Cardiff Sea Safari

Like two ships that passed in the night...

I can now speak with authority and from experience that in Cardiff there is nothing more exhilarating or exciting than a high speed boat ride that takes you not only around Cardiff Bay, but out in to the open beyond the barrage. The fact that I went in the dark only added to the experience, but you can go in the day if open sea and black skies are not your thing.

This is a great activity for people visiting Cardiff if they don’t want to just wander around the City centre or sit in a restaurant, and it is particularly perfect if you live in Cardiff and have visitors coming want to do something fun and different with them.

If you live in Cardiff and have not done this yet, well the only thing I can say to you is shame on you!

Cardiff Bay, back in the day, used to be a neglected area of docklands which due to the estuary’s tidal range – the largest in the world - was empty of water for 12 hours of each day. I am told it was muddy and not particularly pleasant. However, in the 90s the area was regenerated to produce an enclosed freshwater lake, separated from the saltwater estuary by a barrage. The Bay as we know it today sprung from this.

It was in this freshwater lake, and through the barrage into open sea that my colleagues and myself did fare late one night in the pursuit of hi-jinks and pleasure. And that is what we got in abundance.

Now, I am not one known for my suitable outdoor attire, so after donning a woolly hat and hoping that would do I was glad to see that we were to be provided with waterproof jacket and life jacket.

A Cardiff lad by the name of Ryan was our Captain, and with his knowledge of the seas, an understanding of what a raucous group of civil servants were after and a jolly good sense of humour we set sail.

The trip lasted an hour and although it began with a with a sedate lap of the Bay so we could take in the view, once our Captain realised we wanted more and weren’t going to cry or throw up, we were soon zooming around letting off high-pitched shrieks of laugher and exhilaration.

We passed through the locks as the light was beginning to dim and Ryan kept us filled in with all the details of their construction and operation. Once out in the open, we really picked up speed, and battling against the waves we all felt the life affirming feeling of doing something utterly unexpected and fantastic. The wind whipped through our hair as we clung on, whooping and woo-ing, singing at the top of our lungs in the general direction of Bristol to the Kings of Leon.

We breaked a few time so we could all catch our breath and gain our bearings. In these moments, our Captain explained where were, where we had travelled, how ships used the beacons to navigate the estuary and to let us know that we had been reaching speeds of up to 65mph.

The hour flew passed - literally, and all too soon we were back in the lock to return to the Bay. However, the view was worth the end of the run and I don’t think many people can say they have been through a lock in the pitch dark to emerge into Cardiff Bay to be dazzled by its lights and illuminated landmarks.

We disembarked to find that our legs wobbled and that a stiff drink was in order before we could all go back to our respective homes. When reunited in the office the next day, our talk was full of the fun we had had, and how we might like to blast away our cobwebs on a regular basis! Not a bad sign! 

Check out Cardiff Sea Safaris at: http://www.boattripscardiff.co.uk/

Review: Brava

When toast just won't cut the mustard...

Some of things on my Bucket List are things in Cardiff that I have never done, but really should have. And some of them I have done a hundred times already but I love them so much that just had to have an excuse to do them again and write about it. Breakfast at Brava is in this latter category.

If you live in Pontcanna or its surrounding areas you are probably already familiar with this little cafe-gem. But if not, it is worth making a journey for on a Sunday morning.

Now I do understand that they also serve lunch and evening meals, in fact I have eaten a very delicious dinner there last Christmas when fairy lights twinkling in the windows enticed me in. But I have to admit that for me, breakfast is where it's at at Brava.

Sometimes I think a good way to describe this place is like how your parents might describe a little cafe they found in the back streets of Spain. With a 'Oooh, all the locals were there so we knew the food would be good." And this visit was no exception. The sun was out so the four small tables outside were taken, and inside was a hustle and bustle of people and staff. Luckily we got a great window seat quickly, and armed with the Sunday papers sat down to soak up the atmosphere.

This trendy little cafe is invariably filled with lots of trendy people. There is normally a mix of cool Cantonians, yummy mummies with their blonde haired toddlers, and aspirational twenty-somethings with designer sunglasses. I hear that it can be a good place to celeb spot, but you know me, I would miss one if they came and slapped me in the face. However, you will have more than one sighting of a Mulberry handbag during your visit and don't expect to see people sloppily dressed as if they have just rolled out of bed. The Sunday-morning casual look has taken hours to perfect. Don’t be put off by this though, the charm of Brava is that it is very relaxed and it is a great place for people watching.

But the important bit is the food. As I mentioned my area of specialty is the breakfast menu. Sometimes a full breakfast is all that will hit the spot and no cafe serving breakfast could omit this favourite. The Brava menu doesn't disappoint and boasts full carnivorous and veggie breakfasts aptly named the Brava Meaty and Brava Veggie. They are healthily cooked, include all the main contenders and the beans come in a little pot which seems to please non-bean eaters no end.

One of my other favourites are the pancakes – a stack of the scotch variety of pancakes which I order with maple syrup, strawberries and crème fraiche. Teamed with a good cuppa and you can't go wrong. 

But the real stars of the show are the Eggs Benedict. There are two varieties, one with salmon and spinach which is almost always my choice, and the other with bacon. The eggs are always perfectly cooked and there is always just the right amount of hollandaise sauce. Be warned though, you will need to be hungry to finish this, and you must finish it as it is simply too good to leave.

In addition, the coffee is fresh, the juice freshly squeezed, the tea comes in good sized pots and there is always a great selection of very tasty looking cakes at the counter. The staff are friendly and accommodating if a little run off their feet at times. Expect to pay a little more than your average greasy spoon fry up though, after all you are in Pontcanna.

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Find Brava at 71 Pontcanna St, Cardiff, South Glamorgan CF11 9HS