[Originally posted on www.usa.visitwales.com on January 15, 2010] I’ve been in Cardiff for a few days this week, and head back to New York tomorrow. Meetings, meetings, meetings. With just an odd minute here and there to catch a breath and see a bit of Wales’ capital. With snow on the ground at the start of the week, then slushy snow, then rain, and now drier warmer conditions, we’ve certainly had varied weather.
The good news is that the sparkly new St. David’s shopping center affirms Cardiff as a year-round city destination. I loved wandering around the split level shopping areas, warm and dry. The new center links into the original St. David’s shopping center, making a huge shopping mall which also connects with the Queens Arcade.
And Cardiff is an easy walking city. Just outside the shopping malls and I was steps away from the edgy new Central Library building with six floors containing 900,000 books. Continue reading
Snag two nights at 
As I drove through pretty villages, the landscape started to become more colorful as the iron ore hinted hues of red and terracotta on Parys Mountain. Parys Mountain Copper Mines are a “must-see” for visitors to Anglesey… I parked the car amidst the colorful terrain and walked about 10 minutes along the “Industrial Heritage Trail.” The view across a large opencast copper quarry is stunning, firstly for the vivid colors of yellows, reds and purples, but also for the dramatic chasm itself. 
After a long drive across the width of England and Wales, I was pleased to finally cross over the Menai Strait, arriving on the island of Anglesey. This is a beautiful part of Wales. The sun was shimmering across the narrow stretch of water dividing Anglesey from mainland Wales, and I immediately headed to a village with one of the longest place names in the world: Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch – just to take a photograph of the railroad station name… cheesy photo opp’, I know, but a lot of fun. And it impresses my American friends that I can almost pronounce that place name! 
I’ve always loved Swansea but was never quite sure why. But on this visit – my first “proper” visit to Swansea for well over a decade – I think I’ve sussed out the reasons. The Maritime Quarter, marina and Swansea Waterfront are stunning, especially yesterday which seemed to be the best day of the year with temperatures in the 70s and sunny blue skies. Then there are the museums, all with free entry: National Maritime Museum, Glynn Vivian Art Gallery, Swansea Museum and the Dylan Thomas Centre. Then there are hidden gems like the Arts Wing of the Grand Theatre. The people in Swansea are really friendly (I looked lost with my head buried in a map a couple of times, and everyone offered to help direct me!) and the busy downtown shopping and entertainment center is scattered with historic Victorian buildings and Swansea Castle and Castle Square taking center stage. 
Paul Chibeba 