Tuesday, May 26, 2009

how do you pronounce "LLLL"?

on our way to the Welsh beach on a day warm enough to get a sunburn on a Welsh beach (which is like a day cold enough to build a snowman in a Las Vegas backyard), we stopped in Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, Angelsey Island, Wales. Commonly known as Llanfair P.G., for obvious reasons, this little town is a great example of the ridiculousness that is Welsh. How exactly does one pronounce four, consecutive L's? there was also Cwrw, Cwm, Caerdydd, and other words without vowels. usually i try to figure out the language basics when i visit a new place, but i saw no point in Wales. a land that regularly omits vowels seems uncivilized.

but we joined the busloads of tourists who get their photo taken next to the sign at the longest town name on a train station sign, and quickly discovered that Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch probably means "tourist trap" in Welsh. the only things in the village are the train station, a mall selling cheap Welsh souvenirs, and a Volvo dealership. i applaud their clever publicity stunt, and for some of these coach-riding American (and British) tourists, a belt with the name spelled out on it probably fits perfectly.

1 comments:

weeder1 said...

Looking at the "homecoming" photos and wondering what the heck kind of jet is your handsome hubby flying? What IS that?