Day Ten: Cardiff

11th July 2014

Right in the center of Glasgow we saw a high wall running round in a large rectangular area. It is the size of a football field, and we saw that at the top there are flags flying, and nearer to the west a large ornately decorated turret. This was a building created almost 2'000 years ago when the Romans ruled Cardiff.

Cardiff Castle is an unusual castle. It is based in a wall to the east, and high wall fortresses surround the grounds including a Keep. When we bought the tickets to Cardiff Catsle after Dad finished his conference early, we entered into the wall :) it was used to protect the castle, and was used during the war for a bomb shelter.

This is Dad in the wall, demonstrating to us the amazing uses of the hanky:)

We then visited the Keep, which I guess was used as a watch tower. The stairs to it are extremely steep, and the keep goes very high. From the top you can see an amazing view of the castle and around. There was a moat running around the keep, adding a medieval feel to the building.

The moat around The Keep.

After the near-death experience of walking back down the steep stairs, we headed over to the castle itself. On entering the castle you could notice the sheer eloquenticity of the place, with high ceilings drapped with red, stain glass windows painted ornately, and the feel of oldness drawing you in.

There aren't really words to describe the way the castle is decorated, as it is so different to anything I have ever seen. To say the least, it was completely over the top, and every square centimeter of the place has some kind of design. We were't aloud into a few rooms, but from the ones we did see I would say that it is definetely worth our money! It seemes to me as if an exotic prince had decorated the rooms with animal designs in every room, and the richness of colour on every surface.

The Cardiff Castle was the main event for the day, and we all thought of it as the best thung we did in Cardiff!!

A piece from the National Museum near the City Hall in Cardiff (free admission)

The Law Courts. Ther were many buildings like this, and it is a similar building to both the Town Hall and the National Museum.

An Australian band :)

For dinner we had fish and chips near the water at Cardiff Bay. It was a really enjoyable way to finish our time in Cardiff:)

Now you are uptodate,

Laura

Xoxo

Here is a guest blogger (my Dad) describing the day:

This was my final day at the organisational discourse confence. I had presented my paper in the first session on the first day, so by now I was feeling very relaxed. After lunch at the conference, I met up with the family at the Cardiff Museum and we strolled through ancient, echoing, high-ceilinged halls displaying Impressionist paintings - including breathtaking paintings by Monet of pinks and lavender amongst the lillies. This was followed by a tour through Cardiff Castle where I had enjoyed dinner last night with my conference colleagues. Surrounded by so much stone, wood and iron, the experience transported me back in time. Our day was finished off on the bay where we sat and ate hot fish and chips under the watchful gaze of a large, stalking seagull. It was a very wam afternoon and evening, which we appreciated, knowing we would be heading north tomorrow to Scotland. One week into our 3 week holiday abroad and we are feeling very blessed. :-?

Here are some photos that I took:

Day Nine: Cardiff (Caerdydd)

10th July 2014

Walking through a majestic park, with trees and flowers framing lovely views, a strong white building rose from the hedges. The house was marble-like, with ten pillars lining the front like guards, and two greek statues framing both sides of the house. This was Glamorgan Building where Dad's university conference is held. We had no idea that Dad spoke in such a time-bearing house!

Dad outside Glamorgan Building, Cardiff University. He looked very chuffed with himself standing outside the building :D The building used to be ---

Mum and Dad in the park outside The Glamorgan Building. The gardens were very lush, and really well looked after.

We happened to be in Cardiff on the day when teachers and other workers were on strike. Hence, many places were closed, from museums to parks. We had to find other things to do, so we decided to just walk around the city of Cardiff.

For lunch we stopped off at a tea house, where Harri had the local lamb stew called Cawl. I tried a bit, and I thought it was really lovely. The meat was very tender, and there were some nice vegetables as well. It was different to a vegetable stew, because it was thicker.

:)

Throughout Cardiff city there are quite a few arcades, which is a little alleyway of shops.

After Dad finished his conference for the day we met in the city. He had two hours to wait in the city before the people from his confence were all meeting to eat at the Cardiff Castle. We all decided that we were too tired to stay in the center, so we went back to the hotel. On the way back you could tell I was tired, when I tripped over the edge of the path into Mum:)

In the apartment we all had a quiet time, and Mum and Dad then went back into the city for Dad to meet at the castle. On the way back to the hotel after dropping Dad off Mum stopped at her favourite department store, Marks and Spencer, to get some sandwiches for dinner.

Now you are uptodate,

Laura.

