Just to let my readers know that this weekend I’ve gone totally certifiable as we’ve just bought a little narrowboat on the Brecon & Monmouthshire Canal…so looking forward to next weekend now when we take her out for her first ‘cruise’ on the canal.  She’s moored at a farm near Abergavenny and the canal is just beautiful – full of wildlife and fields of sheep and lambs etc.  All I need now is a little netbook that works on the boat and I’ll really be made up!

Handblown Glass Jewellery from Venice4D Sculptures of Music, Dancers & Animals

Cardiff Girlie’s been out & about again for Discover Cardiff last week to check out Isabella’s in Cardiff’s Morgan Arcade.  Isabella’s is a kaleidoscope of beautiful handblown glass jewellery direct from Anticca Murina in Venice, brightly coloured handpainted Festin Coquin pottery from Avignon in the South of France and a vast range of Welsh goods.  Popular items include Ronin jewellery, handmade in Ammanford, Sea Gems sterling silver celtic jewellery, adorable black & white chunky Cymru Ware mugs, Welsh rugby shirts from age 6 months to XXL, handcarved  lovespoons & dragons of all shapes & sizes, limited edition handmade teddies in costume, Welsh cards and lots more….

The inland freshwater lake that forms Cardiff Bay is surrounded by an exciting blend of iconic buildings, quirky little shops & galleries, a raft of glossy eateries and wonderful sculptures that line the boardwalks of Mermaid Quay.  Some of these sculptures are reminders of the past life of Cardiff’s infamous Tiger Bay and its glory days as the biggest coal exporter in the world.  Check out the old red brick Pierhead Building for a feel of times past and have a whizz around the Bay on a boat trip for a thrill of times present.

Cardiff has an inner maze of these beautiful Edwardian & Victorian Arcades.  Work your way through the designer boutiques, quirky gift shops, vintage clothes & bookshops and little delis and cafes – you’re sure to find something you’ve just got to have….

‘Shwmae’ – Hello to everyone out there; to all my readers on the Discover Cardiff website and hopefully lots of new ones that will join me now! 

Discover Cardiff is a website for visitors to our lovely Capital City and for residents alike to find out everything there is to see and do here – where to visit, stay, eat, shop, chill out, what to see and do, freebies & offers and lots more.  Get the latest news, views, gossip and events straight from the Cardiff girlie’s mouth (no I’m not a horse….)

Cardiff is Europe’s youngest Capital and is now home to a distinctive, vibrant,  sexy 21st Century culture.   You’ll find a whacky Castle in the middle of the City, a Civic Centre built of elegant white Portland stone (think  Whitehouse in the US), elegant Edwardian & Victorian Shopping Arcades (think Burlington Arcade & Bond St. London) all mixed in with the massive Millenium Stadium, trendy shopping centres, contemporary hotels and a cocktail of gastro-pubs, clubs & eateries.  The old Cardiff Docks (think Shirley Bassey & Tiger Bay) have morphed into a glossy new Cardiff Bay Waterfront, crammed full of restaurants, shops, galleries & waterfront bars and a new culture of watersports, gleaming new glass offices and fountains have ‘phoenixed’ their way out of the coal dust.  However we, the Cardiffians, have definitely not changed – you will still find the same warm, friendly, welcoming people here.

Whether you’re looking for the arts & cultural scene, sports, green parks, handmade or vintage gifts, traditional or quirky, fashion or passion, this Cardiff girlie would like to help point you in the right direction. 

I aim to feature small businesses, enterprises, shops and eateries regularly on this blog.  Please check out my website: www.discovercardiff-uk.com    for more information    or   contact me here at :   wendy50lee@yahoo.co.uk     if you would like me to do a feature on your enterprise.  The mix will be eclectic (a sort of liquorice allsorts) but hopefully will always be informative and entertaining.  Please come and visit me again soon.

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