Swansea to Cardiff: a Good weekend

Friday and Saturday:

Gwyn, a student and friend from Mt. Holyoke College in Massachusetts, and I decided to give what we had been hearing about all week a go. We went out to Wind (like Wined) St. on Friday night. Granted, we got there at about 5:30 pm, and there was basically nothing going on, but that is well beside the point. We had heard this was were the University students go to unwind, to let it all out (and one girl took that part quite literally), and to basically get drunk and be ridiculous. Gwyn and I had no interest in this part, so we just wanted to get dinner and see what it was all about. After extensive attempts to decide where to go, we decided on a place called Nando. It featured Portuguese fare, and was a very valuable experience. They offered ‘bottomless soft drinks,’ something I had yet to see over here. I had ¼ of a chicken with medium Peri-peri sauce. It was a sort of spicy and sweet concoction slathered on a roasted chicken and it was delicious. The price was right too, for about 6 pounds.

After dinner, we decided it would be good to try a drink at one of these illustrious bars. So we found one what stated “Real Ales” on the window, and quite prominently. Mind you, this same establishment promised “Hot Food” in the same manner, and when we enquired earlier in looking for a place for dinner it turns out they offer no such thing. Nevertheless, we tried it again for a go at their ale. When I asked the barkeep what real ale she had to offer, she replied that they didn’t have any. Real ale, for those not in the know are ones that are cask fermented. The ale sits in a barrel and ferments, so it is quite literally alive when it is hand pumped from the cellar to your glass.

Gwyn and I found this place to be utterly unbelievable. They offered upstairs seating, which was gated off, hot food and real ale, both of which they had none. All of these things made us want to go in and they had none. That is Adelphi Pub for you. Be ye warned.

Gwyn is a very nice girl. She worked in a greenhouse last summer at her college and had similar stories to my last summer on campus. Spending a summer on campus with dear friends seems something that is universally enjoyed and a pivotal point in one’s life. Not to mention the crazy things that one can think up and have the time to do when you research cheese for two months.

On Saturday, we had a field trip to St. Fagan’s living history museum outside Cardiff, and to Cardiff itself. The museum featured a recreated Celtic settlement, complete with thatched roofing and curing meats in the shelters. We also got to see lots of sheep and various stages of Welsh civilization that were taken from their original locations throughout Wales and rebuilt, often brick by brick, on the site. http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/RossDMcKinney/StFaganSNationalHistoryMuseumAndCardiff

There is also a castle, though to me mansion seemed more appropriate. A medieval style wall surrounded it, so I guess I’ll let it slide. The gardens and house is on the site of St. Fagan’s castle, as I understand it. The property was part of the aristocracy’s royal holding until it was turned over to the Nation for its present use as a living museum. Knowing Saints and royalty had once trod the same paths through the gardens was an eerie and exciting feeling.

Cardiff was a repeat for me. I had been before with the Glee Club, and we were afforded about as much time this time as the last, so I did not get to see much. While many of the others toured the castle, I opted out with a friend to explore some stores and hit up a pub. I here learned a valuable lesson. When trying an ale that you have never heard of and that has a name such as Cherry Bombe, it may be best to ask to try it first before ordering an Imperial Pint. Their pints are bigger than ours, 20 ounces in fact. And the beer was terrible. I don’t know if I can adequately describe its murky and syrupy squalor. If you have ever had a cheap chocolate covered cherry that is mostly some sort of thick cherryish syrup, then you know half of it. The other half was beer. I have had Sam Adam’s Cherry, and it is not bad. Because it has a hint of cherry. They had a good beer, and they put in a light essence. Not the liquid leftovers from a score of empty Maraschino jars. So it goes, I guess. It can’t all be good.