Somebody Give me a Job in Cardiff!
by Liv | Published on March 18th, 2009, 8:17 pm | Travel
This is going to be the first of several posts of probably the most incredible weekend of my life. I acknowledge the concept I'm in lust rather than love, but then again this was my second trip to the U.K. If you were going to make a teeny-bob romance movie where incredible things happen while on vacation... I'd say the past few days we're as close as you're going to get in real life. From brushing shoulders we my heart-throb-crush John Barrowman, to visiting the BBC, to taking a rail trip across Britain, to partying down with several thousand other people in the world's biggest St. Patrick's day party I cannot convey how much fun I had. One of these things was going to Cardiff in Wales, land of my fore-fathers (and don't forget mothers too). The first time I laid my credit card down at The Red Dragon Center the cashier says "Jones"... I'm "Jones"... We're all "Jones".... It was like family.
I'm not quite sure why my family left Wales, but the last few months I've been weighing the prospect of applying for jobs in Cardiff. I knew it was a long short to even get a reply, and since I had never been to that part of the U.K... It was an idea that I haven't given much serious thought to.... but after visiting.... I say give me a job... I loved the place. It's such a different feel then London. In London, I always feel out of place... I love London, don't get me wrong, it's just that Cardiff... well, the people are, well... a bit more like me.... James Marsters referred to it as a "Carny" atmosphere, and I agree. It's accepting, diverse, yet casual. Furthermore it reminded both me & Shan a lot of Ventura.
Cardiff is somewhat small... (compared to London) and I believe is only about 320,000 people. We walked from the central train station to the castle, central Cardiff, and to the Millennium Center and Cardiff Bay all within about 20 minutes of each other.
We of course spent much of our time outside of Torchwood 3, the Perception Filter stone, and several film sites for Dr Who. We got talking with a local Cardiffian who recommended Strada, a contemporary Italian restaurant which allowed us to sit out and watch the various activity in Cardiff Bay. Had a wonderful meal, and great wine which left us in this dreamy, tipsy state.
It was at this point I had completely fell head over heels for Cardiff. The merry-go-round turning on the boardwalk. The children feeding the ducks, the families out spending time with one another. It was idyllic.
I know Cardiff hasn't always been a vibrant cultured city. I'm aware of the "Clevelandish" reputation. I saw pictures of Cardiff during it's bustling port days with dirty warfs and fisheries. This Cardiff though is not that Cardiff. I've often warned Greensboro could become Detroit. Cardiff is what happens when a city positively re-invents itself. I'm glad I got to witness the outcome of it. A city that can start as one thing, and transition into a whole new thing... that's my kind of city.
Now I just need a job. I'd move there in an instant.
I need to try that with my photography as it makes a more interesting photo. Anyway, many times I've wondered what the real Who-ville was like. Thanks for showing me.
