The Velvet Rim of Wales - Pembroke Coast

Deffrwch Cymry cysglyd y gân

dwfn yw'r gwendid
bychan yw y fflam
Creulon yw'r cynhaef
ond per yw'r dôn
'Da' alaw'r alarch unig
yn fy mron
Every day when I wake up
I thank the Lord I'm Welsh

Darganfyddais gwir baradws Rhyl
Gwledd o fedd
gynhyrfodd Cymraes swil
Every day when I wake up
I thank the Lord I'm Welsh

International Velvet by Catatonia

Translation of this post is courtesy to Inter Trans

'm 'n flaen argraffau chan Cymru fel a teenager hysbyswyd at Catatonia , 'r 'n gyfriniol , dywyllwch - hued - namyn - chyneua - hearted , 'n gathaidd - yn lleisio quirky indy aig a cyrchedig 'r byd dendio - yn baglan canau cara ‘ Road Rage ' a ‘Don't Need the Sunshine '. Acha Difiau hwyr Chyflea off chan Paddington acha a 3 awr deithio i mewn i 'r asgre chan Cymru mewn arafa chludiad yn chwyrlïo ar gerdded chan 'r fachlud haul.

Fel 'n ebrwydd fel basiasom Caerdydd 'r chyweiria chyfundrefn a acenion 'r ffordd a bopeth chan chyflea enwau at cerrynt amneidiau at hyffordda chyhoeddiadau dorrwyd 'n ddwyieithiol i mewn Saesneg a Cymraeg ydy 'n anaelau 'n gampus , Synnais a iawn argraffedig ag a guy acha 'r ffôn 'm heneiddia a hun chofnod was yn lladd busnes ddelia i mewn Saesneg a was 'n gyfnesaf 'n abl at areithia Cymraeg 'n ffraeth yn sylwi 'r yn eistedd arfaetha am eiddo brawd s briodas i mewn Caerdydd 'r trannoeth.

M-8 cyffyrddedig 'm am 'r annwyd a 'n ddigysgod arllwys Abertawe gorsaf am 9pm, a cenfaint i mewn 'r dywyllwch a gwlych a 'n nifylog hwyr drwo chulha a yn am-droi ffyrdd ( do bu 'n waedlyd scary) drwo at Marloe Sands ble seiliasom ourselves achos 'r 'n gyfnesaf 'n dri ddiwrnod s exploration chan 'r Penfro Hwylio Gyda'r tir.


'n le ydy brofiad i mewn itself. 'r YHA Hostel am Marloe Sands ydy a superb hychydig brycha , jyst off bannod chan 'r Penfro Coastal Cerdd route overlooking a typical jiggered chlogwynau a 'r Skomer Island seabird addoldy ) mewn lluniwr amaetha carega d] , a feddianedig ar y pryd 'n fwyaf at deuluoedd 'n angerddol am hiking , lawer chanddyn yn cymeryd 'n hwy 'n ieuanc blant chanddyn. 'i 'n ddiamodol 'n ardderchog at ddeffro i fyny at a 'n nifylog bore yn arogleuo 'r aig , ag 'r gwlych am-dro yn chwythu i mewn i 'ch bais. 'r gwyllt blodau a cellïau yn amgylchu gwna 'i a yn llacio chyflea at archwilia ar ôl a hun - catered brecwasta. Hun would , hagen , angen at bod 'n anaelau 'n effro am yn camu acha hun chan hyn 'n frwnt buggers – humongous slugs 'r faint chan a brifiedig ddyn s bodia , rhyw ddyhea a chyneua 'n frown , a others , cara darluniedig , ydy 'n anhydwf a 'n frown a 'n arfog ag a yn diflasu yn disgwyl chrau - 'n lliwiog cant. ( bydew , ]n 'n ddiniwed 'n sylweddol , namyn 'ch jyst all t chyfnertha yn meddwl hyn bethau ydy 'n waedlyd chornia 'n anhardd ).











