Fun Page

If you know Peter Murphy, then you know his sense of humor is never far from surfacing, even in the hilly terrain of Wales. . . .The Welsh word for fun is cellweiriau. Try and say that three times fast, or even once at normal speed. We hope you enjoy these tidbits.

• Top 10 Reasons Not to Attend
• Quick Guide to Welsh Pronunciation
• Mushy Peas Anyone?
• Ali G Investigates Wales
• Famous Welsh Writers & Celebrities

Top 10 Reasons Not to Attend the Wales Getaway

In the spirit of David Letterman. . .

10. You don't do nature.
9.   Your Tivo is on the blink and you
          will miss your TV shows.
8.   Life is long enough.
7.   You have plenty of time to write.
6.   Castles are soooo boring!
5.   Good food. Fresh air. Stimulating company. Beautiful landscapes.
          Yuk!
4.   You do want to leave it all to your children.
3.   You've never been outside of New York City.
2.   Wales. . .isn't that a fish?
1.   Your latest book tour, paid for by your publisher, will have you
          otherwise committed.

Quick Guide to Welsh Pronunciation

Wales is a bilingual country and you will find signs in both Welsh and English. Although Welsh appears to be a tricky language, much of it is phonetic. You certainly won't need to speak Welsh to enjoy your trip, but you will have more fun if you give it a shot.

Welsh place names are largely descriptive. The most famous example of this is the town shown below:

Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch translates as "The church of
St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave."

Bicycle Beano, a group that leads cycling holidays, has put together a neat pronunciation guide where you'll learn how to say Welsh words like cwm (valley) as well as the names of towns like Caernarfon and Llanberis. Visit their Quick Guide to Pronouncing Welsh Words to get started.

Mushy Peas Anyone?

When was the last time you ate Mushy Peas?

Don't worry, this menu was at a café in Beddgelert, not at Caer Llan.

Ali G Investigates Wales

Ali G, alter ego of English comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, is up to his usual antics when he visits "the Wales" and interviews a politician, miner and language tutor and has a sing along with a male choir.

Famous Welsh Writers & Celebrities