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"Capital of Wales" a Cardiff Travel Page by uglyscot

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"Capital of Wales" a Cardiff Travel Page by uglyscot

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uglyscot   
Discovery consists of seeing what everybody has seen and thinking what nobody has thought


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Lives In: Khartoum, SD
Member Since: Dec 27, 2003
VT Rank: 171

 

Page Views: 2,747            Last Visit to Cardiff: October, 2005      

Capital of Wales

by uglyscot - last update: Mar 10, 2009

Cardiff skyline
In about 75 AD The Romans built a fort at Cardiff . The Normans later used the same site to build Cardiff Castle in the 12th century.

Cardiff was a relatively small town until the building of the Glamorgan Canal in 1794, . The canal linked the ironworks and coalmines of the Merthyr Tydfil district with Cardiff on the coast. Cardiff had a population of 3,579 by 1821, which made it the 27th largest town in Wales.

The first dock ,which was built in 1839, increased the amount of trade . Merthyr Tydfil was the largest iron producing area in the world at this time. Two of the owners of these ironworks joined forces to form the Taff Vale Railway Company. Isambard Brunel, a talented engineer from Bristol, was recruited to build the railway which was completed in 1841. It was then possible to transport goods from Merthyr Tydfil to Cardiff in less than an hour. Later, branches were built to link the mining valleys with Welsh ports and England's growing industrial towns and cities. The railway network reduced transport costs so much that it was profitable to export Welsh coal to distant countries .

By 1861 the population had reached 33,000, making Cardiff the most important town in Wales.

The skyline represents Cardiff - the spire of St John's, The Millenium Stadium and other buildings: ie. The old, the new, and in between.
Castle entrance
The centre of Cardiff is one big paved pedestrian shopping centre with numerous arcades. The ones we saw were Capitol, St Davids, Queen's Arcade, and Oxford arcade , Cardiff Market and Working Street, but there is much more.
A man dressed in old fashioned red jacket and with a black tricorne hat and brass horn instrument was trying to encourage customers.
Another day a man completely white was acting like a robot.

Until I started VT I never really noticed buildings . Now anything unusual catches my eye- hence the skyline shot.
And we can't overlook the Castle.
Cathedral Road

Temple

Although Wales is known for its chapels, I was surprised to see this building with Hebrew round the door, though what I was interested in was the blossom on a cold March day.

> Add to your Custom Travel Guide [What's This?]

Pros:"an interesting city whose history is still visible"
Cons:"wet, wet, wet"
In A Nutshell:"compact, nice parks and great shopping"
uglyscot's Cardiff Travel Tips

OverviewThings to Do
Tips: 13 - Photos: 48
 
Restaurants
Tips: 8 - Photos: 10
Hotels & Accommodations
 
NightlifeOff The Beaten Path
Tips: 6 - Photos: 26
 
Tourist Traps
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
Warnings Or Dangers
 
Transportation
Tips: 3 - Photos: 5
Local Customs
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1
 
Packing ListsShopping
Tips: 2 - Photos: 3
 
Sports Travel
Tips: 1 - Photos: 3
General Tips
Tips: 1 - Photos: 1

uglyscot's Cardiff Travelogues
Title [Click to view]Travel YearPictures
Churches and moreOctober, 2005 7
Cardiff castleOctober, 2005 8
Old and newDecember, 2005 6
LllandaffMay, 2008 8
Roath Park - birdsJune, 2008 8
Roath Park- conservatoryJune, 2008 8
more in Roath ParkJune, 2008 8
In the suburbsMarch, 2009 4
Bute Park and Cardiff in SpringMarch, 2009 7

Comments for uglyscot about Cardiff
Nemorino Sat Jan 10, 2009 19:36 UTC
 Fascinating legends and stories about the Tympath, Castell Coch and Llandaff Cathedral. My theory about Wales (never having been there) is that all the best places have at least two Ls in their name.
evaanna Sat Nov 15, 2008 14:28 UTC
 Excellent updates, and even more now. As old as I am I think I would enjoy Techniquest myself. Lovely and informative page. I see you have found your way to Castell Coch.
uglyscot Fri Jun 20, 2008 16:45 UTC
 Patty- when we were young we used to say a showing petticoat meant you were looking for a mother in law
pattypoo Fri Jun 20, 2008 13:04 UTC
 You wasted no time uploading and the park does look nice. Love my petticoat hanging down hehhe.
See More Comments

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