4/25 The American Chronicles: The Welsh homeland step by step

We bid farewell to the wedding party and our newlywed son and daughter-in-law, and boarded a train from Hereford, UK to Cardiff, Wales. Much of my ancestry, going back to King Henry VII, was Welsh, and we were so close to the capital that we couldn’t resist adventuring. We arrived in Cardiff with just enough time to find the Beverly Pub and Diner, above which we would lodge that night, and have lunch before our personally-guided Lokafy tour. We encountered the friendly company of “Stock Market Steve,” a regular at the pub who latched onto us and told us every story of his life. ‘We politely excused (extracted) ourselves to meet our tour guide, Rob. We were not prepared for what would happen next.

Taking the circuitous route, we strolled through Bute Park and walked along the legendary “Animal Wall” of Cardiff Castle. The wall is a surreal lineup of stone creatures—bear, lynx, anteater, and more—perched along the park wall like guardians of whimsy.  We met Rob at the gates of Cardiff Castle, right in the heart of the city. Its architectural style is layered over centuries from the Roman foundations built around 47 AD, a Norman keep, and a Victorian makeover that feels almost too detailed to be real. Under the gray sky, it was formidable even today, challenging the senses with the secrets of ages within its walls. My 16th great-grandfather, Henry VII defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, claiming the English throne. He solidified his power in Wales by securing key properties, including Cardiff Castle. Onward on the marathon tour.

From there we walked throughout the city, taking in history and landmarks with the very thorough and engaging Rob the Tour Guide. Cardiff was a coal town, making the Bute family among the richest in the world during the 18-19th centuries. Hence, Cardiff became a cultural center and eventually the capital of Wales. We saw the old quarters of the poor coal miners and the pubs across from the rugby stadium. We visited the Royal Hotel where Captain Robert Falcon Scott and his expedition dined before their ill-fated journey to Antarctica. In Wales, an arcade is not a gaming venue, it is like an indoor mall. The Royal Arcade is Cardiff’s oldest covered shopping passage of independent shops, café’s and boutiques. Nearby, was St. John’s Church dating back to 1180. Its stained-glass windows and rich legacy provided a moment of reflection. We walked down under the street and up more stairs to pass by Parliament.

And then, when we thought we couldn’t walk another step, Rob took us up several flights into the National Museum, where we came face to face with one of the finest collections of the Impressionist artist Monet. After that pleasant surprise the tour concluded. And we started walking back to the Beverly Pub. It started to rain and we felt like we couldn’t walk any further. We were saved by a taxi, who delivered us just a few blocks away. We picked up our luggage at the side desk, room 14. Up steps and more steps, taking over 59 seconds to get there. We were so sore and tired, we didn’t think we could make it back down the steps for dinner. But we did. Cardiff was a great adventure. Another 59 seconds after dinner, and we fell in bed exhausted. Tomorrow is yet another day!

Sources:

https://lokafy.com

Captain Scott Society

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Bill Wilson

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