--> So this is what I’ve figured out – if English people talk like they are joggling golf balls in their mouths, and Scottish people talk like they are slurping cold noodles, then Welsh people talk like they are chewing a couple of these giant slugs.-->

Day 1: Pembroke, Coastal Path #1 & Tenby

Penbroke & Pembroke Castle

M-8 a Fi bumbled along ar hyd i mewn 'n hychydig 'n ardrethol car at Penfro a bustley hychydig dref i mewn 'r canol chan 'r Cymraeg chyngaws ag a 'n iach a vibrant bentref buchedd ble 'r locals ymddangosedig llaciedig namyn feddianedig ag 'n bwysig cenadwriau ar y cyd. Ar ôl yn cael afael chan rhyw 'n amheuthun espresso i mewn dref , Buais bydew perked i fyny ag 'm bushy chloren a off aem at archwilia Penfro Castella. Bu Norman Castella Birthplace chan Harri VII ar yn disgwyl 'r dref amgylchedig at a scary yn disgwyl moat a 'r 'n dalgryf structures 'n ddiogel adeiladedig acha briga chan hogof a was i mewn arfer i mewn 'r carega heneiddia , a wedi bod utilised fel a storage arwynebedd at 'r Castella er yn bod adeiladedig i mewn 1063. Odiaeth impressive!

Manorbier Castle along the coastal path to Tenby
http://www.pcnpa.org.uk/website/default.asp?SID=176&SkinID=3

Manorbier Castella ar hyd 'r hwylio gyda'r tir at Dinbych-y-pysgod Cathrenasom i lawr at Manobier Castella achos lunch , 'r chychwynfa chan 'n hike achos 'r ddiwrnod ( canfod Ddiwrnod route chan 'r Pembrokeshire Hwylio Gyda'r tir Llwybr 'n Genedlaethol Llusga ) Yn byddaru 'n ddramatig chlogwynau yn difannu i mewn i 'r ddwfn tourquoise aig boundless gorwel a fizzled i mewn i 'r awyr. 'r chulha yn am-droi cerrynt i mewn gwynebu chennym yn difannu drwo hun cama chan 'r allt a yn lledrithio drwo arall i mewn 'r 'n bell. 'r ceraint chyfarfuom acha 'r ffordd ydy jyst yn anwylo. 'r cail starring 'r blacksheep chan 'r deulu , 'r 'n unig ddua adar patrolling 'r coastline ar ôl 'r drefedigaethau chan Puffins a 'n arferol buchedda 'ma had ar ôl achos 'r haf , do Gwna fetha Puff the Magic Puffin!


Ni arrived i mewn Dinbych-y-pysgod ar ôl am 5 horiau chan yn cerdded ( a yn aros choelbrennau achos yn rhoi arswyd ) Dinbych-y-pysgod – a seaside chynira dref achos 'r locals , ddiffygion 'r 'n gydwladol swanky glamour namyn has 'r i lawr at briddo jolly balfalu i mewn 'r dafarnau a 'r hystrydoedd , bechgynnos cyweiriedig i fyny at ddilyn bliant lawn bowling themed hwyr barti , blwc adlonasom ar bysgota n naddion & da 'n hen steak a mushroom bastai am a 'n lleol , a M-8 couldn't choelia am 'r yn dechrau achos caen o leiaf 3 'n amgen cuisines a 120 ddidol ddysglau acha 'r ddewislen.

Fi 'n sylweddol did ca blina yn cwblhau 'r bîr bwyedig benfras sy 'r size of my backpack!! Yn cael fethedig 'r bara bws chan 'r hwyr ( pryd dref s bara bws ydy am 1805: 'ch ve got at addef drawsgludo 'n brudd Dybia ) chymerasom a 'n rhad taxi bacia i lawr at Manobier , yn cymeryd 10 chofnodion at ca bacia at 'r yn dechrau chan 'n hike a took 5 horiau!!

Day 2: St David's & The Really Wild Food and Countryside Festival & Coastal Path #2

'n ddiau bit hychwaneg classier na Dinbych-y-pysgod St Dafydd s ydy Prydain s 'n lleiaf caer – ond caer amdani has a Cathedral. 'i 'n sylweddol ydy a 'n arddun cathedral , Fi 'n ddiau feddedig 'r unique farchog s beddau ag 'r 'n arddun canol - hoedau yn cerfio chan 'r yn cysgu farchogion ar warthaf 'n hwy beddau.

The Really Wild Food & Countryside Festival

Sylweddol Gwyllt Bau a Borthiant Chylchwyl was an 'n ardderchog showcase chan 'n draddodiadol , 'n organic a 'n dirf indigenous borthiant. Llonaid chan cellwair , gwrteithia , a sizzled ag 'n bêr arogla chan arafa arlwyedig 'n arddun 'n lleol cynhyrchedig borthiant. Cellwair achos fynnod ydy 'r hun o'r tylwyth teg angel arglwyddesau chan 'r an intriguing arddangos am bennog yn genweirio , a odiaeth 'n gyffrous , bwyall yn ergydio chydymgais a chwilota racing , ble M-8 a fi s hychydig underdog acha 'r gwyrdd diced eventually enilledig ni 50 pence.








http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eagle_Owl





Ferret Racing - where we won 50p - be patient with this video...


