I have a new fascination with Wales. I've always had a thing for Britain in general, but now I'm very into Wales. Here are some reasons why.

1. Welsh Men are beautiful and talented and I would like to marry one. Um, whoa . . forget I said that last part. But seriously, Anthony Hopkins, Ioan Gruffudd, Michael Sheen, Matthew Rhys. If you don't know who the last three are, please look them up. If you don't know who the first one is, please get yourself a Netflix subscription. Aside from their considerable personal attractions (they all have amazing eyes!), they are great actors. Some other great actors from Wales who are not all that hot are John Rhys Davies (a dwarf named Gimli, anyone? though, granted, not a dwarf in real life) and Rhys Ifans (Spike from Notting Hill).

2. The best stories come from Wales. Ever heard of the poet Taliesin? How about the Mabinogion? If you haven't heard of these, you've probably heard of C.S. Lewis and Roald Dahl. And one of the most magical books I read as a kid, Susan Coopers "The Grey King" is set in Wales and deals a lot with Welsh folklore. It's because of reading this book that I know (sort of) how to pronounce the 'll' and the 'dd' in Welsh. Also, speaking of the best stories, everybody is familiar with one of the most famous Welsh characters--Myrddin Emrys. We know him as Merlin, the wizard who advised King Arthur.

3. One of their national symbols is the leek. According to legend, Welsh soldiers were ordered to wear the vegetable on their helmets to identify themselves in an ancient battle that took place on a leek field.

4. The Welsh language is beautiful; it sounds like rushing waters. I want to learn to speak it. Also, the Welsh language created one of the world's longest place names: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwyll-llantysiliogogogoch, which translates to "The church of St. Mary in the hollow of white hazel trees near the rapid whirlpool by St. Tysilio's of the red cave." How cool is that?

5. And the fifth reason I like Wales is that pop balladeers Tom Jones ("It's Not Unusual," "What's New, Pussycat") and Bonnie Tyler ("Total Eclipse of the Heart"), and fun indie group Los Campesinos are from there. Less attractive: the ubiquitous and annoying Charlotte Church. Bleh.

So go look up Wales, and fall in love like I did (well, maybe not exactly like I did . .. my love affair started with Michael Sheen in Underworld). Cymru am byth!