| Page Views: 2,031 Last Visit to Cardiff: September, 1996 | Cardiff - Caerdydd by Goner - last update: Apr 28, 2004 |
After two days in London and a stop at Salisbury and Stonehenge we arrived in Cardiff. The tourist bureau was closed - Sunday night you know, so tried a Frommer's choice for lodging. As we were wheeling our bags towards the hotel, we noticed the neighborhood was starting to deteriorate. A nice gentlemen with a fair-haired little girl in hand asked us if he could be of assistance - bless him. He told us that the hotel we were headed for was "seedy" (so much for Frommer) and sent us to a better area for a hotel about five minutes away (only if you were driving a Ferrari). Twenty minutes later or may be thirty, still wheeling our bags, we found the Cathedral Hotel which looked promising. It was, they took one look at us and gave us the best room in the house which was on the first floor. It was a large room with high ceilings and beautiful moldings. There was a tea table and chairs, the beds were comfortable and there was a big bathroom with a full-sized tub, yeees! We had to eat.
Nothing was open, Sunday you know. We were given directions to a market that would be open at the end of the block; they didn't tell us the block was a 20-minute walk. We ended up with a nourishing dinner of "Brains" beer, crackers, and yogurt; we fell into bed and slept for 12 hours. |
|  | About Cardiff Wales is one of the oldest countries in the world. The European Celts, arrived in Wales just after 600 BC and Christianity arrived in the 5th century from Ireland. Cardiff 's name is actually derived from the Roman general Aulus Didius - Caer Didi, meaning "Fort of Didius", and the city can trace its history back to Roman times.
Cardiff grew up along the banks of the River Taff. it's the capital and largest city (320,000+ inhabitants) in Wales. It's a busy commercial, maritime and university city. During Victorian times, Cardiff was the biggest coal-exporting city in the world.
My Welsh ancestors probably dug the coal in those mines. |
| | Facts of Welsh History Did you know that Utica in New York State and Scranton, Pennsylvania are known as "Welsh" towns.
Did you know that there is a major Welsh settlement in the wastelands of the Chubut Valley in Patagonia, Argentina.
Did you know that Wales requires signs be printed in Welsh, not just in in English and some pubs and public spaces require patrons to speak in Welsh only. |
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| Pros: | "Filled with History, Fun People and the Color Green" | | In A Nutshell: | "Visit Cardiff if You Get the Chance!" |
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 Comments for Goner about Cardiff | | | | |
Nansi Tue May 6, 2008 03:01 UTC
Just for info - the hole in the centre of the dining table was to enable a real vine to grow through - you can't get grapes much fresher than that! | LauraWest Wed Mar 2, 2005 02:02 UTC
thanks for all the great information! I hope to be there in early June, my first trip to Europe & I'm so excited. | matcrazy1 Sun Dec 19, 2004 05:19 UTC
Hi Nancy! Your page is excellent because full of interesting information, great suggestions and good pictures. Thanks for sharing. | aaaarrgh Sat Dec 18, 2004 13:12 UTC
Really good tips. You are a seasoned VT'er!! We Celts once occupied the whole of Britain, until those pesky Saxons, Angles and Vikings shoved us West. But they built a massive ditch, Offa's Dyke, on the border to stop us coming back!! |
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