Cardiff is my home town although we lived apart for more than twenty-five years. But I’m back now, and in my absence it has become a changed place. It is a safe, welcoming, vibrant city to be proud of- and of course it has the finest rugby stadium in the world right in the heart of town. Where else can you fall out of the ground straight into any one of dozens of pubs to celebrate Wales giving England another bashing in the Six Nations?
I confess I still sometimes desert her for a few months, but then absence makes the heart grow fonder. So here are a few of my favourite images, that capture her at her best perhaps- the essence of a town called home.
![Two Iconic buildings from the Bay Two Iconic buildings from the Bay • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068838895/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6068838895_cd7f388e55_m.jpg)
Two Iconic buildings from the Bay
![Reflections from a Silver tower Reflections from a Silver tower • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068839683/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6061/6068839683_4c7f6b1b63_m.jpg)
Reflections from a Silver tower
![Window cleaning a big job Window cleaning a big job • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068840395/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6068840395_bf42983899_m.jpg)
Window cleaning a big job
![The bug eyed crane The bug eyed crane • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068841013/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6068841013_ff271d7a3c_m.jpg)
The bug eyed crane
![Kids and grown-ups Kids and grown-ups • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069386846/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6083/6069386846_439df47c90_m.jpg)
Kids and grown-ups
![Man peers into world Man peers into world • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068839829/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6068839829_3e9b67bb2f_m.jpg)
Man peers into world
![Senedd debating chamber Senedd debating chamber • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068839921/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6068839921_1c4e193afe_m.jpg)
Senedd debating chamber
![Memorial to merchant seamen Memorial to merchant seamen • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387554/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6069387554_e02db74d71_m.jpg)
Memorial to merchant seamen
![HMS Scott and the Stavros Niachos HMS Scott and the Stavros Niachos • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389968/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6069389968_9ab48cb35a_m.jpg)
HMS Scott and the Stavros Niachos
![The winged hotel The winged hotel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387642/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6069387642_a23f66330c_m.jpg)
The winged hotel
![Meeting under Pont-Y-Werin bridge Meeting under Pont-Y-Werin bridge • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387744/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6181/6069387744_b014731e14_m.jpg)
Meeting under Pont-Y-Werin bridge
![Norwegian Church & Scott Memorial Norwegian Church & Scott Memorial • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069386594/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6069386594_6ac04da2fa_m.jpg)
Norwegian Church & Scott Memorial
![Magic circles in yellow Magic circles in yellow • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069388350/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6068/6069388350_5ef6084a31_m.jpg)
Magic circles in yellow
![The Barrage at Night The Barrage at Night • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068838371/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6068838371_69d231a29e_m.jpg)
The Barrage at Night
![Sunset over the Marina Sunset over the Marina • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387304/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6193/6069387304_3fbf0210cd_m.jpg)
Sunset over the Marina
![Brains Brewery and a seagull Brains Brewery and a seagull • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387128/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6069387128_bf8cbac572_m.jpg)
Brains Brewery and a seagull
![The Red House pub- RIP The Red House pub- RIP • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069387858/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6182/6069387858_ed1f3898d8_m.jpg)
The Red House pub- RIP
![Buff challenges the Bristol Channel Buff challenges the Bristol Channel • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069386158/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6191/6069386158_296d551910_m.jpg)
Buff challenges the Bristol Channel
![Gareth Edwards, simply the best Gareth Edwards, simply the best • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069388122/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6187/6069388122_e3ff78c60d_m.jpg)
Gareth Edwards, simply the best
![Ghostly Statues in the cathedral Ghostly Statues in the cathedral • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069390266/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6207/6069390266_9dc92cec54_m.jpg)
Ghostly Statues in the cathedral
![Cardiff Castle from Bute Park Cardiff Castle from Bute Park • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068840637/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6068840637_9b358d2fed_m.jpg)
Cardiff Castle from Bute Park
![Tree carving in Bute Park Tree carving in Bute Park • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069386758/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6202/6069386758_a43b7f69d3_m.jpg)
Tree carving in Bute Park
![Cardiff City Hall Cardiff City Hall • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069388758/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6071/6069388758_e4b93586fc_m.jpg)
Cardiff City Hall
![The City Hall Dragon The City Hall Dragon • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069388856/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6086/6069388856_f8ea1285f3_m.jpg)
The City Hall Dragon
![House on the Green House on the Green • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069385790/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6204/6069385790_979952f23e_m.jpg)
House on the Green
![Victoria Park pool Victoria Park pool • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069388964/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6210/6069388964_19ca982f81_m.jpg)
Victoria Park pool
![Hari Krishna Hari Krishna • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389080/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6192/6069389080_ec30ab3504_m.jpg)
Hari Krishna
![The Jeweller The Jeweller • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068839391/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6072/6068839391_ce0df6e61d_m.jpg)
The Jeweller
![Sewing Machine shop window Sewing Machine shop window • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389848/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6077/6069389848_3d15a1ca0b_m.jpg)
Sewing Machine shop window
![Cow & Snuffers public house- closed now Cow & Snuffers public house- closed now • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068838755/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6090/6068838755_02eef8fb9e_m.jpg)
Cow & Snuffers public house- closed now
![Magic Roundabout Magic Roundabout • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389200/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6073/6069389200_dd4b83c538_m.jpg)
Magic Roundabout
![Police quartet on horseback Police quartet on horseback • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389340/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6194/6069389340_d93a563a98_m.jpg)
Police quartet on horseback
![Unknown Warrior Unknown Warrior • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068841985/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6068841985_ba71fb0a72_m.jpg)
Unknown Warrior
![Temple of Peace Temple of Peace • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069385676/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6200/6069385676_624f4933ae_m.jpg)
Temple of Peace
![Rememberance Day Rememberance Day • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068838509/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6064/6068838509_8673bede17_m.jpg)
Rememberance Day
![Regimental mascot- Taffy The Goat Regimental mascot- Taffy The Goat • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069390130/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6209/6069390130_6691a2e6b5_m.jpg)
Regimental mascot- Taffy The Goat
![Guardsmen resting Guardsmen resting • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6069389526/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6079/6069389526_5b29d5147a_m.jpg)
Guardsmen resting
![Photographer photographed Photographer photographed • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068839481/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6089/6068839481_62fd5131a1_m.jpg)
Photographer photographed
![Womenfolk on the riverbank Womenfolk on the riverbank • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068842645/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6201/6068842645_02d64fdc10_m.jpg)
Womenfolk on the riverbank
![Wetlands on the Bay Wetlands on the Bay • <a style="font-size:0.8em;" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/36398778@N08/6068840937/" target="_blank">View on Flickr</a>](https://farm7.static.flickr.com/6208/6068840937_115dbb34aa_m.jpg)
Wetlands on the Bay