A short drive west from the Cotswolds put us in Cardiff, the capital of Wales. We came for lunch and a walk through the city’s downtown. My wife did not want to take the long drive to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch, the town with 58 characters in its name, the longest in Wales and in all of the United Kingdom.

Language

Not sure if a recent thing done to keep a language alive or something done for a long time, but I enjoyed seeing Welsh alongside English just about everywhere. I asked around and discovered that about one-quarter of the population remain conversational in Welsh.

Smokey Would Approve

Many businesses had water bowls and treats for dogs. This one had quite the treat buffet set out. Yes, Smokey would approve.

Cardiff Millennium Centre

In English and Welsh, the face of the building reads, “In these stones horizons sing.” Or, “Creu gwir fel gwydr o ffwrnais awen.” The letters are actually windows, so interior lighting shines outward at night.

Colored Houses

I noticed that in many areas houses have distinct colors for one another.

Phone

One more phone booth photo. 2600, IYKYK.