Wales

Sheep have tails and Bryn goes to Wales

Tintern Abbey

It really is true that you learn something new every day. For example, on Saturday, I learned that there are sheep with tails. In fact, I was so inspired by it, I wrote a limerick which makes its world premiere right here:

(Cough, cough... OK, the throat's all clear now)

In Wales, the sheep all have tails
Not at all like those found on whales.
If shrouded in fog
They'd all look like dogs
Just don't send them out for the mail.

I know, I know... That silence I hear is everybody in awe over my poetry skills. I'll let you know when the Pulizter comes knocking...

Anyways, like my headline and limerick imply, I went to Wales last weekend. It was pretty much sweet. I went with the ILACA group because NCSA wasn't making it over there and I really wanted to go to Wales. It was also a good excuse to get to know the other group a little better, too.

In order to avoid writing a full-length novel, I'm gonna have to just hit the highlights.

1.) Tintern Abbey - I can definitely see what inspired Wordsworth. I think I've never used to word 'mystical' to describe a place, but it definitely fits.

2.) Welsh Assembly - We got a tour of the new building and met with an assembly member. Interesting to hear him talk about Welsh policy and nationalism from the inside.

3.) Big Pit Mining Museum - I thought I'd never really enjoy visiting a mine, but this one was awesome. We got to put on those helmets with the lights on them and go 90 meters (~300 ft) down into the ground where we were led on a tour by a guy who'd worked for 15 years underground in a mine.

4.) Chepstow Castle - I've seen my share of castles in Europe, but this one was by far the most accessible in terms of climbing around and exploring the ruins. It was also incredibly long stretched against the river.

5.) Playing Red Rover in a Roman amphitheatre - We were visiting a Roman amphitheatre in Caerleon and somehow ended up playing this awesome game of Red Rover in the middle of it. You know, the type of games the Romans enjoyed.

So yeah, it was pretty fun. The only downside was having to catch up on the homework when I got back...