Hey, all. So right now it's a bit past 7. I'm sitting in a little hostel in Cardiff, Wales. The sun is shining and the seagulls are calling and I am feeling fine. Sometimes you just can't believe how lucky you are. This is one of those times.
So, to report on hostel life: Let me start out in a very AA style. Hi, my name is Hannah, and I am a hostel virgin. There. I've said it. There is no judging in this safe space! *ahem* so this hostel looks like a piece of shit from the outside. My first thought in seeing it? Fuck. Graffiti on the building outside, shitty looking parking lot, row of government produced housing projects, trash, etc. Of course, under that there was a charming quaintness. The inside, however, is just lovely. There's a pool table and everything seems very clean, and our room is kind of charming, actually, even though the beds squeak when you just think about them and I walked into a bit of a flood in the bathroom down the hall. The painting is cheery, though, and the sun shines in and provides a wonderful light. Breakfast is free, and so is tea and coffee. I'm actually having the time of my life.
And Cardiff has much to do with that. I freaking love this place. It has all the old-world charm I was looking for- For christ's sake, it's got a castle in the middle of it!- yet enough modern stuff to make it a bit industrial. Its an interesting contrast. The grounds around the castle are something else. You walk into them and its like you've entered a fairy tale. Narnia is just behind that tree. Fairies ought to come build a mound any moment. There's a stone circle and the most beautiful, lazy river, and the green has a certain magical quality to it that sort of feeds you. I feel better and more whole than I have in a while. Just wait until we go and see the castles today! Caerphilly and Coch, I believe, are on the agenda.
Best of all? Fun pub life. Last night we popped into O'neils for a pint and some live music. The musician was very cute. Especially his derriere. Sorry, male readers, just had to share.
Hey, those last two sentences rhymed!
The Guinness was good (duh) and so was Allie's pear cider. Had a lovely time. This Scottish ex-air force guy somehow wound up talking to us. He actually defended George W for his decision to go into war! I was shocked to hear that from a foreigner (not sure how I feel about W myself. Honestly, probably don't know enough to make up my mind). He had seen some horrible things in war. But he was also very charming and funny, especially when we told him we were going up to Edinburgh in a week's time. Turns out that's where he's from! Then when he left Allie and I got a kiss on the cheek. All in all, it was a great night. God bless the pub. Did I mention the cute musician also played Johnny Cash and had a voice that could wake the dead? Yeah, he was good.
What adventures await us today? Who knows. I am looking forward and up.
Life is good.
-H
PS: Allie, get your ass back on here! We are due for one of your posts, yo.
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