This is, in short, my first ever time in Wales. I did one-day trips along the Northern Coast as far as Llandudno and visited Conwy Castle, but being in South Wales is totally new, and for the moment I cannot exactly put in words my impression of Carmarthen. It is certainly different, but at the same time there are things about it that I discovered that reminded me of Russia, on the one hand, and made me compare Carmarthen to other towns in England and elsewhere, on the other. I’m coming back this Saturday, and before then I’m hoping to visit a few more places.
In the end, when I eventually write about it, the account will probably be a collection of impressions of the place itself, its history, its streets and buildings, and its people. The word “cameo” seems appropriate not only because these impressions will be more like sketches, but also because Carmarthen’s history dates well back to the Roman times, and cameos were immensely popular in the Ancient Roman society. One thing I would say, however, is that so far the Welsh I have come across did fit their own description of themselves: they are kind. The proof is in the fact that I am writing this post in Carmarthen Library, although I am not a member. Many thanks for this.