Caerdydd

We arrived in sunny Cardiff after a long bus ride and early wake up call. Because it was right across the street, we went straight to the National Museum of Wales. This museum fulfilled all of my nerdy needs: natural history, welsh history, and fine art. From dinosaur bones to Monets, it is quite the place. Something for everyone!
After seeing all we could and accidentally trying to read all the explanations in Welsh, we explored the city center. I think Cardiff is downplayed a bit as a capitol city, it is bustling to say the least. We explored it’s large pedestrian shopping areas, Christmas market, city market, and the ubiquitous, really old church.

We found our hostel and checked in without issue. I think I have been spoiled in my hostel experiences, as they’ve all been great. Due to it being winter our six bed room was never filled, and overall the atmosphere was relaxed and friendly. But really with a free breakfast and huge shower (by any standards, let alone hostel standards) how could it go wrong?

The next day we got an early start to visit Cardiff Castle. It goes without saying that parts of it are really old, and by old, I mean the original castle wall dates back to the Romans. Of course, the Normans had quite a lot to do with fortifying it, and over the last centuries it has changed a bit, and its last lucky owner lived there because they could. Now many of the interior rooms are restored to whatever period which was convenient or pretty. Beautiful if not historically accurate as the Victorians liked old stuff and thus replicated it quite a bit.

That afternoon we successfully used public transport to get to St Fagans (they didn’t ask me to name it) National History Museum. This is a huge open air museum with 100 buildings on the property. Only two of these building are original to the site, the rest are from all over Wales, meticulously taken apart, transported and reassembled on site. To see them you’d think they’d been there forever. The buildings then have been furnished with period furniture, and have historical interpreters inside or local artisans, making wool blankets or pottery. It really is a lovely place and what’s more is that it is completely free.

In the evening they had their “Christmas Nights” event. After wasting an hour and a half in the one and only local pub, we went back to the museum and along with hundreds of others enjoyed Christmas crafts, Welsh carol singing, and very strange Welsh winter solstice traditions. It was really moving for me to see people young and old singing familiar carols in Welsh, it really felt like it was a bonding trait for everyone there.
One of the bizarre traditions the reenacted is called “Mari Lwyd.” In this instance a bunch of people carry around a horse skull singing a traditional Welsh song as a way of riding the town of evil spirits. I think today it’s used to scare the pants off of children.

We made it safely back to town and the next day went to Cardiff Bay. Once and still a very important port for the UK, now it's inner harbor is very posh and has many restaurants, theatres, and is very pretty. (sounds like another town I know) We enjoyed the visitor center, visited the church were Roald Dahl was baptized, and explored a lightship. The weather was a bit freezing and clouds almost completely obscured the actual water. But we made the most of it.

So, this entry got a bit long, but Cardiff is a great place. I am won over easily by free culture and mild weather. Plus, all we had to do was stand on the street looking slightly confused and strangers would ask if we needed help. What a city! I’ll brush up on my Welsh, and hope I return soon.