Why America should give Wales a great big thank-you

When Americans think about visiting the United Kingdom, many of them plan to see England and Scotland but don't consider Wales. That's too bad because Wales is charming, friendly and scenic. Not only that, but it has many connections to America, as will be made clear in Washington this summer during the 43rd annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival. Here are some examples of Wales' contributions to the United States:

* President Obama can thank Wales for the roof over his head. The steel roof on the White House was made in Pontardawe in the late  1800s.

 Photo by Welsh Assembly Government

* One of the memorial stones on the Washington Monument is inscribed with the Welsh words “Fy iaith, fy ngwlad, fy neghenedl, Wales -- Cymru am byth.” (Say that 10 times quickly.)  Translation? “My language, my land, my nation, Wales – Wales forever.”

* Many of America’s common surnames -- Jones, Roberts, Williams, Lewis, Davis, Thomas, Powell and Floyd -- are actually Welsh. In fact, the sentiment “Keeping up with the Joneses” comes from 19th-century New York when a wealthy Jones family from Wales continually improved their estate while the neighbors tried in vain to, er, keep up with them. 

* Wales is known for helping to develop the U.S. coal and steel industries, but Welsh slate workers helped develop our slate industry as well. In the late 1800s, thousands of Welsh immigrants worked in the slate quarries of New York and Vermont, bringing their experience and skill with them 

* In addition to being Wales’ national flower, daffodils represent a Welsh medical contribution to the world. Welsh daffodils are being used to produce Galanthamine, a natural plant alkaloid, which helps ease memory loss and has been called one of the few effective treatments for patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. 

The Smithsonian Festival runs June 24-28 and July 1-5. For more information, click here. For more about Wales in general, go to www.wales.com.

And speaking of Wales

The country is home to a town called Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. The name is Welsh for "St Mary's church in the hollow of the white hazel near to the rapid whirlpool and the church of the red cave." The name, the longest in the United Kingdom, runs 58 characters in the English language, 51 characters in Welsh where “ch” and “ll” are counted as single letters. 

Three free weekends at our national parks

The National Park Service is nicely giving us free entrance to most national parks and monuments on three weekends this summer. Those weekends are June 20-21, July 18-19, and Aug. 15-16, and that includes such biggies as Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon. Fees for camping, reservations, tours and other services will continue as normal, however.

Fascinating fact

Budweiser beer gets its name from Budweis, a city in Southern Bohemia. A Budweiser, in fact, is a resident of Budweis.

The Extraordinary West (of Canada, that is)

 The Extraordinary West is a seven-night tour of Canada's western region that begins with a three-night stay in Vancouver, which includes an afternoon visit to Victoria. Next comes an 18-hour journey aboard a VIA Rail train to the other side of the Rockies. You pick a rental car at Jasper and explore the town and surrounding mountain scenery. Then comes a full day driving along the Ice Fields Parkway to Banff, where you’ll spend two nights. The price is about $1,500 U.S., and the trip is available through Sept. 16, with departures on Tuesday, Thursdays and Saturdays.

Visit the Great Canadian Travel Company at www.greatcanadiantravel.com or call 800-771-4833. 

A reminder: Don't pack your valuables

"What part of 'Don't pack your valuables in checked luggage' don't they understand," asks travel guru Terry Trippler. He cites such as examples as a Florida man who lost $12,000 in jewelry in his checked baggage, and a businessman who had checked over $50,000 in bearer bonds. Trippler has one word for such travelers: "Idiot!"

An affordable wedding stay, in Beverly Hills no less

A Beverly Hills, Calif.,  boutique hotel, The Crescent, calls one of its wedding packages Value Vows, and for good reason. The package includes wedding-night accommodations, champagne and strawberries and a floral arrangement in the room and breakfast in bed for two. The price is $295, with additional nights for $175, and special rates for bridal guests.) In addition, a two-hour champagne and hors d’oeurves reception for 50 can be added for $45 per person.

Call 310-247-0505 or e-mail sleep@crescentbh.com. The Web site is www.crescentbh.com.

Read carefully before griping
This story is no doubt apocryphal, but it does have a moral: Look before you gripe. A man staying at an upscale Manhattan hotel woke up with a stomachache and called room service for soda crackers. When he looked at his bill, he began to shout, "$11.50 for six crackers is ridiculous!" "The crackers are complimentary," the clerk calmly explained. "I believe you are complaining about your room number."