Our Wales addiction
Nana (39) and husband Thorsten (52) are from Germany’s capital, Berlin. Together since 2003, married in 2006, parents to Mia Victoria since 2011. Football addicted. Rugby fans. On the road for more than 16 years through Europe. Music lovers. And addicted to Wales…
DIOLCH for letting me tell a bit about my love for Wales and Cardiff. I hope you enjoy.
I don’t know what it was, but back in 1996 Wales started to be interesting to me. I mean, there is a dragon on the flag! How cool is that?
As a German-based young woman without internet or possibilities to travel to the UK it was hard to find satisfying information. Years later, and with the best husband at my side, I was able to go to Wales, by car… what a journey!
Cardiff is my favourite place; hard to describe why, it just is. So it was our first stop in Wales. It was overwhelming. WE HAVE ARRIVED! So much to see, so much to eat, so much to learn and finally a good cup of tea.
It was exciting to finally see all the places in my fave town. Cardiff Market with all the shops, the Principality Stadium, the Cardiff City FC stadium, the Castle, Bute Park, walking over the bridge over the River Taff, Cardiff Bay, the library, in short: all the typical tourist spots.
Of course, this is what you expect when you visit a new city. But it was more than this to me. I love rugby, I love the Royal history, I love shopping and music. And walking around. Nothing better than a good walk to spots a normal tourist wouldn’t see.
We talked to a lot of people in Cardiff, took a ride on the carousel in the middle of the main shopping area and ate mince pies at Christmas. We met Santa Claus near the Cardiff Market. And we went to the Motorpoint Arena twice to see shows of the Stereophonics – the band from Cwmaman! Just 40 hours car ride to see three hours of a Welsh band in Cardiff!
As a true Wales fan, of course, my favourite music comes from Cwmaman. There was the first time I had personal contact with an old Welsh man. He asked: “Are you lost?” and was ready to help. I fell in love with Welsh people from this moment on.
Later we met some more. One of the nicest and really personal conversations I ever had in Wales was at a cemetery in Aberdare. My husband and I are what you call ground-hoppers. Not only for football (CARDIFF CITY FC! YAY!) but also for cemeteries.
It is interesting that in Wales you can go into the cemetery by car! It was a bit shocking. So while strolling through the small paths an old man came to me and asked if I miss someone. That’s when we ended in a 10-minute talk about life and people and how hard it is to be alone after the loss of a loved one. In the pouring cold rain. On Christmas Eve. It was impressive for me. A total stranger let me be a little part of his life. Loved it!
Apart from the beautiful places around Cardiff, we wanted to see as much as we could. Holiday time is limited. So, yeah, we made it to Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch. A nice old lady near the station tried to teach us how to speak out this name. Nah…
On our way to this little place we stopped a lot of times. Just to inhale every piece of Wales. Driving carefully through sheep, waving to the people on the street who were surprised to see Germans in this part of the world. Nothing negative to say about Welsh people.
We also made it to the other point of Wales, the St Annes Lighthouse. It was stormy and cold and the streets are so tiny. We loved it! Bridgend, Swansea, Newport… I was there a lot of times. Just strolling around, talking to people, go shopping, learning about the do’s and don’ts and how nice Welsh can be…
For me, loving Wales is not only the ‘tourist stuff’, it is mostly the life around these points. The history.
Love from Germany,
Nana
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