I desperately wanted a change of environment and decided to take some time off with my friend since we both could do with a break. After much deliberation and based on recommendation, we decided on Cardiff.

I could still remember my excitement that morning we set out for Victoria station to catch our bus. Since it was early September, the weather was still a bit chilly, I had to go and get a cup of hot chocolate.

The total bus journey took about four hours. It was a very tiring trip but getting down in Cardiff brightened our moods. Contrary to what we expected, the weather was welcoming. The bright sunlight greeted us with a moderately warm embrace. And we instantly fell in love with the city.

With the help of our map and that of a lovely couple, we were able to trace our way to our hotel. Although on the map, the journey looked quite a distance and we almost attempted to take the bus but in reality, it is only a short walk from where the bus dropped us. And we also discovered the same about Cardiff itself.

We settled into our comfortable hotel, The BIG SLEEP hotel. The view from the 9th floor window where were lodged was breathtaking. It was similar to the same view on a plane close to landing. You could see the whole city of Cardiff from the floor.

The view from the hotel window.

First, we visited the Cardiff market. Along the way, we passed by some pubs and restaurants where a lot of Welsh were seated outside, enjoying their drink and food under the sun. We were almost tempted to sit and enjoy the same with them. The scene was heart-lightening and inviting. It took a lot of will power to tear ourselves away.

The market has got a back to basic look with quite a number of traditional food stalls selling all sorts of cheap and mouth-watering cuisine. The most prominent ones were green olives filled with cheese and sun-dried tomato in dipping sauce, not to mention some delicious looking pork pies. We had to make our way through the crowd of shoppers to sample what the market has got to offer. While my friend helped herself to some olives and grapes, I settled for jacket potato with corned beef and baked beans. Other parts of the market displayed fresh vegetables, colourful fabrics and domestic pets like hamster, parrots, and cats.