I had a bunch of stuff I still had on my very loose list, but with the super long days, I knew I had time for all of it. But first, tea and breakfast! Barkers Tea Rooms was Derek’s recommendation, and it didn’t disappoint. A nice pot of (I think) vanilla black tea, and a sausage and egg sandwich.
The National Museum was high on my list, and I’m so glad I took the time to wander through most of it. Here are some highlights.
My favorite art of the day was Welsh polymath Bedwyr Williams’ animation of an imaginary city built where Cadair Idris in Snowdonia stands. The scene goes through an entire day, where not a human is seen but many are imagined. It is pristine and perfect, horrifying in the very possibility that it could exist. Below this single shot from the film is a painting of the mountain.
I was delighted to learn from my host, Derek, that there is a water taxi that goes to the Millennium Center, which was high on my list as a Torchwood fan. The river was a quick walk from the museum, past Cardiff Castle.
There is a lot of public art in the area, but this was my favorite. The Antarctic 100 Memorial, sculpture by Jonathan Williams to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Age of Antarctic Discovery. It depicts Captain Scott, the British Antarctic explorer and the expedition ship SS Terra Nova, which left from the harbor the sculpture faces. As it turned out, the sculptor is a friend of my host, Derek!
I walked the 2 miles back to Derek’s and stopped along the way at the Grange for one last pint before packing to head out next day for Chepstow, from whence would begin my 10-day walk along the Wye River to Hay-on-Wye.
29 April 2022
Debkakes in the UK 2022 
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