It’s entirely possible that when you read the heading of this article you thought that I had fallen asleep on my keyboard. Or that I had consumed a rather large quantity of alcoholic beverages. Or – to borrow a phrase from the bitingly satirical American publication The Onion in describing the Welsh language – it might have simply looked like the alphabet has vomited. But I assure you that Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch in Wales is indeed the name of the place I’m writing about. If you’re thinking someone made up that name as a bit of a laugh…well, you’d be sort of right. Its name was elongated in the 1860s with the specific purpose of pulling tourists in. Judging by the sheer number of day-trippers who troop through here to have their picture taken by the famous sign, the ploy has worked.
Llanfair PG in Wales, to call it by its abbreviated name, is the second-longest single worded place name in the world (the first is in New Zealand). It’s English translation is ‘The Church of Mary in the Hollow of the White Hazel Near the Fierce Whirlpool and the Church of Tysilio by the Red Cave’. If you were hoping to gallivant around the neighbourhood ticking off all these things, then prepare for disappointment. The one accessible landmark these days is St Mary’s Church, sat on the banks of the Menai Sea that cleaves Anglesey from the homeland, where a statue of Horatio Nelson also resides.
There are a couple of other sites of minor interest. A toll-road gate still stands, and a monument to the Marquess of Anglesey, Henry Paget – Wellington’s right-hand man at the Battle of Waterloo – looms over the town. Paget has gone down in history for the following exchange with Wellington, after having had his leg blown off toward the end of the fighting:
Paget: “By God, sir, I’ve lost my leg!”
Wellington: “By God, sir, so you have!”
For me, classic stiff-upper-lip British stoicism at its finest. The monument – both grand and understated at the same time – is a fitting tribute to these virtues. Apparently, you can climb to the top of it for panoramic views of the surrounding area, but it was shut when I visited. A sign, perhaps, that the local tourist board believes that people are merely interested in the cheesy photo opportunity.
This is very believable, for ultimately, commercialism wins out at Llanfair PG in Wales. Opportunities to get pictures of the sign without others milling by it were few and far between, yet I did not spot a soul at the church itself. If you need any further proof, look no further than the huge souvenir outlet based right next to the train station that sells an extraordinary array of Welsh-branded tat.
I would not put this place near the top of my list of favourite Welsh destinations, but I’d be lying if I didn’t say I had a cheesy grin on my face when I first caught sight of the famous sign. Because whatever you make of it, you’re always aware of an intangible aura around Llanfair PG; the sort of aura found in those places that draw people to their otherwise unremarkable streets by the power of their name alone.
Mark OkeJuly 20, 2019
Wow..a twister of a tale !
Susan TingJuly 20, 2019
Kinda hard for tourism brochures..:)
Don WeteJuly 20, 2019
Can you imagine telling your address, after a night of partying?
Kate SaranMay 28, 2017
Great story……wow !
Louise GoguenMay 28, 2017
Can you imagine, answering with a straight face ” I am from sdkjfvkjdflk;kvcgvjkcxfl;vkkjckjkb ?
Jason YadevMay 28, 2017
Ahhhhhh, what can one say after such a huge opening…..well done.
Joseph the Travel StorytellerDecember 2, 2015
Thank you, and likewise! 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerDecember 2, 2015
Why thank you 🙂 It’s not the grandest church I have ever seen, but it’s situation is undoubtedly picturesque, which I think helps. It’s also the source of the unpronounceable name of this village, of course!
Without wanting to blow my own trumpet or anything, I am both the writer and the photographer here…
@copiusNZDecember 2, 2015
Well I must say that you gained two fans here from Wellington NZ 🙂
Pleasure meeting you Joseph!
@copiusNZDecember 2, 2015
I followed this link fro IG because the church photograph captivated me. It is absolutely stunning. My 8 year old and I attempted to read the title and failed. Thank god for google app…lol
Kudos to the writer and photographer.
Manikandan from SGNovember 28, 2015
Hi! I was one of Suja Travel’s guests from Singapore and Suz mentioned about your blog….she was right, your article was very witty.
Well done!
Suz (@suzsujatravel)November 28, 2015
Wow Mr Mani! Thank you for reading and making a comment. Hope you and the entire family enjoyed this morning’s Dubai city tour 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 28, 2015
Thanks from me too, and thanks to Suz for the tip-off as well! Glad you enjoyed the read and hope you’re enjoying your time in Dubai 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 28, 2015
Thank you very much. It’s a very old and lyrical language, but notoriously difficult to speak, hence that statement 😀
@Jones from NYNovember 28, 2015
I loved your writing style on this one Joseph. When I read “the alphabet has vomited” , I saw the vision and kept on reading…lol
Two thumbs up!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 27, 2015
Why thank you Alisha, glad you enjoyed this read on a Friday morning 🙂
Alisha GrantNovember 27, 2015
Friday mornings….a weekend in Dubai. I turn on my ipad and look at what Suja published during the whole week. I saw this blog and was glued to it. Light, factual, and inspiring! Well done.
Monique LeBlancNovember 26, 2015
This is one very long storyline. Congratulations on a dash of humor sprinkled with pieces of fact. Well written..enjoyable…and re-affirms my belief that Suja writers deliver !
