cardiff

Cardiff Bay Barrage Art Illusion

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A walk across the Cardiff Bay Barrage is a great way to spend a few hours in Cardiff. If you’re in a car then access the barrage from the Penarth end where there’s a large carpark.  If you’re on foot then either walk from the Cardiff Bay visitor centre near the Norwegian Church, or catch a boat across the Bay from Mermaid Quay near the National Assembly Senedd building.

There’s lots to see, there are 3 boat locks between the Bay and the sea that operate every 30 minutes.  From the sea-ward side of the barrage there’s a great view in clear conditions across to Penarth pier, Flat Holm and Steep Holm and the English coast across the Severn.

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Cardiff International Whitewater Centre, Cardiff Bay

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httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ONz_q47INkc

We visited the new Cardiff International Whitewater Centre in Cardiff Bay yesterday.  This is part of the Sports village that is being developed on the west side of the Bay.  Nearby is the Cardiff Arena Ice Rink and the Cardiff International swimming pool.

The pumped river is about 250m long.  It looks lots of fun, you can either try the kayaks or go white water rafting as a group.  Each white water raft has a “captain” on board who ensures that everyone is safe.  It’s not cheap, between £250 and £300 for 6 people but you’re on the water for about 2 hours which is about as long as most people can last for!  It’s pretty tiring!!

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St David’s 2 Shopping Centre, Cardiff

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View of the St David's 2 shopping centre
St David's 2

St David’s 2 is a prestigious new shopping centre in the centre of Cardiff. It builds on the existing St David’s shopping centre that houses Marks and Spencer, Debenhams and Boots.

With the opening of the new shopping centre in November 2009 it is now possible to shop totally under cover from Cardiff’s main shopping street Queen St. right through to the Cardiff Marriott Hotel on Mill Lane.

Building on Cardiff’s shopping arcade history the centrepiece is a large 2 storey glass-topped arcade that runs from Debenhams through to a massive new John Lewis store.

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Nice view of Cardiff Bay

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Cardiff Bay
Cardiff Bay

We had a nice walk around Cardiff Bay last weekend just as the sun was setting.  The light was really nice though it was a bit cold for me!

You can see the Pierhead Building to the left, the Senedd next to it and the Atradius building with the sloping roof to the right.

It’s well worth a walk around the Bay and now that the pathway across the Barrage is open you can now walk all the way across to Penarth.

Be warned though that the path gates are closed at 8pm so make sure you are back before then.

Click on the picture for a larger version.

WRC Rally of Great Britain hits Cardiff Bay

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Sébastien Loeb's Citroen Rally carThe WRC Rally of Great Britain hits Cardiff again this weekend.  The focal point in the City has moved from Cathays Park in the centre down to the Oval Basin in Cardiff Bay.

The service park will be located in the Bay with a spectators village in the Oval Basin (Roald Dahl Plass).

The Bay is currently a hive of activity as tents, cars and stalls are being set up.

The picture shows Sébastien Loeb’s car outside the Citroen stand this afternoon. Click on the photo for a closer view.

Welsh Language Translation Fail – Take 2

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Language Translation FailWales seems to be the favourite place for translation fails in road signs.

Last year Swansea made a big mess-up when it came to translation of English text into the Welsh language.

Now it’s Cardiff’s turn.

This roadsign was spotted in St Mary St. in the centre of Cardiff’s busy shopping area.

The BBC reports that the sign says “pedestrians look left” in English, but that the Welsh “cerddwyr edrychwch i’r dde” translates back as “pedestrians look right”.

Maybe trying to catch the tourists out?  🙂