Cardiff

Smee and I had not planned to go anywhere for the Bank Holiday and were pretty content with staying back in London.   But at the last minute, we decided to take a road trip to Cardiff (aka Caerdydd) in Wales.  At about a 3.5 hour drive, it was not very far but far enough to be transported into an alternative universe where people seem to put random Roman alphabet letters together and pretend it's a real word.

How does Gwesty = Hotel?  Aah the mysteries of the Welsh language.  Although I do think it's pretty cool that Welsh managed to develop alongside the English language.

After checking in to our hotel, Smee and I had to stuff our faces.  We tried to book ourselves into Marco Pierre White's Tide Restaurant, but upon investigation, we discovered it no longer existed!  In it's place was Tempus, so we thought we'd give it a try.

We made the most of locally sourced seafood and had the fruits de mer and oysters - yes please!  The meal totalled up to something stupidly cheap for UK standards.  

The next day, Smee and I wanted to check out Cardiff Market but it was shut.

The closed market doors.  Boo hoo. 

So off we trotted to Cardiff Castle.  Our hotel was opposite the castle and we were given a 'castle view'.  However, it wasn't much of a view because the hotel was located at a not very interesting end of the castle.

The castle entrance. 

Me and Welsh Dragon - so scary! 

Me pointing to my Norman Keep.  Me jumping for joy after being told that the Norman Keep was for keeps.  

Smee within the castle walls.  Don't get trapped Smee! 

Smee admiring his Norman Keep.  

Inside the castle apartments. 

Overall Cardiff was a quiet little city, away from the crowds of mega-city London.  Both Smee and I don't think we'll ever return but now I can tick Wales off my Elastics List.... and by that I mean the old schoolyard chant - "England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales!  Inside, outside, monkey's tails!"

Nope, decades later, that still doesn't make sense.