Helen's Travels: South Wales

A field trip is a normal part of most research conferences, and this one was no exception. There were many choices, but I decided to go to Gower Peninsula in South Wales to discover another part of the UK. My choice proved to be the right one. I LOVED Gower and the Welsh people. It took us about 3 hours to get there with part of the way taking us on some windy narrow roads that reminded me of the roads in the Andes. All along the way, we saw green pastures with sheep, cows, and horses happily grazing on the rich grasses. They all looked so content that I just wanted to run out and pet them:)
We got to the beautiful Gower peninsula and had a chance to take in the incredibly picturesque and somber Worm Head island. Even though it was quite cloudy and windy, the view of the Atlantic, the green grassy hills, and the sandy beach was breathtaking. We had the leaders of the Gower Commons Association share about their activities and how they manage their land. It is amazing how much pride they take in the commons on which they graze their sheep, cattle, and horse just as their ancestors had done for several centuries. Unfortunately, the younger people are leaving for urban areas since farming is not profitable anymore.
We had lunch outside on one of the commons called Cefn Bryn (pronounced “Kevin brin”) and walked around it taking it the view from the top of the hill and even encountering some stones and rocks, which were the remains of an ancient burial ground (of the same type as the Stonehendge). After lunch we drove to an area where the members of the association demonstrated how they deal with bracken (a fern-like weed that prevents heathgrasses and other beneficial vegetation from growing) and even learned how to make organic compost.
Overall, I must say that so far the Welsh are the friendliest and most kind-hearted (and funny) people I have met here. They speak fast with their own cute accent, have delicious foods (oh, the tasty Welsh cakes), and are proud owners of some of the most beautiful sights on the island. It was interesting to see that most road and street signs were in both English and Welsh, the ancient language of Wales originating from the Celtic language. It was a truly enjoyable trip, and we once again got to see the cute sheep laying or frolicking around in the green pastures along the way.