So, I told you all about why I went to Wales after heading back to the British Isles. Now let me tell you about all the good fun that was had. Alex and I spent most, if not all, our free time hanging out with a few locals. The community around us was amazing and everyone was incredibly friendly. It was so connected that if you met someone, they likely knew the next person you bumped into the next town over. The day I arrived I hitched from the train station to the farm and was picked up by a young couple that took me right to the doorstep. Three days later I went with Alex to play football with some of his buddies. The dude that picked me up was there suiting up for his match. If I had to stop writing now, that would sum up the time in Wales with the locals. Alex and I spent most of our free time hanging out with the Grimshaw family. We fast beame drinking buddies, football teammates, and they were in a band so music was provided. Keep an eye out for them, Regime.
We were even able to take a few trips to some cool places nearby: Carmarthen (Alex had to stay home), Aberystwyth, and Cardiff. My first weekend in Wales, Regime was playing a gig in Carmarthen and there was only one seat left in the car. Alex took one for the team and let me have it on the condition the next time he would land the last slot (luckily, he was never able to capitalize on that). Mad love for not fighting me on that, Alex! It was a good show and it was the first time I really got to know the guys. Before the show, we had a bomb curry that we ate in the courtyard of a church (it really looked more like a graveyard if you ask me). The music is a sweet spin on reggae. After that, a few of us went down the street and got wrecked on ciders and shots only to return to Glandwr to catch the sunrise. It was a proper night out to welcome an American to Wales and set the tone for the following month :)
The next trip was when Alex and I went to Aberystwyth for the weekend. We didn't really have a plan, as you've come to expect from me, and just kind of showed up. We were able to snag a stay through a CouchSurfer called Tony and it turned out that weekend was the MidMad Festival. It was a day of good fun listening to music at the university and dancing about. Alex pranced around with Avatar like a mildly moronic fool (see photo). I had to do it Alex! It was good fun though and the day was spent slurping beers and munching down burgers. The night moved to a house party where I was offered my first ever line of coke. That was an interesting one and the exit cue for Alex and myself. The Aberystwyth crowd knows how to keep a party going, but I'd prefer the party that stays afloat because people want to be there. The next day, Alex and I hitched back to Glandwr rather easily in time for dinner with the family, yum! Throughout the rest of my time in Wales, we spent nights hanging with Theo, Toby, and Jez (The Grimshaw Boys) and some days we went down to the lake or on a hike.
The final trip in Wales was when Alex spent a weekend in Cardiff with me on my way to London. As far as we knew, it was going to be the last time I would see him for years to come. I found out later I would be going back to London, but at that time I had no intention of returning to England on this trip. We stayed with a lovely lady CS'er called Michelle that put us up for the weekend and gave us tons of freedom, even made us some fairy cakes! Alex helped me do some shopping because the farm destroyed my jeans and even though I tried repairing them several times they just kept ripping, we abused some marketing of Sobe energy drinks by walking by and grabbing some from about 3 different people (evening mixers people!), hopped into pubs for a pint or two, and he even overstayed when I missed my bus because of the traffic delays from the football match. Cardiff is a fun, youthful city, with a good nightlife and I would recommend anyone to visit there. If you can go with a great friend, it'll make the time even better. As they say, two people shorten a road. Thanks Alex!
Photo Album
We were even able to take a few trips to some cool places nearby: Carmarthen (Alex had to stay home), Aberystwyth, and Cardiff. My first weekend in Wales, Regime was playing a gig in Carmarthen and there was only one seat left in the car. Alex took one for the team and let me have it on the condition the next time he would land the last slot (luckily, he was never able to capitalize on that). Mad love for not fighting me on that, Alex! It was a good show and it was the first time I really got to know the guys. Before the show, we had a bomb curry that we ate in the courtyard of a church (it really looked more like a graveyard if you ask me). The music is a sweet spin on reggae. After that, a few of us went down the street and got wrecked on ciders and shots only to return to Glandwr to catch the sunrise. It was a proper night out to welcome an American to Wales and set the tone for the following month :)
The next trip was when Alex and I went to Aberystwyth for the weekend. We didn't really have a plan, as you've come to expect from me, and just kind of showed up. We were able to snag a stay through a CouchSurfer called Tony and it turned out that weekend was the MidMad Festival. It was a day of good fun listening to music at the university and dancing about. Alex pranced around with Avatar like a mildly moronic fool (see photo). I had to do it Alex! It was good fun though and the day was spent slurping beers and munching down burgers. The night moved to a house party where I was offered my first ever line of coke. That was an interesting one and the exit cue for Alex and myself. The Aberystwyth crowd knows how to keep a party going, but I'd prefer the party that stays afloat because people want to be there. The next day, Alex and I hitched back to Glandwr rather easily in time for dinner with the family, yum! Throughout the rest of my time in Wales, we spent nights hanging with Theo, Toby, and Jez (The Grimshaw Boys) and some days we went down to the lake or on a hike.
The final trip in Wales was when Alex spent a weekend in Cardiff with me on my way to London. As far as we knew, it was going to be the last time I would see him for years to come. I found out later I would be going back to London, but at that time I had no intention of returning to England on this trip. We stayed with a lovely lady CS'er called Michelle that put us up for the weekend and gave us tons of freedom, even made us some fairy cakes! Alex helped me do some shopping because the farm destroyed my jeans and even though I tried repairing them several times they just kept ripping, we abused some marketing of Sobe energy drinks by walking by and grabbing some from about 3 different people (evening mixers people!), hopped into pubs for a pint or two, and he even overstayed when I missed my bus because of the traffic delays from the football match. Cardiff is a fun, youthful city, with a good nightlife and I would recommend anyone to visit there. If you can go with a great friend, it'll make the time even better. As they say, two people shorten a road. Thanks Alex!
Photo Album
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