No, no, I’m not talking about Homeland. Both President Obama and I are sold on that one 🙂 I’m talking about Wales.
How come?
Well, March 1 is St. David’s Day — the Feast Day of St. David, the patron saint of Wales, and it is a public holiday. Thus, in honor of St. David’s Day and Damian Lewis’ Welsh roots, why not talk about Wales today?
First, here is Damian Lewis talking about himself as a “Londoner” and “British” at Times Talks London.
So far so good… Damian is proud of his Welsh roots, and I’m talking about Wales today! But… what do I talk about when I talk about Wales? What do I really know about Wales except the fact that Damian’s utterly hilarious indie movie The Baker (aka Assassin in Love) directed by his younger brother Gareth Lewis was filmed in Wales?
So, I just sit down and make a list of things that I know about Wales…
Diana, Princess of Wales
Catherine Zeta-Jones
Gareth Bale
The wonderful Denise Salway aka the Knitting Witch” that creates the wonderful “Wolf Hall in Wool” collection!
….
….
So, I don’t really know much about Wales, huh? 🙂
But then I discover this lovely Wales tourism video! On the day that the international NATO summit of world leaders started in Wales last September, and also because it was the first time ever that a sitting US president visited the country, the Welsh Government released a video in which celebrities extend a warm welcome to President Obama.
One of my favorite moments in the video is Matthew Rhys (aka Philip Jennings on the popular TV show Americans) saying “Croeso i Gymru; no, I didn’t just cough. It means welcome to Wales. We mean that sincerely.”
And, we have our guy sitting in the local pub: “You might be wondering what a man with my accent is doing welcoming you to Wales… … I am half Welsh half English… my family always had a farm house in West Wales… and it is, I have to say, my favorite place on earth.”
Ah, and a moment with the great Bryn Terfel!!! I didn’t know he was Welsh, but I certainly adore the guy! Terfel sings “Irene’s Song” — remember the Forsyte Saga theme music? — so beautifully that gives me the goose bumps every single time I hear it! “Life is a dance we must learn…” Can you guess what my ringtone is? Yes, YOU CAN!
Now… Wales seems to be a REAL hidden gem.
Lush, green, dramatic landscape?
Check.
Crystal clear waters? Sandy, long beaches?
Check.
Beautiful, mysterious, magical, old castles?
Check.
Good-looking London Welshman welcoming me to Wales?
Check 🙂
Come to think of it, I can see Obama having one or two reservations about the extremely warm welcomes — given the fact that three of them are coming from our Nicholas Brody, the Soviet spy Phillip Jennings and Narcissa Malfoy!
So, I don’t know about President Obama, but I am SOLD.
Oh, come on, Mr. President, we all know you are a Homeland fan, and this is Brody’s REAL Homeland!
Iechyd Da, Damian 🙂
