Established: 1057
Population: 3,139,000 (estimate 2018)
Religion:  57.6% Christian 
Language: Welsh, English
Capital: Cardiff
Order of Visit: Seventh
First Visit: 27 February 2000
Last Visit: 28 February 2000
Duration: 2 Days
Must Do: Cardiff Castle
Cities: Cardiff
Wales Journal Entries

Wales has a history dominated by England but they have had times had independence first as a united country in 1057 under Gruffydd ap Llywelyn until his death in 1063 and later had their own Prince of Wales until 1267.

Edward II was born at Caernarfon in 1284 and he became the first English Prince of Wales in 1301. The title is granted by the monarch to the heir apparent (usually eldest son) as a personal honour and is not heritable, merging with the English Crown on accession to the throne until passed onto the next heir apparent.

Wales is a generally mountainous country and is about 20,779 km2 in area. Wales is bordered by England to the east and by sea in all other directions: the Irish Sea to the north and west, St George’s Channel and the Celtic Sea to the south west and the Bristol Channel to the south.

Over the last 250 years, Wales has been transformed from a predominantly agricultural country to an industrial, and then a post-industrial economy. Since the 1950s, the service sector has come to account for the majority of jobs with mining and export of coal being the dominant industry before 1950s.

I only had a short visit to Wales.  The locals signs are in both Welsh and English and you would overhear some conversations in Welsh.

The only highlight of the visit was Cardiff Castle.  The original motte and bailey castle was built in the late 11th century by Norman invaders on top of a 3rd-century Roman fort. The castle was likely commissioned either by William the Conqueror.

I’d like to go back to Wales and explore it further.