Cardiff at Christmas
A festive stroll around Caerdydd
(Photos/words © editor, urban75, December, 2007)
Cardiff city centre is changing so fast that each time I return home a few familiar landmarks from my childhood have vanished.
While there's no denying that some of the changes have been for the better - Cardiff used to be really run down - it's beginning to turn into one of those rubbish 'clone towns' with rows of identical big name brand stores dominating the main shopping streets.
Here's a few photos from my brief holiday stay in December, 2007.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-01.jpg) Christmas decorations in St Mary Street.
After seeing the woeful lights in Brixton and Oxford Street, London, Cardiff's efforts seemed rather attractive (with the Winter Wonderland attraction by the City Hall pushing the ho-ho-ho boat even further).
Mind you, they all look ridiculously tame compared to the completely over the top festive bonanza in the Rockefeller Center, New York.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-02.jpg) The calm before the storm. Dorothy's chippie on Caroline Street (aka 'Chip Alley').
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-03.jpg) Building work on the massive St. David's 2 project continues.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-04.jpg) Children's Christmas ride by the Hayes.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-05.jpg) Christmas entertainment at the St. David's Centre.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-06.jpg) Queen Street and Christmas tree.
I remember when this was a busy road, with the fantastic Cardiff Capitol theatre at the eastern end.
It was at the venue that I managed to watch rock legends Thin Lizzy by drawing a ticket for the gig!
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-07.jpg) Sale poster, Queen Street, Cardiff.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-08.jpg) Queen Street railway station.
This was once a much larger station, with five platforms, a fine glazed overall roof and a large gothic street building.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-09.jpg) Changing room, Boxing Day at Caedelyn Park, Whitchurch.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-10.jpg) Queen Street in the rain.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-11.jpg) Hayes redevelopment and John Batchelor statue. I like it when the statue has been 'enhanced'!
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-12.jpg) Harley's Coffee Shop in Royal Arcade.
![Photos of Cardiff Queen Street, St Mary Street and central city views, Caerdydd, south Glamorgan, south Wales, UK](images/cardiff-xmas07-13.jpg) The utterly bizarre 'Platform 0' at Cardiff Central (which, young 'uns, used to be called Cardiff General).
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