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A trip to Swansea, Wales

2648 Views 3 Liked Posted on: September 13th 2019

A trip to Swansea, Wales

Level B1-B2

Last fall, while on a trip to a conference in Bristol, England, my husband and I decided to take a trip to Swansea, Wales. It is easily accessible by train and almost everything is within walking distance of the train station. It was quite strange going from England, with all the signs in English, to Wales, an English-speaking country, but with the signs in Welsh (first) and English (second)!

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Our plans included two nights in a boutique hotel (with a Primark just across the street!). One night after a light dinner at a pub, we went to the Swansea Grand Theatre. It was amazing – the theatre is on the small side, so it had a very intimate atmosphere. This helps the audience feel more connected to the performer. We were there to see our favorite Irish comedian, Dara O’Briain. Did you know that in you can either write O’Briain (English) or Ó Briain (Irish) but never both. After the performance, we went back to our room – accessible only through a coffee shop!

Since Swansea is a coastal town, I definitely wanted to visit the beach. – the ‘Mumbles’ in particular. I found the name fascinating and funny! It seems that the name may have come from the French and refers to two islands that were called ‘les mamelles’ by French sailors. The other thought as to its origin may be the word ‘mamucium’ with ‘mamm-’ (meaning ‘breast’) or mamma (‘mother’, referring to a local river goddess). At any rate, breasts have something to do with the name!

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The next morning, we asked our front desk clerk how to get to the Mumbles, and it was very simple – one bus, no changes. She (and everyone else we met when we said we were going to The Mumbles) told us that we simply must try ‘Joe’s Ice Cream’ as it was the best in the country.

We never got to visit Joe’s Ice Cream, but what we did find, changed our foodie lives (Welsh cakes and a flat white coffee). But that’s a story for another time…

Wales = Pays de Galles

within = (ici) à proximité de

signs = des panneaux

in Welsh = en gallois

across the street = (ici) en face

Irish = un Irlandais

to go back to = retourner

coffee shop = un café (lieu)

coastal = littoral

may = (ici) peut-être

breast = un sein

to have something to do with = (ici) avoir un rapport avec

must = devoir

to never get = (ici) ne jamais aller

flat white coffee = un café avec un peu de lait et un peu de mousse, mais pas autant qu’un latte

another time = une autre fois

Posted in: Travel

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