Here and There Blog

Roald Dahl Square. I was really hoping to see a giant peach.  Sailors head out of Cardiff Bay.  Cardiff has lots of sculptures around town.      Along the canal.

The walls display fun scenes from the show. I enjoyed looking at these as much as the interactive shows and exhibits. Weeping angels come to town.  Lords of Gallifrey  Cybermen  The World of Aliens  Even a Warhol

I'm a pretend fan of Doctor Who. I don't get the classic version and since I iPad'd the new Who seasons 1-7 in a span of months, I'm missing the emotional connection. Still the Doctor Who Experience is fun. Where else but Cardiff do you have the Tardis welcoming the sailors home? The Experience does a good job with the props. I liked seeing all the detail that is put into some of them.  Don't blink, too late!  Lot's of Daleks. My photos of them didn't turn out so well. A fan? In Cardiff? Check it out here.

A few more from the castle grounds. The moat to protect the fortress.  The steps ahead. It's an easy climb. Medieval toilet. It looks like water but it's a shot of the grass below. No flush and watch out from above! Close up of the outer tower clock.

In the center of Cardiff, lies a castle. Instead of a city moving away from history, Cardiff today still revolves around the former center. From the website, "The Roman fort at Cardiff was probably established at the end of the 50s AD, on a strategic site that afforded easy access to the sea. Archaeological excavations made during the 1970s indicate that this was only the first of four forts, each a different size, that occupied the present site.  After the Norman conquest, the Castle’s keep was built, re-using the site of the Roman fort. The site was divided into inner and outer wards, separated by a huge stone wall."  cardiffcastle.com You can walk on the top of the walls. This above photo is not of the castle but a church down the road. Below, part of the museum complex.  New and old together.  Stained glass added to the main Victorian era building.

No sleep, little food, what to do to stay awake and not go to bed too early from jet lag? Try the local beer! Last night I couldn't get into any normal pub due to the Rugby tournament and crowds of celebrating students. (I also learned that you can drink in public and be drunk in public in Cardiff) I had to retreat to the hotel lobby bar and try Welsh brand beer - Brains Gold. It was the typical lager but not harsh so I finished most of it. I also learned that food can be spicy here and didn't pay attention to what I ordered to eat only to find I got spicy style! The Brains helped with that.

It took a few attempts and then about a month ago I made the effort and set aside vacation time and cashed in hotel points to go to Cardiff, Wales. Having been to the rest of the UK and Ireland, this gap needed to be filled, fueled on in part by watching Torchwood. I have to say, the city looks much bigger on TV than real life. After the flight I caught the Cardiff Central train from London Paddington and two hours later I'm here! Cardiff is two hours by train. After the first hour the landscape and villages start to change. The old churches remain in the towns and I missed more photo ops but realized, I was going to see plenty of these.  And another one.  It was almost a shock to arrive in Cardiff and have a real city again! This is the view from my hotel room. The structure is the stadium. Turns out I arrived on the day of a major college rugby tournament and the city is packed with students.

The Pollencast for Carlsbad has tree pollen listed at Very High. I don't remember ever seeing the red before. Normally moderate and high get to me but Very High has made me more grateful than ever for allergy meds. My backyard while contributing to the pollen at least offers flowers in bloom.  

The theme of this year's Earth Day is climate change. As the fog slowly burns off, I think about what if this was a layer of smog that never burned off? You wouldn't see the families out enjoying the beach or the fitness people exercising outside of a gym. Climate change, caused by global warming, caused by chemicals in the air has the potential to hinder and even stop our quality of life. Days like this would be a thing of the past. As a child, I remember Earth Day. The concept had an impact on me even at the age of 9. It will have an impact on the children in this photo. I have hope that each generation will move away from the gas/oil/chemical life into green energy. I have hope for our planet and the future. Earth Day link here.

Desert Edge Brewery is located in Trolley Square and has food and beer for all in a casual setting. We went here for post event beer only so I can't speak for the food but I saw just as many non-beer drinkers there eating as beer drinkers so the food must be good. My favorite beer here is the Latter Days Stout, a nice, creamy stout without any need for nitro, flavors, or high alcohol trends to it. Call this a relaxing stout, one you can enjoy without having to analyze it. I also liked the Utah Pale Ale.  What a tasty beer!

Pending no bizarre unexpected complications I will be off once again on Tuesday. Two suitcases are out, four separate piles of clothes are being staged and schedule checks being done. First up, vacation. Cardiff, Wales and London this coming week. I hope to be exploring the Cardiff Castle and Doctor Who experience and then something equally fun later in the week. Post vacation it looks like a few days for off-site work meetings, a work trip to Las Vegas, more off-site meetings and the Kuala Lumpur, and maybe Dubai. In the meantime, I have weeds to deal with, a need to exercise, and a lack of good sleep to deal with this weekend. Oh and those first three episodes of Sherlock to finally watch. Pictures again at some point if only of the ocean.

I've driven by here dozens of times and never stopped in. Today though, I was motivated by my lack of recent blogging to find something new. Pony Express Monument near Salt Lake City fit that need. Western Outpost The outposts really were small and dreary. The stories that are at the monument talk about the swarms of flies, lack of fresh air and rough living conditions for rider and ponies alike. This pony doesn't realize how quiet and relaxing life is compared to the past!

Salt Lake City - April 13. The day started out sort of warm but the temperature dropped quickly and light rain started to fall. This was taken at "This is the Place" state park looking to the southeast.

April. That strange time of year when it's not winter, spring, or summer but we have all weather patterns in the same week. The sun shines bright inland while the coast stays cold and cloudy. Still the beach crowds are not there and sunset is relaxing. It's a perfect time to have a sandwich for dinner while waiting for the sunset.

Homer, LJ and I decided to try someplace new this year. We ended up at Prepkitchen in Little Italy. Great salads, fun food and a nice sunny corner table. Cheers!