Xoxo

Day Eight: Cardiff, Wales

9th July 2014

This morning was very lovely. Dad went with Mum earlier in the morning, and had breakfast with all the business people. Afterwards they both went to his university conference, where he was going to give his presentation today. Harri and I woke up later, and had breakfast with the retirees. While we were eating breakfast Mum came back, and we had some more breakfast together;) We thought that we should make the most of the free breakfast :D

After breakfast we went for a walk to Cardiff Bay, which is about 15 minutes away from the hotel. It was a nice walk through welsh houses. Then, when we arrived at the bay we walked through the shops there and had some welsh cakes. The welsh cakes are kind of inbetween a pancake and biscuit, and they are delishously mourish!!

The Milennium Center, where the information center is placed. There is also a great souvenir shop there;)

The view of Cardiff Bay.

The Pierhead Building, which was used as a headquarters for a dock company. We went inside, and it was ornately decorated.

Our hotel in Cardiff Bay. I would definetely reccommend this hotel, as the staff are always smiling and jolly, the rooms are clean and fresh, and the breakfast is awesome. Oh, and there is wifi:)

The animal wall of the Cardiff Castle. The wall goes all around the Bute Park, and this part is called the animal wall becaue there are animal sculptures along the wall.

Sitting in Bute Park after Dad finished the conference for the day. His presentation went very well, and the conference had organised for them all to go on a boat trip to Cardiff Bay. We were waiting for him to catch his boat in this picture.

The wonderful Bute park.

We then walked back to the hotel. At around 8:00 pm we were supposed to meet Dad at the bay, so Mum and Harri went while I stayed at the hotel to write a blog post. We then had some tea, and went to bed.

Now you are uptodate,

Laura.

Xoxo

Day Seven: Amsterdam to Cardiff via London

8th July 2014

This morning we woke up early at six, when I was still asleep mentally. I took a while to physically become awake:) Mum and Dad usually wake up early, so they were fine. We had to quickly pack our bags and get ready for an hour flight to London. We then had to quickly get down stairs to get the shuttle to the airport. Our flight was going to leave at 8:40, so we wanted to be there at 7:00. Once there we checked-in, and had an early breakfast of a McMuffin at Mcdonalds. It was surprisingly delicious, but to fully wake up I needed to get my tea from Starbucks ;)

Once in the air I tried to sleep, but it was really difficult. My head just kept kind of lolling off to the side, and then I was not comfortable at all! I then attempted to read about George Washigton as a young man, but although it was interesting, I just couldn't concentrate. So, I had a hot chocolate and listened to my British neighbours... As you do:)

After we touched down in Luton Airport, London, we bought tickets into London (which would take 1 1/2 hours). We also picked up tickets we had previously bought online from London to Cardiff. It was very easy, and the lady was very helpful. We then got outside wheeling our five pieces of luggage, and lined up for the bus. Unfortunately, the bus that was leaving in five minutes was full, so we had to wait forty mintues for the next bus. Even then, when we did get on the bus it was really hot, and the bus driver couldn't hear our voices asking to put the air-conditioner on. So that wasn't a very enjoyable ride:) Finally, ten minutes before our bus stop, the bus driver turned the air-con on. Huh...

For our next adventure in London, we had two hours to get to and from the tourist information near Trafalger square to buy our 8-day train pass for Wales, Scotland and England. It was because of this time limit that we then rushed down the streets of London, through the masses of crowds watching the changing of guard at Buckingham Palace, and around Trafalger Square to the ticket booth. It was very enjoyable, because we got to see all the main attractions in London all in forty minutes, and we got to see some sights that we hadn't seen the first time we had been to London three years ago.

On the way back from the ticket booth we could slow down a bit more, because there weren't large crowds blocking our way around Buckingham Palace, and we realised we still had some time:) We then arrived back at the Coach (bus) station, and sat down outside the right gate for the coach to Cardiff. We knew that the coach would take approximately three and a half hours, so we got some pie-like pastries and muffins to quickly eat before the coach came.

Then the coach came, and it was really nice. Unlike the previous coach, there was nice air-conditioning, if not a bit too cold:) The seats were nice and comfortable, which was pure pleasure after such a long walk through London:) When we started going I just watched the scenery, because it was all really beautiful.

I fell asleep I think, but then woke up to my head lolling on an angle. My neck is sore still, but it was worth it to sleep :D I then wrote a blog post, and watched the scenery.

Crossing over to Wales we saw some lovely buildings, and although it was rainy throughout the coach trip, it died down for a while to show us a lovely rainbow.

We then arrived in Cardiff Central, and walked to our hotel near Cardiff Bay. It was a long walk, so we are thinking that we might take a taxi back to the central, where the railway station is, when we leave. For dinner we got Thai-Indian food sent up to our room, which was great! I really enjoyed that:)

The view from our hotel room of Cardiff bay at 10 pm.

Now you are uptodate,

Laura.

Xoxo