Friday, January 02, 2009

Out with the old.......

........In with the new.

I thought I would something a little different for the calendar this month.

Especially as I was in Cardiff for a couple of days visiting my parents.

So here we have a close up of the gorgeous brick work on the Pierhead Building at Cardiff Bay.

This stunning brick and terracotta building facing the Cardiff Docks was opened in 1897 as the headquarters of the Cardiff Railway Company (formerly the Bute Docks Company).

I was very disappointed not to get a lot more photos than I did that day. We walked from Penarth to Cardiff across the barrage.

The problem was that it was funny light and the camera didn't like the auto setting.

The other problem was that it was so cold that my fingers were getting numb and I couldn't feel the buttons to set the camera myself.

I did get a few though. This one is the Pierhead Building with the Wales Millennium Centre in the background.

It is one of the most unique and lively performing arts centre in Europe, attracting over 1.5 million visitors since it opened.

The building was designed by the Percy Thomas Partnership architects, construction starting in March 2002. Thirty-three months later - in November 2004 - the theatre and education complex was opened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The roof looks like copper but it is, in fact, rose coloured stainless steel.

There you go, another load of useless information! Aren't you glad you came for a visit?