As mentioned in an earlier blog, we returned to the city of Cardiff in Wales for a more intense look at this city. Toured the National Museum of Wales, the Cardiff Castle which sits on the site of a Roman fortress from 300 A.D., and took a tour bus of the city. Amazingly the town had a population of less than 2,000 people in 1900. All of the growth has occurred since that time.
Welsh cakes – about the size of a small potato pancake but it is sweet with raisins, etc. Very good when heated in the microwave.
Above, the bridge over the Severn Estuary between England and Wales.
Welcome to Wales in both Welsh and English.
Ancient Parkhouse Restaurant and Inn offering stylish and elegant surroundings.
Cardiff Prison where the last execution took place in Wales in 1952. It was later determined that the executed prisoner was “not guilty.”
Cardiff University.
Lock keeper’s house at the locks into Cardiff Bay.
Modern Bridge over the last remaining coal dock. Millions of tons of coal were exported from Cardiff through the last part of the 20th century. Today, Cardiff actually imports coal.
Building with five different kinds of stone mined in the Cardiff area.
Old coal docks area with modern buildings, theater, restaurants and pub.
Cardiff post office where they would hold a seaman’s mail for up to a year awaiting his return.
Old Customs House.
Coal Trading Building where the first ever check for $1.000.000 British Pounds was written. It was written by the U.S.Navy Department in payment for Cardiff coal used in coal burning ships during World War I.
Original Cardiff rail station.
“Brains” the official beer of Cardiff.
Millennium Rugby Stadium. The top sport in Wales is Rugby. There are T-Shirts sold in shops that have the traditional picture of a male and a female that you would commonly see on restroom doors. Below the male figure is says “Rugby”, below the female figure it says “football” (meaning soccer here).
Tour of the Cardiff Castle. The next 4 pictures below are of the air raid shelter built into the walls of the castle during World War II.
Below, pictures of the castle grounds inside the walls.
Below, the “Keep”, the last refuge of the king if attackers broke through the castle walls. The keep is built upon the site of an old Roman fortress dating from 300 A.D.
A catapult for attacking castles. Boulders were flung against the walls and into the castle grounds. These were replaced by cannon. Below, Elaine with the dragon which is the national symbol of Wales.
A peacock sitting on the old castle wall.
Living quarters in the castle.
Steep steps up to the Keep. Yes, we went all the way up to the top.
The last private residence within the castle grounds. The family that owned the castle and the property lived here until it was transferred to the Welsh government. Below are the remains of a wall that ran from the Keep to the tower on the wall. It effectively divided the grounds of the castle. The owners of the grounds had the wall dismantled in the 18th century in order to have a view of the entire property. Beneath the 12th Century wall are the remains of the old Roman wall that ran along the course.
Below, some pictures of the interior of the private home within the castle grounds.
Cardiff shops on the pedestrian mall. Below, we found O’Neill’s Cardiff branch of one of our favorite London pubs.
Newport, Wales
Tredegar House. This home and grounds were owned by the Morgan family who primarily raised thoroughbred horses for racing at Ascot and the Irish Sweepstakes. We arrived too late to get inside the house, but the grounds and stables are amazing. One of the most well kept estates we have visited.
The dark petunias appear to be black.
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