A foggy day, me in front of Cardiff Castle - well the Keep after all
I wish I had more than a day and a half in Cardiff. Wales is a wonderfully unique country. Yes it is a country. It has a persistent and healthy culture and language. The land is wild and rural with a strong recent industrial history and some vibrant cities.
My new found friend Louise and her friend Kate
Cardiff is the biggest city with a population of approximately 350,000. This is slightly smaller than Edinburgh which is about 400,000. Wales was mostly joined with England in the 1400s although this does not mean that it was diluted in its culture.
The Cardiff Castle Keep
The Welsh language has persisted much more than the Scottish language. Children are taught their subjects in Welsh and all signage and packaging is both English and Welsh. This reminds me of Quebec…!
Trees in the park alongside the River Taff through the centre of Cardiff
I have been so fortunate to have a house sit with such a wonderful person as Louise. A woman after my own heart. She is working hard and advocating for an co-housing project here in Cardiff, an eco-housing theme. Louise is very conscious and thoughtful regarding energy usage, individual living cost capabilities, and housing costs in general. She is a forefront in her field here in Wales and kudos to her and what a gift to have encountered her. Her housing project can be found at http://www.cohousingcymru.org.uk
Swans and ...
... amazing gnarly trunks.
It is so refreshing to meet individuals on similar missions to myself – to reduce our ecological footprint, to care about the earth, to help provide affordable and quality housing. How our roads collide.
Edwardian and now current parliamentary bulidings
I also was so privileged to meet her lovely and precocious son Elis, who was so good as to let me have his bed. He was a vibrant and intelligent boy who wowed me with his card tricks, was interested and polite in my presence and was just a sweetie to boot.
A castle through a keyhole
Monkey motifs everywhere - I don't know why
All in all, although extremely and overly short, my visit here in Cardiff has been grand. Tomorrow I head for Haverfordwest and then Fishguard to hike along the Coast Trail. There is much of this country that I have not seen but I am grateful for the little bit I am experiencing.
These were in the toilets. Wales taking care of its drinkers.
... and I just like this shot - me in one of the many shopping arcades in Cardiff
I loved Wales also – so glad you are having time to visit there.
Yes – just arrived in Fishguard and had a lovely meal made for me and am now in this amazing old farmhouse all by myself enjoying the amazing ambience. And with wifi – how great is that.
Hi Sara-Jane I am very surprised that you are back in Europe. How can you make that all. What plans do you have for your trip through Europe? Have you planned to stay a long time in Europe and you will again visit the Mainland and Germany?
Jürgen
Hey Jurgen. I am definitely coming to mainland Europe but have not completely determined where my adventures will take me. I am not sure if I will make it to Germany this time. But I will be certain to keep you posted. I know I want to visit a town I lived in when I was 18-19 – Dijon, France – will do that early April before I meet up with a friend in Paris.
Who made you the lovely meal?
I’m not sure which meal you mean Mum, but Louise made me a lovely meal on Monday and Mike on Wednesday.