Trip report: January 4 (travel day to Cardiff)

[cowgrrl]

We checked out of our blah hotel in London and made our way to Paddington station where we took a train to Cardiff. Unfortunately I was stuck riding backwards the entire way but I discovered if I kept my eyes closed most of the time I didn't end up with motion sickness. And it was just a 2 hour ride. It was raining when we arrived, and it took us a while to find the B&B host who was kind enough to come pick us up, but at last we arrived at the fabulous Ty Rosa B&B. The proprietors, Stuart and Paul are warm and friendly, they have a wonderful dog, Max, and the decor was great. I highly recommend this place, if you're ever in Cardiff. (And I'm not just saying this because Paul is likely to read this, LOL.)

By the time we were settled in it was already getting dark (it's dark by 4pm this time of year) and the rain was really coming down, and we were in an unfamiliar city so we decided to stay in for the evening. The B&B has an assortment of DVDs guests can borrow (and leave some spare change in the piggy bank which goes to charity). We watched some episodes of Shaun the Sheep, and the guys fixed us tuna sandwiches and a yummy apple crumble dessert. And of course we photographed the decor.

Barbie Christmas tree! (There was also a more traditional one.)


Sheep chess set!


Denice playing with Max


The back yard - taken a different day. Even in January there is green outdoors in Cardiff. :-)

Comments

[maymorning.livejournal.com]

Great pics! *giggling* They really love Shaun the Sheep! (So do I, he's great!)What a nice place to stay.

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

There is a sheep tic-tac-toe board there too! :-) I love Shaun too. He's my favorite character from Wallace & Gromit and I'm glad he got his own show.

[verucas-chaos.livejournal.com]

Great pics...by the way I am watching Harry Potter inspired by your pic's of another post!

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I'm going to need to do the same, so I can look for King's Cross station! :-) I don't own any of the Harry Potter movies, though, so it could be a while.

[neptunia67.livejournal.com]

Great pics! And I love Shaun the Sheep too. He is so darned cute.

I remember I got stuck riding backwards on the train once. I got sooooo ill. Blech. After that, I would always make sure to buy tickets that faced front. (I think they called it the 'direction of travel' - which makes sense)

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I've got to remember to ask for that in the future.

[cluelessinchi.livejournal.com]

Wow! That is beautiful. Is the weather there always so horrid? I never hear anything but rain, fog, rain etc. Does the sun actually ever shine?

[denicemarcell.livejournal.com]

I have a picture of blue sky, taken only because it was blue sky for neither of us have a clue of when or where i took it! For cowgrrl's sake i was glad we were not in scotland and the north of england as they were getting major snow storms. in the UK it is standard to always have raingear handy or be hardy enough to do without just like in Seattle.

[cluelessinchi.livejournal.com]

Cold and snow does not bother me as much as consistently overcast skies. I guess you are correct, that is why there is little chance that I would ever go to Seattle. Yes it is warmer there than in Chicago but I really need to see the sun! Thanks!

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think we saw at least a brief glimpse of the sun pretty much every day we were there. And one or two days it hardly rained at all, or didn't rain until later in the afternoon. Overall, I'd strongly prefer London's winter to Boston's winter!

[cluelessinchi.livejournal.com]

That is a good thing!
Boston has bad weather too?
All I hear about is how bad the weather is in London. I think Oak park is a tourist trap for baby boomer's from London and surrounding areas. We get lots and they ride the free shuttle. I get to talk to lots of folks from London, especially this past summer. *grins* I was told they did not have a summer at all or so it is said since it rained for 3 months.All I know is what I hear... London springs are known for their rain and fog. I just never hear anything positive about London weather. I was hoping to hear something positive and I got it. *squee*

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

Yes, I heard London had a terrible summer last year. When I was there in the summer (years ago) the weather was fine. But riding the Tube (the London subway) was awful in the summer because the trains aren't airconditioned.

[cluelessinchi.livejournal.com]

Wow! you have been there before? DAMN! you are a world traveler. *grins*
Is it not hot there in the summer?
That makes as much sense as the Chicago "L" trains not having their electrical mechanisms (engine things) not protected from the elements. Which makes for electrical fires in the winter a norm. Everyone who has rode the "L" in the winter knows the smell of electrical fires. *eye rolls* I heard from some London and other places near London that it rained all summer long. One man in particular mentioned it because as soon as he stepped off the plane here it started raining and it rained lots after he got here but it was not a particularly rainy summer just happened that the was very rainy when he arrived. LOL

[gottagetcoffee.livejournal.com]

I'll have to show Kathleen the the pic of the sheep chess board at the winterfest. She loves Shawn of the sheep! The B&B looks comfy!

[cowgrrl.livejournal.com]

I think she'll like my Shaun user icon too! :-) Baaaaa!