| Wales is known as the land of song, and | | | | Hopkins and Catherine Zeta-Jones and |
| boy does the countryside sing to you. | | | | possibly our most famous son Dylan |
| Wales is placed on the western side of | | | | Thomas. Many other people have been |
| the UK and is the green bit that sticks | | | | tracing their Welsh ancestry recently - |
| out on a map, above Devon and Cornwall, | | | | including Tom Cruise, Susan Sarandon, |
| and below Liverpool. | | | | Russell Crowe and Kylie Minogue. Many of |
| Depending on where you are coming from | | | | the American Cultural Icons were either |
| it should not take you long to get here, | | | | Welsh or had Welsh ancestry. 14 of the |
| but when you get here you'll find that | | | | original signatories to the declaration |
| Wales is a very different place. | | | | of Independence for example were Welsh. |
| Although English is the first language | | | | Jack Daniels the drinks man was Welsh, |
| in Wales, Wales has its own language | | | | and John Quincy Adams President of the |
| that is spoken by 305 of the population. | | | | US was also Welsh. |
| Welsh is one of the oldest languages in | | | | If old Buildings are your thing, then we |
| Europe and is still used in daily life. | | | | have over 400 castles at the last count, |
| Next there is the Countryside views. | | | | the Welsh National Opera (one of the |
| Wales has 3 National Parks and 5 Areas | | | | world's premier Opera Companies), the |
| of Outstanding Natural Beauty, all part | | | | largest single-span glasshouse in the |
| of a landscape that offers | | | | world (at the National Botanic Garden of |
| opportunities for a wide spectrum of | | | | Wales), and a great flag with a Red |
| activities. Walking (the most popular), | | | | Dragon on it. |
| cycling (Wales has many canal paths that | | | | The capital city is Cardiff. The Romans |
| meander through stunning countryside) , | | | | had a fortress here in the first Century |
| climbing, golf (the 2010 Ryder cup will | | | | AD, but Cardiff's a young upstart by |
| be held in Wales at the Celtic Manor | | | | European city Standards really. It was |
| Resort), mountain biking (Afan Argoed | | | | officially given capital status in 1955, |
| trail is consistently in the top ten | | | | and is home to a large concentration of |
| trails in the world in Mountain Biking | | | | Television and media companies, turning |
| circles) and paragliding are just the | | | | out award- winning productions like the |
| beginning of the list. | | | | current incarnation of the legendary Dr |
| Welsh population is around 3 million | | | | Who series. |
| people, so there's plenty of room for | | | | Second city is Swansea to the West which |
| visitors, and you can be sure of a warm | | | | boasts the UK's first area of |
| Welsh welcome. | | | | outstanding natural beauty, 'the Gower'. |
| Famous sons and daughters of Wales you | | | | This is the area that board heads adore |
| will have heard of include Richard | | | | as the surfing there is some of the best |
| Burton, Sir Tom Jones, Sir Anthony | | | | in the UK. |