A Trip To Wales – First Time Travelling Without My Parents

Two years ago, when Huw and his dog Chopper were leaving Romania, he gave me a Lonely Planet book about Wales. He wrote a beautiful message in the book and promised that when I turn 18, we would go on an adventure to his native country together. Huw is Welsh and since leaving Romania, he has made his home in England, in Holmfirth, between Manchester and Huddersfield. 

Huw and I planned the trip in advance. It was to be my first trip on my own without my parents. On July 22, a few months after my 18th birthday, I flew to Manchester on my own for the first time. First I went to the airport with my daddy and said goodbye to him before going through security. After going through security, I went to passport control, as I was going to the UK, which is no longer in the European Union.

I first went through the terminal where passengers board for the Schenghen area, as passport control had been moved much further away. I was very happy because I was able to go through the automatic gates for the first time when exiting Romania and avoid the longer queue at the normal passport control. In Romania, at Otopeni airport, we have e-gates only at the exit and not at the entrance and you can only go through them when you turn 18.

From there I went to the gate for the flight to Manchester, which was on the ground floor, so I went down the escalator. I waited about an hour and a half at the gate to board our Ryanair flight to Manchester. Although I boarded the plane, we waited there as well and were delayed for two hours because it was bad weather in the Balkans.

I was nervous because I was afraid that we would not take off to Manchester and the flight would be canceled. Luckily, after two hours, we finally took off to Manchester. The flight to Manchester lasted three hours and during that time I looked at the scenery out of the window and read from the book about Wales.

After three hours we landed in Manchester and I was extremely happy to be there after all the bad weather. I was looking forward to seeing Huw and Chopper. I entered the airport and surprise, I could use the automatic gates here too. Apparently EU citizens can use this type of control even though the UK has left the European Union. I didn’t know what it would be like at a classic passport control, I had prepared various information to give to the officers, I was glad that I was able to pass through the passport control extremely quickly, without any questions.

When traveling, I prefer to go through the automatic gates because you don’t stay very long, but in non-EU countries I like to get stamps on my passport. I don’t have a UK stamp either, this is my second time traveling to the U.K. The first time was in London for my birthday in 2017.

I entered in the arrival hall very quickly and as I only had hand luggage and I waited a bit for Huw, who was looking for a parking space. Huw arrived after about 5 minutes with Chopper and I was extremely happy to see them again after two years, and Chopper recognized me right away!

From the airport I drove with Huw and Chopper to the Magnet Pub where we celebrated the arrival of me and had a beer, as agreed with Mommy and Daddy, just a half pint. From there we drove to Huw’s girlfriend Caroline’s house in the Stockport area. I was very happy to see Caroline again after two years! On this occasion I also met Toby, her dog. We chatted some more and I hugged Chopper, who I had missed so much, and then went to bed.

The next morning I spent some more time with Huw, Caroline, Chopper and Toby at Caroline’s house. Then Huw and Caroline and I drove into the center of Manchester. First we went to Manchester University because Caroline works there. There we walked around the university area and then Caroline went to work and Huw and I went to visit Manchester Museum, which is located next to the university.

The area where the university is located is very beautiful and I loved it! At the Manchester Museum we saw a photography exhibition of nature photos and we also saw a few sections on wildlife, Egyptian mummies and sphinxes, dinosaurs, tropical life and even a section on South Asia.

I had lunch with Huw and Caroline in the area at a restaurant where we had a very good burger. From the restaurant Huw and I walked to Manchester Oxford Road train station, and on the way we admired several beautiful buildings in the center of Manchester.

From Manchester Oxford Road station we took the train back to Stockport, where Caroline lives. After about 20 minutes we arrived at the station and walked a short walk to Caroline’s house. There we packed our bags, as we were to leave that afternoon for our trip to Wales. After packing I spent some more time playing with Chopper and Toby.

Around 5 o’clock in the afternoon Huw and I drove from Stockport to Snowdonia National Park in North Wales. I’m going to try to write down some Welsh names as I really enjoyed them. For example, Wales in English, is Cymru in Welsh. The drive to Snowdonia took two and during that time I talked to Huw and admired the beautiful scenery. We passed through several villages, the most interesting of which was Betws-Y-Cowed, where we saw some very nice houses. After two hours we arrived in the Snowdonia National Park at the Snowdon Pen-y-Pass Youth Hostel where we stayed for the next two nights. It was my first time staying in a hostel. In the evening we had dinner there and then we walked around and admired the very beautiful scenery and mountains that could be seen from the hostel.

