wales millennium centre

cardiff

A Sojourn to the Welsh Capital

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Where: Cardiff. Wales, United Kingdom. Europe.
When: June 2008
What: Cardiff Castle, Traditional Welsh wooden spoons, Pierhead Building, Cardiff Bay, River Taff, Cardiff Millennium Centre, Cardiff City Hall.
How: Driving, taxi, walking.
Illnesses or mishaps: Being accosted by drunk Welsh girls.

In the British Isles Wales has the almost unique quality of being both near and far from home. So near that you can visit for the weekend but so far in terms of it feeling a little, well, foreign. Bilingual signs across the country like "Araf" (Slow), "Heddlu" (Police) and "Ysgol" (School) serve to give Wales a distinct whiff of the abroad. In fact, for a person searching for a little respite from England, this all comes as welcome relief. There is something soothing and relaxing about Wales which is only matched by the warm, melodic accent of the Welsh people themselves. Expect to see the tricolour of red, white and green of the country's flag everywhere, the proliferation of which undoubtedly made more bounteous by a resurgent Welsh nationalism in light of the establishment of the new Welsh National Assembly based in Cardiff.

And it is to Cardiff, in South Wales, I headed one Spring weekend in 2008; it was high time that I saw some of the icons of this famed Land of the Red Dragon for myself.

 

cardiff millennium

The Cardiff Millennium Centre featuring the Welsh language.

 

clock tower cardiff

The Victorian clock tower at Cardiff Castle.

pierhead cardiff

The striking red terracotta of the Pierhead Building at Cardiff Bay.

 

welsh folk dancers

Welsh folk dancers parade through Cardiff streets celebrating midsummer.

 

 

 

 

travel tips, links & resources

  • If you're short on time then hopping aboard one of Cardiff's tour buses is a quick and easy way of seeing the main sights. These things come into their own on cold, wet days in the city - weather for which Cardiff is renowned.
  • For ideas on what to do and where to go in Cardiff, you can visit the official Visit Cardiff page here.
  • Outside of the main centres, Wales is almost exclusively rural and public transport limited in areas. If you want to explore the real Wales then hiring a car is the only way to go. This will also give you the opportunity of pulling over to see some of the sights which will inevitably appear by the roadside.
  • Wales is as interesting as it is varied. Seek out some its more unusual sights, including the bizarre but wonderful Portmeirion - the filming location for the iconic 1960s TV series The Prisoner.
  • Wales is renowned, even in summer, for its inclement weather. It likes to rain in Wales - a lot. Pack your weatherproof, wind proof and rainproof clothing. And don't forget the umbrella.
  • Mobile phone coverage is very patchy outside of the main centres - with data roaming even more unreliable. Plan accordingly.
  • Wales is an opportunity for adventure outdoors: climb mountain, explore the woods, walk along some of the best beaches in the Isles. Go to Cardiff - and miss the lot.
  • The Welsh heart can be found beating at its strongest in the villages and rural areas. Wales isn't the kind of place you'd visit for big city urban experiences. Keep it rural and you will leave with a more accurate sense of Wales and her people.

 

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