Cardiff was a fun city to visit... lots and lots of activity. You can tell that the city has become very aggressive as a tourist capital, as they have closed several of their mainstreets to cars to promote pedestrian activity. Though it was a bit too commercialized (literally saw 5 Starbucks within 8 blocks on one street), I think it's a move that is paying off for the city. Cardiff Castle is really awesome as well!
BTW I saw Bristol and Cardiff in the same day. Lot of fun, but it's sufficient to say that I was TIRED by the time I got back to Exeter!!!
Here's a major thoroughfare that is being closed to car traffic. I think it's High Street, but can't recall.
I was quite surprised by the amount of detached housing in Cardiff... even more surprised that so much of it was mixed use! A lesson to be learned in the US perhaps??
Pedestrian subway!!
There you go... Starbucks A-N-D KFC. Burger King is just a block down :-/
I had the opportunity to visit Cardiff when my ship pulled into Portsmouth, England. I took a train to Cardiff and had a great weekend. I told folks my family was from there (I have a Welsh surname), and didn't pay for a drink or a meal. Wish I could remember more about the city. Great people.
Of course the city looks nothing like I remember from 40 years ago. Glad to see it's doing well. Special thanks for this tour urb.
__________________
Get off my lawn you whippersnappers!!!!!
I'm surprised with how much of a hodge-podge it is. I was expecting something more planned and uniform, for some reason.
Great tour!
Thanks very much :-)
I was surprised at the amount of inconsistencies too, but what is most surprising is how well the city flows and works despite that. Cardiff to me has a lot in common with American cities, but they've made conscious decisions to tie their retail segments together, and focus heavily on pedestrian activity. IMO It's a great model for US cities like Houston or KC
I was surprised at the amount of inconsistencies too, but what is most surprising is how well the city flows and works despite that. Cardiff to me has a lot in common with American cities, but they've made conscious decisions to tie their retail segments together, and focus heavily on pedestrian activity. IMO It's a great model for US cities like Houston or KC
Funny you say that. My first thought was how "American" the city felt, at least through pictures. Do you know if the city has a central square?
__________________ Where the trees are the right height
Funny you say that. My first thought was how "American" the city felt, at least through pictures. Do you know if the city has a central square?
Sadly I didn't have enough time to get down there, but the area photographed is "Cardiff City"... Cardiff Bay is another main focus point of the town that has the more traditional layout. It's where the Welsh Capitol building is. But even there, the form is still inconsistent, with a lot of places that look like "American style" infill.
But I think the main thing to learn here is not what the city looks like, but rather what and how it accomplishes its goals. Cardiff proves that it's quite possible to have a lovely, urban city that is good for both residents and tourists, even if you don't have the striking uniformity of Paris or New York.
Linear Mode