On July 24 in the morning we had breakfast and got ready to climb Snowdon, the highest peak in Wales and England. At 10 o’clock we left the hostel and entered the Pyg Track to the right of our hostel and followed it all the way to the summit. When we started climbing it was not foggy and I could admire the very beautiful scenery. Later the fog came and we could see almost nothing in front of us and it was a bit harder to follow the trail. The trail has several areas that are a bit challenging with several rocks and slippery areas and it was probably the hardest mountain trail I have ever climbed. The trail was even harder when it started to rain, but I managed in the end.

Once out on the ridge, we made a left and took the Llandberris Path and hiked another 20 minutes or so to the summit. On the last part you take the railroad to Snowdon Peak, as there is also the option of taking the train to the summit and not walking up. After three hours we finally made it to Snowdon Peak and first we took a picture at the sign that said Snowdon. As it was very foggy on the summit we unfortunately couldn’t see the scenery.
I was very happy because we had finally made it up Snowdon Peak the highest peak in Wales and England!

As we were cold we went to the cafe on the summit, where we had a hot chocolate and ate the sandwiches that Huw had made earlier. After resting, we started the descent back down to the hostel. First we followed the Llandberris Path again which we had followed the last part up to the summit and the railroad, and then we re-entered the Pyg Track which we followed for a while. We then took the Miner’s Track back to the hostel. Luckily on the descent down Miners Track the mist lifted and I could see Gaslyn and Llyn Llydaw Lakes and the surrounding mountains, On the descent down the track was much easier. The descent from the summit took two hours and the Miners Track took us right in front of the hostel.

We rested for a bit at the hostel and chatted with Huw some more and then went to The Heights pub in the village of Llanberis next to the hostel where we had a very good pizza, half a beer and celebrated the summit climb. From the pub we went back to the hostel where we rested.

On July 25 we had breakfast and got ready to leave for Swansea in South Wales. At about 10am we left for Swansea and drove four hours to get there. On the way I relaxed, enjoyed the scenery and talked to Huw. On the way to Swansea we stopped in Neath where we went to Rosa’s Backery pastry shop, which has several Romanian products. I had found out about Rosa’s Backery on Facebook a couple of years ago and since then I had been following them and Huw and I had planned to go and see them when we got to the south. It is very cool bakery and I was very happy to get there. Huw’s friend Ian came there and we chatted and ate. Also in Neath – the Swansea area is where Huw lived as a child, so on the way to Swansea, he stopped to show me the house where his mother had lived in her later years and where he had lived as a child.

As Neath is very close to Swansea we arrived in about 30 minutes in the Sketty area where we stayed for the next couple of nights, in a house we rented on airbnb. That evening we went for dinner at a local Chinese restaurant.

On July 26 we went to see the beaches in the Gower area of South Wales. We arrived very quickly from Sketty. First we saw Three Cliffs Bay beach, which is very beautiful. From Three Cliffs Bay Beach we did a coastal walk for about an hour where we saw Tor Bay Beach and Oxwich Bay Beach where the scenery was outstanding. The route is very nice because you can see several very beautiful beaches and it also passes through areas with several trees. At Oxwhich Beach we stopped to sunbathe and rest.

Huw suggested bathinh into the sea. At first I didn’t really want to because it felt cold, but later Huw and I went into the sea and shouted the expression Huw says every time he goes in the water: Never Regret a Swim. I was very happy because I had entered the sea in Wales! After a couple of hours we walked from Oxwich Beach back to the car to Tor Bay Beach and from there we took a path through an area where there was no path, a slippery patch of land to shorten the walk to the car. I loved the route along the beaches in the Gower area, the views of the beaches and the sea. The beaches are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen, I used to admire them in the photos Huw showed me every time he went on vacation back home! We went back to Sketty where we rested and in the evening we went to Mumbles for Fish and Chips.

On July 27 we left Sketty. First we went to Mumbles where we bought magnets and other gifts for home. After buying souvenirs and gifts, Huw and I had ice cream and walked around Mumbles some more.

From Mumbles we set off for the Breacon area of south-east Wales an hour and 20 minutes from Swansea. First we stopped at Ian and his wife’s house and there I also met up with Craig, another friend of Huw’s. After chatting for a bit and resting we went together to do the four waterfall trail in the area.

Ian’s wife gave us a ride and dropped us off at the trail entrance, from where we walked. The first waterfall we saw was Sgwd Yr Eira. We walked under it and it was a very cool experience. Then we climbed up again and continued our way to the next waterfalls.

