An interesting Saturday and an almost typical Sunday

An interesting Saturday and an almost typical Sunday

On Saturday we left for Cardiff with a lot of plans for the day.  Little did we know, through a comedy or errors, we would be exploring places we never knew existed.  We left in good time to explore a section of the city out to a suburb called Pentrebane  We often take a bus loop so that we can get to know Cardiff better.  This one went through an area called Canton that we will explore later.  Pentrebane is on a hill so we could see around but it was just a suburb so we did not get out. 

Lost Somewhere in South Wales

When we got back to Cardiff central Carolene suggested we go to Cowbridge Road where there are a lot of good Charity Shops (second hand stores) so we went to the bus slip and were speculating whether to catch number 12 or number 13 and a lady said “oh no you want bus X2.  It’s that purple one over there.”  So we ran over to the next platform and, after waiting in line, got on the bus for Porthcawl via Cowbridge.  Must be the right one.  It was a nice bus.  Not Cardiff city but our senior’s passes worked.  After about twenty minutes (Cowbridge Road is about ten minutes by bus) we were wondering about the route we were going.    We started to see a lot of fields and sheep (they have sheep in Wales you know) and small villages and country pubs.  After forty-five minutes we suspected we might be lost and were wondering if we would get back to Cardiff for the first game of the World Cup.  After a little under an hour we entered the village of Cowgridge and decided to get off.

A church on Saturday

Cowbridge was in its glory as it was hosting its annual food and drink festival.  We were torn between joining the festival and getting back to Cardiff gone wild on game day.  When we got off the bus we crossed the street to see when the next bus went back to Cardiff and found that (a) we had an hour and (b) there was already a cue of twenty people waiting for that bus.  I envisioned the return bus already full of yobs going to Cardiff and standing for the hour trip.  Carolene suggested we go up the street to find another bus stop.  Good idea so off we went.  She then said the we needed to stop for coffee.  Both of us were looking for a washroom.  As we neared the far end of town without a hope of an affordable coffee place with a toilet we found Noah’s Place right next to a bus stop.  We went into Noah’s Place and they were closing but they would give us a cup of tea and some sweets.  They did.  We wondered if they were some kind of cult http://www.cowbridgeunitedfreechurch.org.uk/aboutus.htm It turns out that they were a lovely church and Noah’s Place was a way that they served the community.  We had an interesting conversation with them and fully intend on returning some day but for some reason felt compelled to return to Cardiff.

The return trip was more relaxed as we knew where we were going and on the way back recognised some landmarks.  We passed by “auntie Gills place” and hope some day to actually meet auntie Gill. 

40.000 people opening a rugby series

Getting off the bus across from the millennium stadium where the opening ceremonies of the Rugby tournament were to be held was an experience.  On game day the streets are blocked off, the heddlu (police) are out in full force and the pubs all have huge doormen out front.  There are a few pubs listed as places to watch rugby:  two are Irish; one Australian and a couple are Welsh.  In retrospect I should have chosen Australian.  I picked the old arcade http://www.sabrain.com/oldarcade .  Carolene and I had lunch there last summer.  Nice place but I cannot remember the food.  We figured we should eat before going there so we explored the area and settled on tea and sandwiches at St John’s church https://sites.google.com/site/stjohnscityparishcardiff/ a church dating from the 12^th century.  We got our tea and sandwiches and sat in the graveyard eating them after chatting with the nice ladies who make them.

Then we went to the pub.

They had cleared all the tables expecting great crowds that never came.  We ordered some refreshments and sat and watched the teams come out.  The game started and ten minutes later Carolene decided she needed to go shopping.  I actually don’t blame her that much.  I told her about loose scrums and lineouts.  These games don’t do that.  Rugby league is more like a form of American football than rugby.  The Aussies beat the English.  Carolene went home and I stayed to see the start of the Welsh-Irish match expecting a huge display of national interest and pride.  I went home.  Disappointed.  I think next time I will watch in the Aussie pub.

An Almost Typical Sunday

We caught the bus outside our flat at 8:40.  The bus came all the way from Llantwit Major.  It went the scenic route past all the major stores: ASDA, Morrison’s, the Cardiff marina, IKA and past Cardiff Bay, up Lloyd George Blvd (I always hum “Lloyd George knew my father” during this part) and into Cardiff. 

Once there, with great cheek, we took the Penarth bus back toward were we came from to go to the Bessemer market so Carolene could get some furniture. Our landlady and her daughter have a fruit and vegetable stall there but when we try to buy she won’t let us pay.

Then we had to walk all the way back to the Ninian School to catch the bus to Cardiff Central.  Once there we walked on Riverside across from the big stadium to buy our eggs, meat, apples, and order Christmas presents for our kids from a Welsh craftsman at the Riverside market.

http://riversidemarket.org.uk/ (the video is worth watching)  By now we are becoming almost friends with the vendors.  We have found three markets in Cardiff:  this one (our favorite); the St Mary’s street one on Saturdays and the perpetual one in the Market Arcade that has been there for over a hundred years.  We have purchased a number of things at the Arcade.

When we finished with the market we were on our way to church and both felt peckish so Carolene went back to get a muffin for us to split.  She came back with a duck burger, a vegan muffin and some kind of tart.  I did not complain. 

The walk to church went across the river Taft, into the park, behind Cardiff Castle and along the path to the Castle Mews which is now the Anthony Hopkins Centre http://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/default.aspx .  We like to arrive by the back entrance as we can hear some great musicians practicing.  This week were piano and vocal.  Last week were obo, flute and two pianos. 

The service, as usual, was great.  The pastor’s wife gave the message.  She is very gifted spiritually and is a midwife by profession.  Her sermon on being born again was very graphic as only a midwife could be.  We love her.

Our bus back to Llandough goes on the odd hours so if we stay and chat at church we miss the one o’clock.  So we have to go to a pub for lunch [that’s my story and I am sticking to it].  Today we went to an interesting place near the train station http://www.jdwetherspoon.co.uk/home/pubs/the-great-western We both had Welsh food and it was good.  Last week we had some great pies at the Goat Major.  If you google goat major you will find out what a goat major is.

This week I am on half-term so we should be exploring Cardiff and south Wales some more.