Cardiff and the last post

Day 48 & 49  Cardiff. We have decided to leave the boat in Penarth for a couple of weeks and head home. We will return in a few weeks time and decide whether to leave it in Penarth for the Winter or possibly take it to Portishead or Bristol.

In the meantime Celia and I decided to take the ferry across Cardiff Bay to Cardiff. We were the only passengers on the first ferry at 11.00 and heard a commentary about the harbour area as we went. The Norwegian church was built by Norwegian timber men who brought their cargo's into Cardiff. It has been moved from it's original position and restored with the help of a donation from Roald Dahl. He was born here and his parents were Norwegian immigrants.

The Norwegian Church on Cardiff Bay
Captain Morgan, the infamous pirate, came from Cardiff but died in the Caribbean. Captain Morgan Rum is named after him!

The Pierhead building, Cardiff's Big Ben

Mermaid Quay Cardiff., with the Pier head building and the Welsh Assembly
We alighted at Mermaid Quay and visited the terracotta coloured Victorian Pier head building, next to the modern Welsh Assembly building.The Pier head was the Harbour Board's offices and has some lovely Victorian interiors of terracotta and tiles.  In the Pier head there is a small exhibition charting the history of Cardiff and the docks. It grew with the advent of coal and then went into decline in the 1950's. It has reinvented itself with great success. The barrage closed off the whole bay area so it is now fresh water and there are three sea locks which take you out into the Bristol Channel. There is a sailing and a yacht club and of course Penarth Marina just across the bay where we are.  There is a large leisure centre with an Olympic swimming pool and a water park. Outside is a white water park which is the largest in the UK.

We stopped for a coffee in the large modern building just back from the quay, the Wales Millenium Centre, which was hosting a graduation ceremony. There were many students in hat and gown with proud parents and friends dressed very smartly. A live band was playing jazz style and it was all in all a very festive atmosphere.

Wet fish stall in the covered market.


The city itself has an amazing array of shops and arcades all pedestrianised, and a wonderful covered market selling everything from fresh produce to vintage clothes. We spent a very enjoyable afternoon cheese and shoe shopping, heaven. We also popped in the oldest building apart from the castle, the St. John the Baptist church, which was an oasis of peace and quiet. We lit a candle for loved ones and there was a lovely poem on the wall, so I will leave you with this.



So for now goodbye from Lunar Sea and all who have sailed with us this trip. See you again soon.

Thanks to Celia for all the photos on this blog.

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