We saw more waterfalls: Sgwd y Pannwr, Sgwd Isaf Clun-Gwyn and Sgwd Clun-Gwyn. At the base of the Sgwd Isaf Clun Clun Gwen waterfall in the River Melte I even had a swim in it with Huw, Ian and Craig and it was extremely cool. I was very happy to have my first time bathing at the base of a waterfall. From there we climbed back up and then walked to the parking lot where Ian’s wife was waiting for us with the car and from there we drove back to their house.

We had lunch at their house, and in the evening Huw and I went with Huw to the YHA Breacon Beacons hostel where we were going to stay the next night here in the Breacon area. On the way to the hostel we passed the summit of Pen y Fan, the highest peak in South Wales which unfortunately we didn’t have time to climb. After a 20 minute drive we arrived at the hostel.

On July 28 we had breakfast and around 10 am we left the hostel back to England, to Holmfirth, the small town where Huw lives now. It was a four hour drive to Holmfirth and on the way we admired the scenery and talked to Huw. I was extremely happy to finally visit Wales and see the very beautiful natural places! Wales is now in the top 10 most beautiful places I have ever seen! In Wales I really admired the nature, the mountains, the beaches and the waterfalls and it’s really cool that in so many areas there when you drive you enjoy the extremely beautiful landscapes.

I want to come back to Wales again, to visit the capital Cardiff where we didn’t make it, to climb the highest peak in the south Pen y Fan and see the beaches, waterfalls and mountains again! After four hours I arrived in Holmfirth at Huw’s house where I rested outside in the courtyard and had lunch with Huw. In the afternoon about 5 o’clock Caroline arrived from Manchester with Chopper and Toby and that’s when we had a walk around Holmfirth. I was very happy to see the two furry friends again after a few days!

On the morning of July 29 I went with Huw, Caroline, Chopper and Toby to Digley Reservoir which is 15 minutes from Holmfirth and we went for a walk around it. In the area of Holmfirth where Huw now lives there are lots of lakes like this and it’s really cool to be able to swim in them. On this lap Chopper and Toby went into the lake and had a swim when we stopped on the shore for a few minutes.

Sadly after that I had to say goodbye to Caroline and Toby as they were going to head back to Manchester. From the reservoir I went back with Huw to his house where I helped him take several things he was no longer using to a place to recycle so we went in his van, which he used to take me to school every day when he lived in Romania. I was very happy to ride in the van again after two years!

Late we went back home where we rested in the yard and had lunch. In the afternoon we went to another reservoir in the area which is called Broadstone and is 15 minutes from Holmfirth. We did another lap around it and then sat on the bank and had a swim. From there we went back to Holmfirth where we went for a last beer together as the next day I was going back to Romania and then we went for lunch.

After eating we walked around Holmfirth for a while and then we went back home where we rested. I really liked the small town of Holmfirth because it has some very nice buildings and houses and it’s in a very nice nature area!

July 30 was the last day in England that Huw and I spent together. In the morning before going to the airport I took a walk with Huw and Chopper through Holmfirth and then along the river Holme through the woods to the Holmfirth exit. We then took a break by the river and in the meantime Chopper of course had a dip in the river.

I packed my luggage and set off at half past 11 in the van with Huw and Chopper to Leeds airport to where we traveled about an hour and 15 minutes from Holmfirth. During all this time on the way Chopper sat next to me and at times sat with his head on me and loved me very much. I was very happy to see Chopper again after two years and to love him very much and spend time with him!

We then arrived at Leeds Bradford airport where Huw and Chopper dropped me off just before the security check and that’s where I said goodbye to them. I was a bit sad to say goodbye to them but I know I will see them again. I was very happy to see Huw and Chopper again this summer after two since they left Romania and I can’t wait to see them again sometime! We went through security very quickly because we had fast track. From the security check we went straight into the boarding gates area because there is no passport control when leaving the UK. So I sat down at a table where I ate the sandwiches that Huw had made for me and waited for two hours until the boarding gate opened for the Ryanair flight to Bucharest.

At half past three I boarded the flight to Bucharest and left only about forty minutes late this time.
On the way I saw a wind farm offshore. I caught up on the way and arrived back in Bucharest with only 5 minutes and caught a very nice sunset. I landed back in Bucharest and after going through passport control, I got to the arrivals hall very quickly as I had no luggage. Mommy, Daddy and Runa were waiting for me at arrivals. I was very happy to see them again after one week!

It was my first trip without mommy and daddy and my first time flying solo. I want to go back to England again to see Huw, Chopper, Caroline and Toby and to see other places I didn’t get to!