In This Issue:
Spotlight
On:
Travel
to Wales
Contests
& Promotions
Taste
of Wales
Greetings
from Claire
First
Person
Your
Wales Story
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Images 
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GREETINGS: Whatever your travel
interests, why wait until Summer? Many off-season
discounts are available to travelers in the Fall and
Winter and you'll find considerably fewer tourists as
well. Take advantage of some great deals on
transatlantic fares and enjoy the wonders of the
changing colors of the Fall in Wales.
Wales has
historic towns, seaside resorts, castles, narrow gauge
railways, museums, leisure facilities - a whole host of
places to visit and things to do, many available all
year round. And while it's true that some attractions
are closed or have restricted hours, this can be easily
overcome with some careful planning, or a little more
flexibility and go-with-the-flow spirit.
Of
course, the one attraction that is never closed is the
warmth of the welcome or "Croeso" you will receive from
the Welsh people whatever time of year you choose to
visit.
Claire Goold
Wales Marketing
USA,
Wales Tourist Board
FIRST
PERSON: Bore da, I first visted Wales in
October of 2000 with my sister-in-law. We're from Maine
and like many "colonists" have roots in the "Old
Country". We traveled through the Snowdonia region
mostly on foot on a tour called "Castle to Castle". This
is the best way to see Wales and to experience the
people and the country.
Our guides, Amanda and
Ian Whitehead, were experienced trekkers and well versed
in the history, legend and lore of the country. They
were also very patient with an inexperienced hiker(me).
I was very taken with the sense of history and
pride that pervades Wales. People you meet are willing
to share the stories of themselves and their ancesters.
There definitely is the feeling of King Arthur and
Merlin in the land. Wales is a land of sagas and tales
with yesterday seeming like today.
I will never
forget our last full day in Wales. We were hiking from
Tal-y-Bont to Conwy and sat on a hilltop overlooking the
ocean for our "elevenses". Mandy told us we were sitting
on Roman ruins (this was just about the time we had seen
a small stone circle). I still get chills thinking about
it. I was eating a sandwich and drinking tea where
Romans had lived many years ago. Imagine. I did and I
do.
I have returned to Wales once since then and
hope to return again someday. It is truly a magical
place.
Mardie W.
YOUR
WALES STORY:
Do you have a story to share
about your visit to Wales? We'd love to hear it. And if
it shows up in a future issue of Croeso we'll send you a
$25 gift certificate as a token of our appreciation.
Tell us your story.
DESKTOP
DOWNLOADS:
     
If you can't travel to Wales
right now, maybe a bit of Wales can come to you. We've
selected a few of our favorite autumn and winter images
from our photo library and posted them on our website so
that you can download them for free as desktop images on
your computer (for Mac or PC). Enjoy! Click here to view and download pictures of Wales.
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SEASIDE RESORT
VILLAGES, BUSY MARKET TOWNS, lively
cosmopolitan centers, and remote mountain
hideaways are all easily reached by train in
Wales, no matter the time of year. And with some
of the most scenic rail routes in all of
Britain, getting there is half the fun.
The Conwy Valley Line
traverses some of North Wales' most varied and
dramatic terrain. Starting from the seaside
resort of Llandudno, you'll travel through rich
coastal estuaries, passing splendid Conwy Castle and the historic
market town of Llanwrst before wending your way
up into the mountains to Blaenau Ffestiniog,
deep in the Snowdonia region.
Another
favorite, the Heart of Wales Line, is a
moveable feast for the eyes as it follows the
meandering river Tywi, scales Sugar Loaf
mountain, crosses the graceful Cynghordy viaduct
and skirts the remote English Marches, stopping
off in a dozen inviting spa and market towns
along the way.
For the savvy
traveler, vintage, narrow-gauge steam railways,
offer a one-of-a-kind experience. Once used to
haul slate from the quarries to the sea, they
now transport visitors back in time – and
through some of our most spectacular mountain
and countryside landscapes. Schedules are
reduced in the off-season, but a little extra
planning will add a unique treat to any
Wales-by-rail vacation.
