Subject: Re: Wales
Dear Paul. Wales is a gorgeous country. The following is some iinformation on Wales plus some ideas on where to stay. The prices are out of date though. I stayed at Tides Guest ranch in Mumbles and loved it. It's a suburb of Swansea. Also stayed in Llandudno (pronounced Clandudno) and loved that too. That is on the Irish Sea. Elena

Wales Center: 34, Piccadilly, London W1, Phone: 409-0969

Inter City train 125 links London with Cardiff in 1 3/4 hrs.

By road: M4 London to South Wales; M1/M6 London to North Wales; M1/M6/M54 London to Mid Wales.

Pentwyn Farm a four room B& B is convenient for visits to Raglan, Tintern Abbey, and Chepstow. Sticky toffee pudding for dessert ($108 for two people, including breakfast and dinner; 011-44-1495-785249.)

Recommended pub is in the Royal Hotel in the beautiful town of Usk, near Raglan Castle. Take a table by the fireplace and order a plate of fried codfish (lunch for two about $15; New Market Street; 011-44-1291-672931.)

In Cardiff, the first rate Blas-ar-Gymru is where you'll find true old-time Welsh fare; salt duck, Welsh rarebit (it's not an American invention), juicy Welsh lamb, poachers pie (dinner for two runs about $68; 48 Crwys Rd.; 011-44-1222-382132)

COUNTRY HOUSE HOTELS

Hotel Portmeirion, Portmeirion, Gwynedd, Wales; (0766)770228. Set in a fantasy village built in northwest Wales in the 1920s. Recently gone through extensive renovation. Most splendid rooms are the Peacock Suite and the Indian Room. Doubles from $95. Nearby Snowdonia Narional Park.

Tides Reach Guest House, 388 Mumbles Road, Mumbles, Swansea, SA3 5TN, Phone: (0792) 404877. Manager: Mrs. Jan Mayberry. A delightful B & B, beautifully furnished. $22 per person.

Beach House Hotel, 734 Mumbles Road, Mumbles, Swansea SA3 4EL, phone: (0792) 367650. Manager: Miss Caroline Evans. Across from the sea at end of downtown area. Old world charm. Breakfast included. Rooms with bathrooms: $27 per person.