See Swansea

A Verdi's Raspberry Sundae

I had a delicious raspberry sundae down in Verdis this evening. An utterly divine experience. The place was packed with cusomers, but I still managed to snag a window table overlooking Swansea Bay. Highly, highly recommended.

Eden Closes in City Centre

It is sad seeing so many shops in the City Centre continuing to close. Where are things going to improve here?

Noah's Yard

I am always fascinated by the signage above Noah's Yard, located in the Uplands area of Swansea. The bar has a rather interesting habit of using its front signage area to relay messages to passers by. All sorts of statements can be found on display there - this being probably the most newsworthy to date. Today, I was rather hoping to see some mention of the current furore surrounding David Cameron's hypocritical tax concerns, but no, the signage read:

Mmm? I have to admit being intrigued by this announcement. Luckily, via the internet, I was able to deduce the bit of local gossip that lay behind these words. I won't be repeating the tale here though sorry.

Singleton Park's Swiss Cottage

If 2 Somerset Place is my favourite building, then the Swiss Cottage in Singleton Park has to a close runner up. Designed by architect Peter Frederick Robinson, who also designed Sketty Hall, the building is Grade II listed was built in 1826 and is a real feast on the eyes.

Half ruined in a fire in 2010, its major refurbishment really has to be commended and today it looks better than I have ever seen it.

‘Lebe so dass du wieder leben magst’ - translates as
Live that you may live again

Currently owned by Swansea Council, due to financial restraints inflicted by the evil Tories, the building is up up for either Let or Sale. Hopefully, its new owner, whoever eventually takes it on, will re-open the small coffee shop that used to operate from the house...

Swansea's Gorsedd Stone Circle

Set in the grounds of Singleton Park, near its Sketty entrance, can be found an interesting Stone Circle. The circle, however, is not a prehistoric monument but a Gorsedd Stone Circle. It was erected here on July 2nd 1925 for the National Eisteddfod of Wales' Proclamation Ceremony. The circle was later enlarged for the Eisteddfod's revisit to Swansea in 1964 to allow more people to participate in the ceremony.

The Gorsedd is the organising body of The National Eisteddfod of Wales - a druid-influenced celebration of Welsh culture and art. When the Eisteddfod visits a locale, it is traditional for a stone circle to be built if there is not one already in existence on the site. Gorsedd Stone Circles are important icons of the National Eisteddfod of Wales. Not only do they stand as monuments to previous visits of the Eisteddfod, but they are also important features used for ceremonies by the organisation. It is within these circles that future Eisteddfod's are announced (traditionally a year and one day prior to the opening of the event). These Proclamation Ceremonies are lead by the Archdruid of the Gorsedd of Bards. It can often be disappointing when it is discovered that a well-loved stone circle is not as ancient a monument as it may at first appear. Yet the reverence in which such later formations were built and their importance to the ceremonies that were held within them should always be remembered.

Singleton Park Ruins

This in an interesting ruin. It can found in Singeton Park, near to where it joins Swansea University. I haven't been able to find any history of the place yet but I am guessing that maybe it is a folly. Still, it is a fascinating feature and, hidden away in a less visited part of the park, is a real treat to stumble upon and explore

University Shots

Swansea University is an amazing place to walk around. I think a lot of local residents tend to keep away from this part of the city, thinking it is just for students. Yet there are nice walks to be had between Singleton Hospital and Singleton Park, which sandwich the university complex. Here are just a few interesting sights I glimpsed as I crossed through the place today:

I couldn't make up my mind about which of the following two pics was best to post here. So I posted them both, sorry. It's an indecisive trait you will get used to if you visit this blog regularly.

I should get the opportunity to take a more thorough meander around the place in a couple of weeks so, hopefully, I will be able to post more interesting sights from the place then...

An Evening's Stroll Along the Prom

We really are being spoiled by the weather in Swansea lately. Parking up at the seaside car park at the 360 (and noting the parking charge here has trebled since the turn of the month), I decided to head towards the marina for this evening's stroll.

Swansea Bay

I think the Pirate Ship Adventure Playground is a great addition to Swansea Bay. Unfortunately, I do have to advise caution here though as the place has been known to be visited by local drug-users in the evenings and they can leave all sorts of used paraphanalia behind. On one occasion, my young son nearly got stabbed by a needle sticking out of the sand here. Admittedly, this was a few years back, but I would still be careful and keep a vigilant eye out that the place is clean before using the playground.

The Swansea Bay Pirate Ship Playground

Looking back on the golden sunset over Swansea Bay, before heading down further to the marina:

Swansea Bay is the best place in Swansea to watch the evening sunsets

Sunsets also offer the best views of the City Council's County Hall:

The Pine trees outside Swansea County Hall

Swansea County Hall

Swansea's modernist County Hall Building

Graffiti on Swansea's Sea Steps, near County Hall

I love walking along these steps when the tide is in:

The Meridian Tower 'peeking' behind the Marriott Hotel and its 'Siren' Sculpture

The sun was still out (but only just) when I hit Swansea Marina and the Deli Dining restaurant was literally aglow when I passed it:

And then it was time to head back to the car along the now dusky sands of Swansea Bay.

Swansea Marina's Navigation Buoy sculpture

A Cuppa Coffee at the 360

The 360 Beach and Watersports Bar is rapidly becoming my favourite coffee haunt. The prices there are more than reasonable and the views over Swansea Bay always puts a smile on my face. Highly recommended.

A Cuppa Coffee at Swansea's 360

The 360 Beach and Watersports Bar

Given the timing of this blog post re the upcoming UK EU Referendum, I thought I would also add the following pic taking of the building. Look around Swansea and you will see these signs all over the place on specially built facilities in areas of deprivation. A firm and good reminder that We NEED to STAY IN EUROPE. Vote wisely, please:

The Boatshed Doors

The incredible artwork on this boat shed in Swansea Marina was made as part of Swansea's continued drive to use art to enhance the city. This piece was made by Robery Conybear and Robin Campbell in the mid/late 1980s and details the symbolism of doorways as a passage from one state to another. The door handle is shapped like a sea vessel which carries those using it into the different world inside the building. The lower half of the door illustrates various forms of sea life while the upper half of the door portrays a cloud containing a guardian eye - a lucky emblem that had been portrayed on ships and boats throughout history.

The door is a real gem of Swansea Marina, which is a real feat considering the multitude of public art installations which populate this part of the city. Watch this space for more Marina art works in the near future...