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FOR A TRADITIONAL
WELSH CHRISTMAS with all the trimmings
try the Christmas House Party package at Maes-y-Neuadd. The
celebrations begin Christmas Eve with a
sumptuous 4-course dinner and feature three days
of feasting, frolicking, and merriment,
including caroling around the tree with the
Ardudwy Male Voice Choir and, of course, a visit
from Father Christmas. What a great way to enjoy
the holidays.
Maes-y-Neuadd is a restored
14th-century manor house known for its excellent
food and accommodations, as well as for its
magnificent views of Snowdonia National Park.
Family owned and operated by the Jacksons and
Paynes, they’ll be happy to pick you up at the
Blaenau Ffestiniog or Harlech train stations if
you come in by rail.
Many terrific
specials and discounts are available to
off-season and mid-week visitors to Wales.
Consider the ‘3rd Night Free’ offer at the Penhelig Arms, overlooking the
water in Aberdyfi at the foot of the Snowdon
mountains. Or perhaps you’d rather go for one of
the special, discounted spa packages at the Tre-Ysgawen Hall, a Victorian
country house hotel and spa in Anglesey.
TRAVEL
TIP: Welsh Rarebits lists many of
the finer hotels and B&Bs in Wales, and many
excellent, off-season special offers.
TRAVEL
TIP: BritRail is offering 25% off
any BritRail Consecutive or FlexiPass for travel
between November 1, 2005, and February 28,
2006.
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GREAT THINGS COME
IN SMALL PACKAGES - so we're giving one
lucky grand prize winner a choice: A
free trip for two to Wales - or an
iPod® nano
loaded with Welsh music, photos and a Dylan
Thomas recording!
Just answer the following
question and you'll automatically be entered for
a chance to win:
When was the last
time you vacationed outside the United States?
Click here to answer.
View the official rules.
There's no wrong answer but
you must be a Croeso subscriber to enter.
Not a
subscriber? No problem. Just sign up here and you'll also
be automatically entered for a chance to
win.
The trip
includes r/t air, 4 nights in a Welsh
B&B and a rental car. The iPod nano comes
loaded with a selection of Welsh music, photos
and Dylan Thomas reading 'A Child's Christmas in
Wales' plus a $100 gift certificate at the
iTunes® music store.
Three 1st prize
winners will each receive a copy of the
book "Landscape Wales," featuring stunning
photographs that capture the moods and seasons
of the Welsh countryside.
CONGRATULATIONS:
Wally S. from Santa Clara, CA, Paul C. from
Matthews, NC, and Mark C. from Hector, AR. As
winners of our "Gift of Song" sweepstakes, they
each received a set of Welsh music CDs. We hope
they put a song in your heart.
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". . . I would be
slap-dashing home, the gravy smell of the
dinners of others, the bird smell, the brandy,
the pudding and mince, coiling up to my
nostrils, when out of a snow-clogged side lane
would come a boy the spit of myself. . . "
- Dylan Thomas, A Child's Christmas in
Wales
IT'S THE SMELLS AND
TASTES OF THE SEASON that we often
remember most vividly - the turkey or goose
roasting in the oven, apple and pumpkin pies
cooling on the table, and the sweet scent of
cookies permeating the air. The holidays are a
time for feasting; for a culinary extravaganza
the likes of which are rarely seen throughout
the rest of the year.
In young Dylan
Thomas' Wales, roast goose was the
traditional holiday fare, usually accompanied by
stuffing, gravy, applesauce, and a pudding or
pie to top off the meal. Within the last
century, however, turkey has become quite
popular as well. Whether you're serving turkey,
goose, or something else this year, it's easy to
bring a taste of Wales to your holiday
table.
Here are just a few
mouth-watering recipes to get you
started, including festive roast goose with fruit and
nuts, savory roast chicken with garlic and
mushroom stuffing, organic roast vegetables, and
lemon-studded Snowdon pudding. Iechyd da -
good health!
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