Thursday, December 18, 2008

OnThe Road Again....

Our 1st date:
The Cliffs of Dunraven Bay, Brigend, S. Wales


Tomorrow is our 4th wedding anniversary and Will and I are going back to our early relationship roots and celebrating by taking a long-awaited road trip.

Will and I met in Ireland in the middle of February 2004 - sitting next to each other in the Dublin Airport. We arrived at the airport the night before our early morning flights (all the hotels in Dublin were booked, as there had been a huge rugby match that day) and we ended up chatting with each other for 10 hours straight. The thing we realized we had in common right off the bat, was our love for road trips. We exchanged contact information and from that moment on, we spent every weekend for 4 months road tripping around the UK together. And, as my study abroad program was only 3 days a week, our weekends were 4 days long.

Best college experience ever.

Taff Merthyr Colliery
Treharris, Taff Bargoed Valley, S. Wales

Our first trip together will always my my favorite. There is nothing quite like that awkward, yet exciting, first date... and ours was two days long.

Will was showing me The Vale of Glamorgan, and had planned the entire weekend with all the sights of South Wales to make it a memorable first trip to his country. He picked me up from my host family's home in Bath and we drove straight to a coal mine... if that isn't the perfect first Welsh experience, I don't know what is!

Ogmore Castle, Brigend, Wales

That day, we visited a few castle ruins, the cliffs of Dunraven Bay, had lunch in the pub where he had worked while he was in college, met up with his friends for a night out on the town, and stayed in a Welsh bed and breakfast - which was actually just someone's house... we even ate our Full English breakfast at a table in their living room while they watched TV. We ate burgers and chili cheese fries at an American diner in Cardiff (I was feeling a bit homesick), and then went to the Museum of Welsh Life before he dropped me back at home.

Best first date ever.

Date #3 picking me up from the train station
- sign says Yankee Doodle - haha, very funny.

The rest of my weekends were much the same as we traveled all over Britain. Hiking in the Lake District, walking along the coast of Brighton, down slate mines in N. Wales, to Snowdonia to see the resort of Portmeirion. We saw Stonehenge, walked all over London, and he drove me around all the villages he loved and past all the houses where he had grown up.

Portmeirion, Gwynedd, N. Wales

Our anniversary road trip this week isn't going to be exactly like the days of driving through the English and Welsh countryside. For one, we wont be watching the baby lambs frolicking through the green fields or stopping for Chinese take-away (they are best in the UK, trust me) or fish and chips with mushy peas. And of course, driving through the southern US, isn't quite the same as the British countryside....

But we will be listening to a lot of Beatles, Nat King Cole and Elvis, just like we used to. Are we excited? OH YEAH! Just to be alone for 5 days is one thing, but to be alone in a car, with the music cranked up, stopping at gas stations for chocolate bars and root beer, and eating a lot of take-aways, just like the good ole days of our early relationship, has us both giddy with excitement.

We are dropping the girls at their grandma's tonight, so we will be kid-free for the first time in 3.5 years... and we are going to Graceland, which is the #1 place Will - a HUGE Elvis fan(atic) - has wanted to go his entire life. I'll have pictures to show off, just you wait!

So off I go. I wont be blogging again until after Christmas, but I hope you all have a WONDERFUL holiday! Happy Christmahanakwanzaka to all!

xoxo,

18 comments:

Anonymous said...

What a sweet story - we happen to love road trips too, they are so much fun! Happy Anniversary and Merry whatever (haha)! Have a great road trip.

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

How sweet!! Hope you guys have a great time!!!!

Andrea Baker said...

That is such a sweet story!
I wish you m any more anniversaries together!

Anonymous said...

Wow, sounds like he swept you off your feet right off the bat! Have a wonderful time on your road trip. My DH and I love road trips too, one of our first dates was a trip to Death Valley....

Sewinggranny - Mona said...

What a beautiful story...thanks for sharing...enjoy your special weekend together!

Carry Grace said...

Happy Anniversary! I hope you have a wonderful road trip. Enjoy Graceland, it is something!

Anonymous said...

Lovely story!!! I wish you a very Happy Anniversary!!!!!

Marjorie said...

Hope that you guys have lots of fun! How exciting:)

Marcyanna said...

How romantic! Happy Anniversary! Have a great trip & Happy Holidays too!

Kristin said...

oh my, that is sooo awesome, and romantic..I want to go to wales sooo bad, one day I will make sure to go..but yeah, what an amazing and sweet story..how funny it is to met your soulmate, right?? who knew you would met the love of your life, while waiting in the airport (in a dif. country)..how amazing..:)

Cathy said...

sounds so wonderful! love the old pics :) hope you both have a wonderful, romantic, super fun-filled road trip!!!!! enjoy every single moment :)) and congrats on your 4th anniversary! xxx

Shawn said...

Here's to hoping you have a wonderful time. Your story is touching and very sweet.

The best to you and this blog. Have a great holiday!

Sandra Evertson said...

That is so wonderful, congratulations to you both! Sending Season's Greetings your way!
Sandra Evertson

Oh Mandie said...

Oh how romantic!! Your story sounds like something in the movies!! Happy Anniversay!! Have fun on your getaway!

Janna said...

I hope you two have a great time!! Happy Anniversary!

idyll hands said...

Happy Anniversary and have a ball in Memphis! Graceland is a blast.

jean said...

Don't forget the most fun weekend EVER when I came to visit you guys in Wales. I remember going to a club and Will somehow convincing guys on the dance floor to drink beer out of his shoe (without having scored a try earlier in the day...). Ahhh...those were the days, huh?
Happy Anniversary!

Morgan Street said...

How fabulous for you guys!! I'm from Bristol which is close to Bath (I'm sure you know).

Hope you guys have a wonderful time!!

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