I heard some tourists complaining today about the rain. When you are visiting the UK you should know that it rains here. Often, not nessecarily a lot but frequently. That’s probably one reason it is so green year round. People might not realize that Glasgow & Boston have almost the same amoutn of annual rainfall with each city changing the lead on any given year. The difference, as I see it, is that Glasgow seems to see rain 5 days a week, Boston is more like 2. Light rain frequently vs. heavy rain less so. Anyway, since I’m in Cardiff not Glasgow or Boston, back to allowing weather to ruin one’s trip. In Cardiff many locals seem to not even acknowledge the rain. I spoke to one man in only a sweater as we walked whilst I was in in oilskin hat, Trepass jacket, rain pants & waterproof boots. He called it liquid sunshine. I pay attention to the weather forecast to plan my day. It never rains in museums.
With that in mind I saw that the AM would be better to see the Castle and later in the day the Castle House, City Hall & the National Museum of Wales would be scheduled.
The Castle was first build by the Romans in around 50 AD. Unlike Romans in IOW, these guys were conquerors. They were in Cardiff for nearly 400 years.
And the low walls are the remains of the early Roman fort. It is an interesting feeling to stand where Roman soldiers once stood 2000 years ago.
William the Conqueror build the shell keep with a wood fort in the 11th century. A shell keep is a manmade steep hill with mote. The steep angle of the hillside made it very difficult to climb. Even with the stairs it is not an easy climb.
John Stuart, the 1st Marquis of Bute (Scotland) built the existing keep as home and fort.
The holes in the walls once secured posts allowing the building of rooms.
Occasionally I feel the need to prove that I am not simply downloading photos. A Roman wall base to my left.
During WWII the walls of the castle were used as fallout shelters. Walking through them, with the audio of bombs falling and exploding gives us a very small idea of the terror the city experienced.
I found the decorations on the wall pretty interesting.
There are many of these critters guarding the place.
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