Hello! Despite appearences, and about… what a month? three weeks? of silence, I haven’t abandoned this blog!

This is, once more, going to be a true quick-n-dirty update post as the past month was a full period of near-constant action.

After leaving Portugal in mid April I spent a week in France (celebrating springtime, poetry, and all things boulangerie) in the Loire, before flying back to Italy to explore Florence with my parents for a few days. Both weeks were wonderfully restorative; the days were soaked with wine and sunshine, and I revealed in the comfort of familiar faces (in opposition to the electricity of the friendships you make on the road, which exist wholly in the present as a pure combination of chemistry and circumstance, and take into account neither past nor future).

I left Florence heading for Cardiff, Wales (via London) where I had  anticipated staying for a month before flying to Croatia to vacation with some friends. I thought I was in the process of exiting Phase A of the trip (Spontaneity) in favor of Phase B of the trip (Relative Stability), but this was not to be!

First off, why Wales? Before arriving here I knew very little about the country (…even now, more than a week in, I’m unsure if Wales is actually autonomous… it’s a part of the U.K and has a bit of autonomy? Does that make it a country?) and in fact, all I knew was:

1. Roald Dahl was born in Cardiff (the capital of Wales).
2. There’s this little town called Hay-On-Wye that’s supposedly almost entirely composed of bookstores.
3.  There’s a dragon on the Welsh flag.
4. The Welsh have an abundance of castles.

Additionally, people seemed especially keen on telling me- whilst I was en route to the country- that population of sheep in Wales is larger than the human population. I responded unfailingly with, “Oh good! I like sheep!” to which I received many dubious looks.

The Roald Dahl factor influenced me the most, as one of his quotes forms the bedrock of my whole philosophy surrounding this trip. It reads; “And above all, watch with glittering eyes the whole world around you because the greatest secrets are always hidden in the most unlikely places. Those who don’t believe in magic will never find it.” And where better to hunt for some magic than this little country filled with sheep and dragons, castles, books, and poets? So off to Wales I flew!

The first hitch in Phase B- that elusive idea of “Stability”- materialized in the form of Border Control at the Luton Airport outside of London. Alas, my own surprise at being interviewed combined with the United Kingdom’s disapproval of my free-wheeling lifestyle (…at the time I did not possess a ticket to leave the U.K., and apparently they didn’t want my unemployed self bopping around for too long) meant that I was almost detained and ejected from the country. Basically as I sat and sobbed in the airport three different men were attempting to deal with me; The first took my passport while he tried to figure out if he was allowed to let me into the country, the second was called in to intimidate me into leaving after a month (I’d told them about my Croatia plans and repeatedly said that I would buy a ticket in front of them to prove I planned on leaving), and the third tagged along to tease me for wanting to go to Wales. Eventually they let me through after I’d sufficiently learned my lesson- and goodness did I. Next time I will be more prepared.

A few hours later I found my bus to Wales, and then six hours later (the ride was advertised as three, but our coach broke down and then we additionally had to switch drivers twice. Twas a long, long day, that Tuesday.) I stepped off in front of Cardiff Castle and turned the corner to arrive at the hostel where I’d booked to stay, and help out, for a month. But the surprises were not over! Because the hostel- an exceptionally charming old building the owner and his family renovated themselves, full of wonderful, welcoming people, and located in a truly ideal spot in the city center- had just learned it was being shutdown after some slower winter months. So I stayed and helped out for the remainder of that week, and then helped them clear out the hostel on the weekend. I’m currently bunking over at the owner’s apartment- where the staff temporarily moved in- and just booked a plane ticket to Scotland! Phase A lives on.

Despite my tumultuous arrival, I absolutely love Wales. It’s a country of daffodils and leeks, dragons, rugby, Welsh cakes (I love Welsh cakes- think of teeny, tiny silver dollar American pancakes), and love spoons (an old tradition where instead of an engagement ring a Welsh man would declare his eternal love and commitment through the symbols he’d carved into a wooden spoon). Victorian arcades tunnel through Cardiff city center, and underneath vaulted glass ceilings a world of artisan cafes, jewellery shops, and eclectic gift stores sits protected. The twisting fanciful lanes cut through city blocks dominated by grocery stores, pharmacies, and local pubs (which all provide the true necessities, obviously).

I’m anticipating that I’ll have more time to write when I’m in Scotland- or even just next week leading up until when I leave- but I always anticipate that I’ll have more time (and more access to wifi) than I actually do! I hope everyone’s enjoying the warmer weather back in the U.S.!!

**Pdd means “Hi” in Welsh! Also, Cwtsh means to hug or to cuddle and the Welsh love putting it on teapots and magnets and other cute little Welsh gifts. Love it.