Cardiff: Secrets of Wales
The train from London to Cardiff takes approximately 2.5 hours.
We flew from the Isle of Man to London on a complex route. After spending a day in the city, we left for Cardiff, which is the focus of this tale. The beginning of the epic includes Manchester, Liverpool, Belfast, and Douglas.
We arrived in the Welsh capital by train, stopping at the central station. The city isn’t very large, so we could easily walk to our accommodation, which we did.
We quickly settled into a conveniently located hotel near the center, so all that was left was to relax in the hotel’s pool in the evening.
Before that, we went shopping. The city turned out to be ideal for relaxation as it was the midpoint of our grand journey.
The following morning, we set out to explore the city center. For unknown reasons, our internet stopped working, so we had to rely on a downloaded offline map.
We began exploring Cardiff at the bustling Roald Dahl Plass marketplace, spread along the waterfront. If you don’t want to ride the Ferris wheel, you can step aside to the bridge and take a beautiful photo from Cardiff Bay View Point.
On the way, there’s the Norwegian Church, which also serves as the Norwegian Church Arts Centre. It looks simple but is quite popular among locals.
There are kiosks at the pier offering half-hour tours, allowing you to sail by boat or ferry around the bay’s surroundings. They depart every 15 minutes.
Near the Ferris wheel is an eye-catching large glass building — the first eco-senate in the world made of wood and glass. The unique roof of the Welsh Parliament collects rainwater used in restrooms, and geothermal sources provide heat in the building. Entry is free.
The lower floor of the parliament displays political history and election information, while the second floor is dedicated to exhibition space. This summer, they hosted an exhibition by English animator Joan Quin, who won 2 Emmys and a BAFTA award.
There is also a café here, where you can take a break and relax. Interestingly, the parliament sells its own souvenirs, ranging from postcards to badges.
Next, we headed to the indoor Cardiff Market, where fruits and vegetables are colorfully displayed under one counter, artistically intertwining. It’s quite colorful.
Along the street High Street Arcade, umbrellas are found floating above between the buildings. There are dozens of cafes along this street, always serving patrons.
The next stop was the city’s main museum, the National Museum of Cardiff. It showcases Wales’ history from ancient times to the present, with exhibits ranging from ancient stones and dinosaur skeletons to local bird taxidermy and treasures from the seabed. Entry is free.
On the second floor is an art gallery displaying works by both modern and classic artists. In some rooms, both eras are harmoniously combined in a single canvas. One hall is dedicated to black-and-white photography, capturing historical moments. Here, a photo of a Chinese activist titled “The Unknown Rebel,” stopping a column of tanks, was found.
Next to the museum are three large city parks. But the main attraction is the Cardiff Castle. The entrance fee is €17. Most of the interesting sights, in my opinion, are outside: the old tower building, the dragon symbol of the city, and the castle’s ancient walls.
In summer, it’s ideal to have a picnic on the green lawn with a view of the castle. However, one should consider the large number of seagulls and visitors.
For a quiet stroll, Bute Park nearby is a better choice. It spans several kilometers and gradually merges into another park, becoming a favorite resting spot for locals.
By frequently looking around, you start noticing the number of old buildings blended into the modern cityscape. Cardiff is steeped in history.
For dinner, we went to the popular Syrian restaurant Shaam Nights, enjoying the Middle Eastern cuisine I loved. It’s situated in the eastern immigrants’ neighborhood. Arabic café signs are visible everywhere here.
Interestingly, Cardiff felt like a haven for working immigrants seeking a better life. We visited a laundry, whose owner initially opened a tailor shop before combining it with laundry services.
In the half-hour we spent there, it felt like being an actor or resident of New York: buses passed by, visitors came in, sunlight reflected off the windows while I read a book waiting for our clothes.
It’s very convenient to plan a laundry session mid-journey to avoid carrying a lot of clothes. Summer, as we know, is the season of strikes. So it’s best to travel with hand luggage, especially if it’s an active trip with frequent country changes. Keep this in mind!
After a delicious dinner, we headed to the hotel to relax in the pool and prepare for the journey. A photo report on the food will soon be published in a separate article!
In the morning, we boarded a train filled with soccer fans heading to London, a city I secretly dreamed of during English lessons at school… and which managed to disappoint me from the first minute. To be continued…
Read the beginning of this journey: Manchester, Liverpool, Belfast, Douglas.
The continuation will be released soon. Thank you for reading 🙂
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