5 Things I Love About Wales and Yes there will be Dragons

The National Eisteddfod officially starts today, so I thought I'd share a blog post about 5 Things that I personally love about Wales.  

Actually there are lots of things that I love about Wales but...today I will start with 5.  

First and foremost, I love our Welsh flag, the Red Welsh Dragon standing proud on green lush land.  It is a flag that does not intimidate but boasts pride, strength and stance.  

We love our Red Dragon so much we stamp him on everything to remind you where you are just in case you forget your in Wales; and if your not - its to remind you of Wales.

I have Welsh flag bunting in my garden, in the kitchen on my apron, pint glasses and mugs I drink out of  and even a cookie cutter.

Second the fantastic and magical Castles, whether it's raining or shining, Welsh castles light up naturally against the beautiful glorious Green lush backdrop of spectacular scenery found all over Wales.  

In the past I have  shared 5 Welsh Castles: Harlech Castle, Caerphilly and Chepstow.  There are so many castles and ruins to explore in Wales.  Did you know that Wales has more castles per square than any other county in the world.

Now onto number  three: Welsh Dragons.  Welsh Dragons come in many magnificent shapes and sizes and guess what?! Some of our dragons do actually breath fire - for real!

Meet Dewi the Dragon: Guardian of Castle Harlech, Dewi is 16-foot long, 11ft high and 10 ft wide metal sculpture. 

A little while ago, I stumbled upon  the fantastical  Ebbw Vale Dragon in Blaenau Gwent.  This steely dragon was part funded by the European Union.  He is made from thousands of individual stainless steel scales.  He certainly does have a presence in the town centre, just look at those claws.

Recently Caerphilly Castle welcomed a new reptile like red and black scaled dragon which measures four metres long , he has an outreached claw and smoke flaring nostrils.   This dragon was sadly only temporary making an appearance for the Welsh v England Six Nations game, so I have not met him yet, but I haven't given up yet.

Now I introduce you to more gentler dragons that have come and gone are these Super Dragons spotted in Newport Gwent a few years back.

This is a Canary Dragon inspired by Tweety Pie a Loony Tunes character. 

I am sharing this particular photograph of a Punk Welsh Dragon with My Sunday Photo hosted by One Dad 3 Girls.

The Welsh are happy to even laugh at themselves, check out these not particularly good graffiti art sprayed dragons, but humorous nonetheless.  

Even our first money saving boxes are shaped like dragons (not piggy banks).  So you can see why I marvel at Welsh dragons. 

Now onto number 4 and one of my reasons for loving Wales: The Warm Welsh Welcome!

As I said at the beginning its the start of the National Eisteddfod.  The Eisteddford is a celebration of Wales and Welshness, of our culture, priding ourselves on our countrys achievements and of the notion of belonging  to a community.  The Welsh are the best when it comes to showing 'A Warm Welsh Welcome' and a poignant moment in history of this Warm Welcome was the way Welsh Miners in south Wales embraced Paul Robeson.  

Paul Robeson was a black American actor, singer, civil rights campaigner and lawyer who moved to Britain in the 1920s and his love affair with Wales began.  Robeson met with south Wales miners and realised that the struggle and oppression in Wales was just the same as that being endured by Black people in America. 

The Welsh, especially the miners embraced Paul Robeson's version of Land of My Fathers which he was invited to sing at the Eisteddfod in Ebbw Vale, 1958.  Just listening to Paul Robesons rendition of Land of My Fathers takes my breath away. 

My interest in Hidden Black history was peaked and I was well on the way to my chosen vocation in life: Welsh ethnic and cultural diversity.  I never got to write my own book on hidden black history in Wales and the contributions of people of colour in Wales as I moved to Scotland, but am proud that one was finally published: Cymru Ddu: Black Wales: A History. 

Cymru Ddu: Black Wales: shares the hidden history of of black presence in Wales since the 16th century, the Welsh involvement in the slave trade and the emergence of minority ethnic communities at Wales many ports.   Although the majority of Wales voted out of the European Union: BREXIT,  I would still like to think that most of is welcoming, if not tolerant. 

And finally - number five,  a good Welsh Cakes - how can you not love a proper bakestone Welshcake! 

This blog post is being shared with Amy who is hosting Five on Fridays over at Love Made My Home.