The Axe Throwing Competition

Coastal Path #2

Ni stocked i fyny acha Cymraeg Cacennau sweetish bath chan pikelette bethau ), flap jacks a a dasgu chan 'n organaidd gwynnwy chwisgi a a 'n fawr llymeitia chan latte chan 'r 'n lleol gwesty i mewn arlwy achos 'n eilia ddiwrnod chan hiking yn cychwyn ar ôl lunch. A 'n anhydwf rhodia chan dref chychwynasom chlosia 'r hôlion chlosia St Non's eglwys a tiny carega eglwys chan 'r 11th canrif – 'n amlwg achos 'r 'n gysegr-lân bydew i mewn 'i ardda a 'n amlwg chynhyrchion ddyfrha ag 'n anad yn iacháu alluoedd – oooooh laaa laa.

Fel Chrapiais feinedd bib i mewn 'r arawd hystafell. 'r golygfeydd was yn byddaru a 'n anghredadwy , a 'n amrywiadwy 'n amgen at doe hyd yn oed er 'i gostega ar 'n dal chlogwynau a hudai yn bugeila 'r eithaf fabolgampau boblogi – bod a ]n yn crogi off chortyn chan an agos vertical sigla , ai 'r dulathau i mewn 'n hwy precarious lestri yn brwydro 'r annwyd yn fferru forthcoming donnau. Eventually caem brycheuyn overlooking driban chan hynysoedd ble 'r brofedigaeth chan alfresco was jyst bit hefyd 'n bybyr at gwrthladd – ddiolch daioni neb daliedig ni! Ar ôl a hychydig dor acha cerddasom a chyfarfuom tussocks chan glasgoch , bincio a felyna blodeua shrubs o'r cychwyn , a cyffyrddedig ag gwyllt ceffylau yn campio acha 'r allt briga.















Bugeiliasom fel 'r awyr amliwia fel 'r bnawn waned i mewn i 'r chyflychwr. Caffai been am arall awr s cerdd siwrnai caem at namyn 'n ddiolchgar caem 'r bara gwasanaeth chan 'r Celtic Coaster Special Bus Ride. Hun bwyo farchoga bacia i mewn i dref jyst at fedda 'r 'n arddun fygedig bennog a M-8 ravili ag amgarn chan 'n bêr dyneredig afrod caws. YUMMMMMM!!

Day 3: Dinefwr Castle in Carmarthenshire
ble bendefigion chan 'r heibio i wedi gadael 'n hwy eiddo at bod ddisgwyliedig ar ôl at 'n glws boblogi. Newton D] – a yn rhybedio 'n fideo acha 'r buchedd chan 'r Cymraeg bendefigion a 'r ''underclass'' a sychedig a lleibiedig 'n hwy arses atyn. Bugeila 'm i mewn 'r gwin seler a yn ceisio at dadrys 'r ddewislen i mewn Cymraeg!! 'na aem off acha gwlyb hychydig hike i fyny at 'r 10th Canrif castella a 'n amlwg latter ddiwrnod gwigwyliau arferedig at chymer chyflea.


















Awron 'i been arailedig at cath!! Hun wee edrych ar arall 'n ddigrif castella a chymerasom 'r 'n glws a arafa 'n dri awr farchoga addef ble 'n ddiolchgar na chennym baedda - i fyny unrhyw arall deithwyr.

Normandy: une invasion d'une seule femme

One may think that its a little out of character for the Baroness to be a WWII movie buff, but I am… I grabbed the first opportunity presented to me in the form of a ferry/bus trip and began my One Woman Reenactment of the D-Day landings in Normandy, though admittedly I was more or less distracted by the culinary delights the French had to offer instead.

Ferry Crossing
Believe it or not I handled the floor quite well on the overnight crossing, and psyched myself up at 6am in the morning watching the distant continent and my fate drawing closer and closer over a piping hot croissant and a less than average ferry café au lait.

