Cardiff Bay, Cardiff

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Favorite thing: Cardiff Bay used to be an industrial area with old docks, but it is nowadays transfered into an entertainment and recreation area with walkways, attractions and both trendy and traditional restaurants and pubs.

It is located about 2 miles south of the city centre and can be reached by various local buses, including the BayXpress. Cardiff Bay has its own train station which is served from Queen Street Station and the Central Station. You can also walk from the city centre along the river Taff which takes about 30 minutes, but it is not too exciting.

Website: http://www.visitcardiffbay.info/

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Favorite thing: "Quinquireme of Nineveh from distant Ophir,
Rowing home to haven in sunny Palestine,
With a cargo of ivory,
And apes and peacocks,
Sandalwood, cedarwood, and sweet white wine.

Stately Spanish galleon coming from the Isthmus,
Dipping through the Tropics by the palm-green shores,
With a cargo of diamonds,
Emeralds, amythysts,
Topazes, and cinnamon, and gold moidores.

Dirty British coaster with a salt-caked smoke stack,
Butting through the Channel in the mad March days,
With a cargo of Tyne coal,
Road-rails, pig-lead,
Firewood, iron-ware, and cheap tin trays"

Cargoes
by John Masefield (1878 - 1967)

This poem, probably inspired by Poet Laureate Masefield's maiden voyage as a seaman from Cardiff Bay is so evocative of the era when Tiger Bay as Cardiff Bay was known in the 19th Century was one of the World's most important industrial ports fuelling a burgeoning trade in coal and iron.

Such was Cardiff Bay's pre-eminent position at the height of the Industrial Revolution that the World's 1st £1M cheque was signed at the Coal Exchange, now a popular club venue...

Towards the latter end of last century the docks area had fallen on hard times, but now is rising Phoenix-like from the ashes now that it has been chosen as the future site of the Welsh National Assembly and the Welsh National Opera.

It is an exciting time for the Bay!

Fondest memory: Nowadays the regeneration of Cardiff Bay is happening at a terrific pace with many new developments springing up all the time after the construction of the Cardiff Bay Barrage.

Cardiff Bay, which has a whole host of attractions including Techniquest - an excellent hands-on science museum and the lovely waterfront developments including Mermaid Quay with its many shops, bars and restaurants.

The whole waterfront is redolent with maritime history and makes for an excellent walk with many points of interest to stop at along the way such as the Norwegian Church, the Pierhead Building and the Lighthouse Ship, as well as a very interesting Information Centre which regularly houses exhibitions.

There are several bus routes from town including BayXpress and routes 8 and 35. You can also reach Cardiff Bay by train from Queen St station in town, though trains don't run here on Sundays. A Waterbus service travels across the bay to Penarth and the Barrage for another interesting diversion.

Favorite thing: Cardiff Bay was before known as "Tiger Bay". In the last years it has been changing into a great area to live, eat or have business (and I have checked visiting every time I go to Wales)
It is the perfect place to find restaurants or for a walk.

I always try to go every time I go to Cardiff.

Fondest memory: I really liked this Norweigan Church down by the Bay. Much of this area is under development and it's well worth visiting. I don't know why the church is thus called, but it's got a nice coffee-shop and a cool art gallery upstairs.

Favorite thing: Cardiff Bay is the recent developing business area of Cardiff. From Cardiff Bay.
You can visit National Techniquest, welsh Industrial Maritime Museum and the red Pier Head Building is its landmark.
Also, you'll see the beautiful view, many restaurants(there is a Japanes restaurant, very nice but quite expensive), pubs, etc.
August is the Cardiff festival, during the time there are many activities hold in Cardiff Bay.

Favorite thing: see the harbour and drink a cup (or pint if you like) of something in the Norwegian Church. Pay special attention to the carvings on the wall beside the church.

Fondest memory: Drinking great coffee in the Coffee Republic shop in one of the main streets (whose name i can't remember.)