This is Our 3rd Day in the UK ~ Cardiff, Wales to the Isle of Anglesy

Is it weird that we've been opening every conversation with "Greetings from the New World!"? We haven't really, but this gives us great fits of giggles about every 5 minutes when one of us brings up the possibility. Then my sister wants to order french fries and say "sorry, we tweaked things a little."

And the running commentary of lines from Pride and Prejudice ("Oh I should like to go to Brighton! A little seabathing would set me up forever. And yet I am unmoved."), my sister Janie's favorite movie on the planet, keeps us laughing hysterically through every pause in conversation.

"Do you knooow? Where the toilets are?" ~ Bridget Jones anyone? Yes, I know that sign is To Let, not toilet, but the mixed references make me giddy a little.

Day 3 of our amazing journey was the most incredible yet. It was a VERY long day, and I'm proud to say that I drove the majority of it! We made it from the Southeast tip of Wales to the Northwest tip to spend two days on the Isle of Anglesy. The drive was an experience that I will never ever forget. We pretty much drove the entire coast of Wales and through the most gorgeous (and insanely frightening, road-wise) mountains I've ever seen. I understand it's UK cliche, but to physically see sheep hanging out on seemingly 90 degree angle cliff sides was just remarkable. Oh the trip, I just can't say enough about that drive. It was long and worth it. Too bad I don't have a lot of pictures to show for it...the architects of the highway systems here didn't anticipate my great desire to stop every 2 minutes and snap views. Pity!

Leaving Thornbury Castle



Goodbye George, old chap



Hello Shelly's Cafe for breakfast.  Shelly was disturbed that we paid for 5 little packets of jam and marmite.  "who can eat FIIIIVE?!" she wondered aloud.  Well, clearly not us seeing as how marmite tastes like a soy sauce/tar/poison mixture.



Driving...

Lots of movie quotes on this trip...the driver is not allowed to enjoy the view whatsoever, lest we careen over a Welsh cliff to our fiery deaths, and is required to keep both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road during every second of motoring. So when another oohs and aahhs over some amazing sight, the third person will quickly shout "not you fat Jesus" to the driver. We are getting delirious from laughter.

The lovely resort town of Tenby was our longest stayover on this leg of the trip. It was gorgeous!

My sister and I on the boardwalk in Tenby

Another day, another castle! Pembroke was quite charming and home to Pembroke Castle, the birthplace Henry VII.

Ahhh, the best part of driving the coastline...even though it takes quite a bit longer...is that its fishing village after quaint little fishing village. With homes jutting out from cliffs overlooking the water and boats.

We stopped for fish and chips and a pint in a lovely little town called Fishguard. It would be a ginormous understatement to say these guys were excited to have 3 Americans in their pub. The waiter animatedly told us that an American retired there recently, but other than that, its a rare occurance.

One of the guys chatting us up asked if we were having a good trip so far. When we told him that everyone was so kind over here, he said "We're nice to you because we're afraid you might bomb us!" Sweet pajamas, awkward.

SNOWDONIA. It was breathtaking!! I always shy away from using that word because its a little silly, but we were gasping constantly. Also, the baby sheep!!! So many baby sheep in the mountains. I guess all the little peepie sheep are born in April, because the mountains were teeming with them. The cuteness, we could barely handle it. Janie was wishing so hard to see some little babies frolicking around, and we did finally, a little bit. And then we stopped to get a closer look at a some penned down by the road and got a great show of two fluffy guys going at it, all braying and kicking and butting heads. Sheep are hilarious.

We made it to Anglesy a short 12 hours later and just weren't content to crash in our beds quite yet. June, our hostess at the guest house didn't know anything about Dublin or the ferries that could take us there. Which is weird because...

Maybe think about a name change to your B&B? "Dublin Ferries aren't my bag, baby."

Seriously, June was precious and it was fine. My Mom is pretty crafty, so she got us down to the docks and we bought our tickets to sail the next morning. One more pub stop at Free Blossoms down by the port. Definitely NOT a tourist stop, judging from the very special looks we got as we walked in this tiny joint. But the acoustic duo was playing a little David Gray, so why not sit for a spell?

Also, of note here is that every person we have spoken to that has been to America has been to Disney World.