Honfleur
As I leaped off the boat in heavy armour (my 2 pound jacket from Edinburgh), I found myself very little action in the small fishing village of Honfleur. Not a Jerry in sight, so I eased into the relaxed and untamed atmosphere of this quiet Saturday morning. It would be perfect for a reenactment for the Casino scene from The Longest Day, what with a few beat up abandoned buildings with the missing windows and a lady dusting her carpet from a second floor window. To stock up for the long journey along the Normandy coast, I headed towards the farmers market after a brief walk along the cute windy cobbled streets. The market is unbelievably well stocked for a small place – particularly the stall which sells a 50-plus range of wild boar sausages, though after having a few sample slices, I can’t be totally convinced that I want to bring body odour home on the ferry with me. Further along the market something pungent is simmering away. Apples are of course a major produce in the area re the famous cider, and here they are being cooked with - wait for it, wild boar sausages!!

















Bayeaux
I rolled along in the Tank towards Bayeaux, one of the first major towns to be liberated from the D-Day landings, marked by the statue of General Montgomery The grand towering cathedral is one marvelous piece of architecture, and equally interesting was the ancient Bayeaux Tapestry, which was once revered by Napoleon as a major inspiration to plan out an invasion of England which he never got round to (yes, short men are relentless like that). I was however more interested in cleaning out the deli. Here is the cheese I had for lunch and I will be bringing home some crepes marinated in Grand Mariner… And I am pleased my negotiation skills in my meager broken French has not totally escaped me.













British Cemetery (Bayeaux) & the American Cemetery (Omaha Beach)

Time to pay some respects to the service men and women of WWII who gave their lives in this ruthless and unforgiving time in history. It puts things into perspective when you see the sheer number of graves row after row and how young most of the casualties of the D-Day invasions were. These are the graves of two men who died for their country at the same age as me this year, and the crosses and stars-of David at the American cemetery at Omaha Beach.
















Omaha Beach
Ayyyyyyy Yaaaaaa! BANG BANG BANG BANG BOOOOOOM! This is me storming Omaha Beach – attacking the enemy with the absolutely deadly element of SURPRISE! ready to save Private Ryan. And a thorough map of how I could have invaded Normandy if I could commanded 150,000 men.
Arromanches
I rolled along in a Zundapp motorcycle sidecar onto Arramanges, where I carried out an reenactment of pulling the mulberry harbours together. These are makeshift floating ‘bridges’ (to save every ship to havae to dock) built by the Allies to transport hundreds and thousands of tonnes of military equipment and supplied to support the liberation of Europe from England for the several months following D-Day.

Big Party in Caen
I headed to Caen in the evening for some well-deserved dancing and cigar puffing, as there is a huge rock music festival going on, perfect for a village liberation scene where I would give the locals chocolates and cigarettes and in return they all kiss me, feed me, give me cider, throw a big party and make offers of marriage to me. (as shown in the Carentan episode of A Band of Brothers). But instead they just ignored me and went on with enjoying themselves. Oh well. The Rock Music Festival is organised in a way where every 10 meters or so along the main streets you could see a different rockband performing. The streets are swarming with partying people young and old, eating bloody frits and boozing away, obviously showing off in contrast of how meager my One-Woman mission looks. Given that most of the bands were quite bad, I had to force myself into having a Red bull flavoured ice cream just so I could keep up with the head banging with those teenage French goths. Interesting flavour but a bit over powering, and almost dissolved my teeth with the overt sugeryness and acidity. But for a cheap high, yeah I’d do it again for 2 Euros.





Ruen
I arrived in Ruen on Sunday morning on horse back. The cross on the left commemorates the place where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake in 1431. Speaking of ‘stake’, I had lunch with two Australian compatriots (if you haven’t worked out that the Aussies have taken over the world then you’re very out of touch) who pretty much did an reenactment of the Mr Bean episode where Mr Bean ordered Steak Tartare. It really was literally a eeny meeny minee mo type menu situation because our French was so poor and the Waiter couldn’t speak ‘Strayaan’. No words could describe how hard it was to prevent me from laughing out loud when the bleeding lumps of meat was brought onto the table and presented to the two of them with their jaws dropped. For my part I had eeny meeny minee mo’ed myself into a Croque Madame, which I expected to get a female crocodile covered in some sort of alcoholic sauce, but it turned out to be a boring old fried egg on toasted cheese sandwich. Boooo!























And homeward bound via the scenic hills towards Calais, and sailing in from the white cliffs of Dover, with the thoughts of war behind me and a belly full of stinking cheese - a comfortable trip every intrepid soldier deserves.