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Comments like this are the reason we write Monique. Thank you! 🙂
@LAMonsterNovember 26, 2015
You always deliver the coolest travel blogs Joseph! I am working on my 2016 vacation ….weird and wonderful is the theme so will most likely visit this place 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Thank you very much 🙂 Weird and wonderful this place most certainly is. Another one in North Wales is a surreal place called Portmeirion, and I can recommend that one too if you’re checking out Llanfair. Hope you have a good one!
@LAMonsterNovember 26, 2015
Thanks for the recommendation Joseph. Will research on that one too.
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
You’re welcome 🙂
@FatmaKhalifaNovember 26, 2015
My friends and I were chuckling as we attempted to read out loud the title and we failed miserably. We love this article Sir Joseph!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Thanks, and full marks to you all for trying 😉 This ‘Sir Joseph’ moniker seems to be starting to catch on. I wish I could say I actually did embody the virtues of a chivalrous Knight…
Photography UnlimitedNovember 25, 2015
The church photo is exceptionally good! Excellent capture.
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Thank you very much 🙂
SanjayNovember 25, 2015
Since you mentioned that NZ has got the longest name of a city, I googled and saw this ‘Taumata whakatangi hangakoauau o tamatea turi pukakapiki maunga horo nuku pokai whenua kitanatahu’…lol
See, not everyday do I learn something new. Good read!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Hehehe, yep, try saying that one after a few beers! I might have to add it to my ever increasing bucket list…
Thanks Sanjay, glad you enjoyed the read 🙂
Kevin TanNovember 25, 2015
I am curious….how do they print that long name on tees?
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
I can’t say I noticed one in the shop, but as far as I’m aware they either form the letters in to a block or they make the writing very, very small 😀
JaneNJNovember 25, 2015
I want a photo on that sign! Found you on twitter 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
It’s a photo all travellers to North Wales want to have in their collection 🙂
Eric Dubai Expat ForumNovember 25, 2015
Saw this long writing on my facebook wall and decided to give it a go. Man…I was breathless even before I was halfway through. Very interesting blog. Good read!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 26, 2015
Thank you 🙂 Breathless in a good way,mI hope, rather than because you tried to say the whole word without taking a pause for breath!
VanceNovember 25, 2015
Fun piece, Joe…but methinks you better letter alone!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks Vance, and hold to see you’re still punning strong ;D
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
That should read ‘good’. Oh how I hate iPad autocorrect…
Liz MNovember 25, 2015
The enchantment of Wales is so strong because it is thousands of miles away from the tropics. Another excellent blog from Joseph but must mention that this is a complete departure from your serious articles. You are more engaging and entertaining this time and I loved it!!!!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
The enchantment of the tropics is there for us as well! Yes, I do like to be humorous where I can 🙂 I do have some other tongue in cheek articles on here too – my piece on Zambia springs to mind…
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Forgot to say ‘thank you’. Very rude of me, I do apologise!
Suja Travel (@SujaTravel)November 25, 2015
Reading the comments, one just has to recognize that art happened here..Well done Sir Joseph !
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Very kind of you to say so. Thanks for your ongoing support 🙂
James the Restless TravelerNovember 25, 2015
Joseph at his tongue twisting best…a 5* read in m y humble book. Truly enjoyed this.
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks James 🙂
RedNovember 25, 2015
It made me laugh as i struggled to read the name of the place. I did not continue to another word unless I read it thoroughly (which I failed and used google for help) LOL.
This is a classic piece with humors in it. I love it!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks very much Red. I think anyone who isn’t Welsh would need some assistance in the pronunciation! 😉
Mitch...Lakwatsera on the LooseNovember 25, 2015
Nice one Joseph. I finished reading the article but not the title, first time in my history of reading, 🙂
Thanks for making me smile today. This was a nice read!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks Mitch, glad this humble piece could bring a smile to your face 🙂 If you do want a go at pronouncing the word, the picture of the railway sign here breaks it down in to syllables…!
Paul CromwellNovember 25, 2015
Just when needed a jolt back to literary reality, along came Joseph with a tongue twisting tale. I chuckled and smiled and realized that the Welsh do indeed have a great sense of humor. Thank you Sir…Appreciated this one !
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks Paul – we can hide it under a dour gruffness, perhaps, but we can show dry, self-deprecating humour with the best of them 😉
Susan Li, SingaporeNovember 25, 2015
Our favorite writer is back! I chuckled while reading your article.
Excellent read 🙂
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Sincerest thanks 🙂 Very flattering to hear I’m your favourite writer, when Suja has many talented writers on its books (if I say so myself). Glad you enjoyed the read!
Suz (@suzsujatravel)November 25, 2015
Joseph!!! I love this one truly. I can imagine you grinning as you write the piece. It might be cheesy yes, the commercial strategy to draw tourists worked but I still find it amazing. 🙂 I purposely left the letters to go beyond the allowable frames, for emphasis.
Excellent read!
Joseph the Travel StorytellerNovember 25, 2015
Thanks Suz. Yes it was a fun one to write, definitely 🙂 I love how you let the letters spill out across the page too!