July 18, 2012 - Daryl and I had a remarkable trip to Wales - first on the Island of Bardsey with my classmates from Drew and then another week of touring Wales.  We were astounded at how friendly everyone was to us and also how they embraced us as Americans.  This was never more evident than when we were at the Bondant Museum.
Early that morning we had planned to travel to Tenby and wanted to get a head start.  Unfortunately we had a flat tire.  Complete strangers stopped and pumped it up with this neat little gadget in their car so we could make it to a garage.  The gentleman there were so funny and in a half hour we were back on the road.  Of course by now it was nearing lunch time.  We had cheese and wine for our lunch and had hoped to stop along the seacoast for brief refreshment.  What we really needed was some bread!  As we were driving along, I saw a sign for a Welsh museum of food and it said they had a bakery.

          "hey, let's stop there!" As we entered the driveway a guard stopped us and asked if we had an invitation.  "No," I said, "do we need one?  it's a museum!"  "No," she said, "but Prince Charles is coming today."  so we parked and then some policeman became friendly with us and we had fun with their hats! Okay so on with the story.  Then we met a reporter who discovered we were Americans. he took us under his wing and whispered to us the itinerary and told us where to stand.  As we waited there, we became good friends with Sigfrid and Gwynfor (yes I spelled it correctly, just don't ask me to say it!)

They decided that we should definitely shake hands with the Prince and Camilla. So when they came through they introduced us as "their friends from America" and we had nice conversations! Imagine that!  This was just incredible.  Then they closed the bakery because Prince Charles was touring it so Sigfrid gave us her homemade bread!  Joys abound!