I came back from Brussels late Friday night, and Saturday morning I was back at Alicante airport, this time on my way to Cardiff with Monica. The spring semester was beginning Monday and I went with her to help set her up in the place where she will live until June. This was not really a chore–I like Cardiff very much. It is a lively, cosmopolitan city, kind of like a mini-London, less monumental of course but also very international and much more compact, thus easily walkable.
4_1
Monica poses in front of giant suitcase at Cardiff airport:
4_2
Wall art in Cathays, the neighbourhood where she will live the next 6 months:
4_3
At the entrance to her new house (which she shares with four other students, from four different countries):
4_4
A sure sign of a low-income neighbourhood is the presence of used tyre dealers. But Cathays has a nice vibe to it nonetheless:
4_5
We went for lunch at Falafel Kitchen on Crwys Road, one of Monica’s favourites but a first visit for me:
4_6
I was not disappointed:
4_7
Late in the afternoon, we went to the guesthouse where I had booked a room for two nights. It was right on the river Taff, near the beautiful Millenium Stadium (it has recently been renamed Principality Stadium to accommodate a sponsorship but I have yet to hear anyone using that travesty of a name):
4_8
My guesthouse was on a quiet residential street. A few doors down the street was what seemed to be a private home, but one inhabited by people who had found religion, in a big way:
4_9
We went for a pint at Brewdog’s outpost in Cardiff; as always, the beer selection was excellent:
4_10
4_11
The weather was cold, nasty and rainy. But it was Saturday night, and as is typical in the UK on such nights, girls who were out having fun dressed rather lightly for the conditions:
4_12
Early in the morning I went for a walk in search of coffee. I photographed the Millenium Stadium again, this time in a foggy, moody atmosphere:
4_13
4_14
Cardiff Castle in the mist:
4_15
Old mile marker near the castle:
4_16
We went for lunch at a vegan place called Anna Loka, on Albany Road. It turned out to be superb. Here, one of the employees is adjusting the day’s menu:
4_17
It was also the first visit for Monica, and she loved it:
4_18
We then did some shopping and walked around in the centre of Cardiff, looking for a bar where we could watch the Liverpool-Manchester United match. As I always do, I was on the lookout for amusing or otherwise notable details of the urban environment:
4_19
Mural:
4_20
Not a classical music lover, I presume:
4_21
My last picture from this trip, walking back to the guesthouse late in the evening, after having said goodbye to Monica. The next morning she was going to classes while I had a 4:30 a.m. bus to Bristol airport and my flight home to Alicante:
4_22
And so I came back home, back to “my” kitties:
4_23
I finish the week with a nicely decorated bottle recycling bin on Plaza Montañeta in the centre of Alicante:
Thanks much for your continued presentation of life on this planet. Making it personal is much appreciated. Wayne
Comment by Wayne S — 29 January 2016 @ 02:04
Thanks again for your tour. I never made it to Wales apart from a brief interlude in rural SE parts near Bristol. Of course it’s winter there now whereas I’m living in (dry) summer, but it was a bit of a shock to be reminded of UK winter. Living in digs is rather similar to my situation, post house fire 🙁 Brings back my student memories !
Comment by Brian — 29 January 2016 @ 18:18