding natural beauty near the brecon beacons.
where can visitors find the best beaches?
we are very lucky in that there is a beautiful coastline surrounding wales on three sides, so take your pick! the gower is near swansea, then you have the whole of the pembrokeshire coast, or anglesey island in the north!
if i only had a few days, which city should i visit?
cardiff is the best to use as a base, as you can then easily get to the coast, the mountains, and world famous bike trails in the neath valley. there are also castles, a white water centre, and some lovely arcades to wander through in the city.
country
how would you describe your country in one sentence?
cowin’ lush! :-d
how many days would you recommend spending in your country?
5 – make sure you hit the coastline for a few days as well as exploring the cities!
when’s the best time to visit?
spring or autumn are usually the nicest. for some reason it often rains a ton during summer, and winters are flipping’ freezing!
what’s something interesting about your country that most people don’t know?
we have the longest place name for the tiniest village with nothing really in it apart from the train station boasting the name sign – llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch
what’s a common misconception about your country?
that we love singing, and have an unhealthy love for sheep! i’m not going to elaborate on that one but take my word for it that it’s not true haha!
travel
do you travel often? what’s your favorite place so far?
i am absolutely a traveller, and my heart well and truly lies in vietnam! i’ve written a number of posts on it, and i’m sure there are more to come!
what’s your most memorable travel story?
my best story so far is having been flown half way around the world on a private boeing jet to go and work for the king of a country (i’m not going to let slip who!) in a beautiful ski resort in japan for the winter! definitely a work win!
what do you love most about traveling?
the sense of adventure, freedom and excitement you get from exploring a new country is unrivalled. there are so many different things to see and places to visit, and i wish i could afford to go see them all!!
about mick
instagram: @wanderwomanadventures
website/blog: http://www.wanderwomanadventures.co.uk is a travel blog aimed mostly at solo women travelers, but hopefully for everyone else too!
pinterest: wanderwoman adventures
e-mail: info@wanderwomanadventures.co.uk