On Tuesday, we spent the morning exploring our local area. We started the day with a late breakfast at the Ugly House. It is so named due to a legend…especially for Sally:

Ty Hyll is a house full of history, legend and mystery; no one really knows who built the house, or when.One legend says that the house was built in the 15th century overnight – a ‘tŷ unnos’ or ‘one night house’. According to tradition at that time, a house built during one night on common land, with a chimney smoking by dawn, could be claimed by the builders as their own property.

Other legends say it was built by robbers and thieves, taking advantage of travelers on the old main road as they journeyed through Snowdonia – ‘ugly’ people that gave the house a fearsome reputation.

From there we took a drive to Portmeirion. A beautiful village on the cost, designed and developed in a very Italian style. The architect wanted to prove that you can have elegance anywhere and he succeeded.it was really beautiful.it also had what my happy travel companion described as the best soft serve ice cream ever. So she had one on the way in and another on the way out. This is where we saw the awesome hydrangeas on the side of the road and in the town.

We had a dinner at the Royal Oak Hotel in town. I had an ox-cheek burger ….out of this world. Food in the pubs and hotels is definitely way more sophisticated and tasty. Then the big pack for our trip south to Cardiff.

The scenery en route was most enjoyable and we had good weather to drive. A couple of quick stops before we hit the city. We stayed in a fantastic hotel called Hotel Indigo, on Queens road, 500m from the castle and all attractions.

What a disappointment Cardiff was. The city centre, where all attractions are, is filthy dirty, grimy and full of serious drug addicts, drunkards, homeless and the like. We did a hop on hop off bus tour, and when one of the highlights is the docklands….well….

The castle was interesting, but not as interesting as others we have seen. So we resorted to retail therapy at Marks and Spencer and Boots…another suitcase is looking probable,We had dinner on the first night at the Marco Pierre White restaurant, affiliated to the hotel. We had a lamb shepherds pie which was delicious, but very expensive.

On our second night, we ate at a local Italian place called Valentino’s. The food and service were superb. I had popped in earlier to book- when I made my booking and conversed with the owner in Italian…..our night was made. When we did return, he jumped up to great us and ensures we had a good evening. Yes…you got it…an Italian dinner was the highlight of Cardiff City.

We did enjoy the local Welsh cakes…kind of a cross between a crumpet and a shortbread biscuit. Fried on a griddle pan, but with a shortbread texture.

All was not in vain however. Last night at the local Boots store, the lady who helped us asked where we were from, she was excited to meet South Africans and then she asked if we had been to the St Fagan’s museum. She highly recommended it…so this morning we decided to give it a bash. What a great recommendation…an open air museum, meandering through a massive park where you can see how people in Wales have lived, worked and spent their leisure time. The re-erected buildings include farmhouses, a row of ironworkers’ cottages, a medieval church, a Victorian school, a chapel and a splendid Workmen’s Institute.

There are also workshops where craftsmen still demonstrate their traditional skills. Their produce is usually on sale. One of the last working clogmakers in Wales, the blacksmith, a weaver working in an 18th century woolen mill and a miller producing flour.

The Museum is also a popular film location. Several episodes of Dr Who have been filmed at the Museum, and scenes from BBC’s 2015 production of Poldark were filmed in two farmhouses. The museum has been voted UK museum of the year….deservedly.

We left Wales this morning and have arrived safely in Tortworth…we are staying at the De Vere Tortworth Court…a stately home.

But more on that later….