Wales > Where am I going?

We are able to leave our luggage behind. The hotel is located near the pedestrian area in the city center. We wander through the shopping street. On the other side of High Street, we come across Cardiff Castle. At that exact moment, the sun breaks through the clouds. Everything immediately looks brighter. In the Castle Arcade, we order a drink. This Victorian arcade was built in 1887 and has retained the atmosphere of its time. The café also reflects this same ambiance. We plan to visit the castle on Sunday, so today we just stroll past it. Through a parallel shopping street, we walk back toward the hotel. Heading in the other direction, south of the city center, we arrive at Cardiff Bay. In the past, the coal industry was located in the harbor. After the mines closed, the area fell into decline. Since the beginning of this century, warehouses have been converted into hotels, and new restaurants and bars have been built. The area has developed into a trendy location. Modern buildings are interspersed with historic properties. In the pub The Dock, I order lunch. I have a view of the inner harbor. Cardiff Bay experiences an extremely large tidal range—the difference between high and low tide can exceed six meters. To limit the impact of this on the city, a barrage was constructed in 1990. Since then, living along the newly created inner harbor has been pleasant. Along the quay, vendors try to sell tickets for boat trips.

Wales - On the way to Cardiff

We choose the yellow boat. As we slowly sail to the opposite side, the skipper tells us about the buildings around Cardiff Bay, the five-star St David’s Hotel, and the red dragon of Wales, which is said to lay its eggs in the marshy area. The dragon also appears on the flag of Wales. At the end of the barrage, the boat docks. I disembark, knowing I can return on the next boat. Meanwhile, I take a look at the lock complex. Three locks mainly allow pleasure boats to pass from the inner harbor to the open sea. From Cardiff Bay, I walk back to the hotel. It is now four o’clock, and I can check into my room. The seven of us share three rooms. The triple room is a bit cramped, with a narrow double bed. But, well, it’s only for two nights. I don’t stay in the room long. In the adjacent Viva Brazil bar, I order a beer. For the evening, we have reserved a table at the restaurant Pen & Wig. Luckily, because when I enter the pub, it is quite busy. Fortunately, our table is ready. At the end of the night, we finish in a pub near the hotel. A live band is playing music, but most visitors are focused on the football match on the numerous screens. Cardiff City is playing Wolverhampton. The match is taking place just a few kilometers away. The home team is behind 1-0. In injury time, Cardiff misses two penalties. The pub patrons watch in disbelief.